Herbs Keep Kashmir Going

As the cold bites harder, old city’s alchemist shops are seeing a surge.

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Their shelves overflow with mullein, quince seeds, lavender and nettle. Elders wander in, warm up by the bukhari and ask for herbs they’ve always relied on. The crowds say a lot about the shift in how Kashmiris think about wellness.

People in the valley are tired of taking too many pills. Over-medication has become common. Families keep antibiotics at home as if they were tea bags. Many complain of feeling dull and uneasy after days of winter medicines. Doctors say this habit can make people more vulnerable. In that atmosphere, herbs feel gentle, and familiar.