Kashayam

Kashayam (Sanskrit: "kaṣāyaṁ"),
also Kashaya, is a widely used form of dosage in Ayurveda and does not denote any one particular Ayurvedic medicine, but a generic term for various types of medicinal concoction in Ayurveda. Kashayam refers to a water decoction or water extract of a single herb or group of herbs and can be used for ailments like indigestion, cough and common cold etc. It is an ancient form of medicine that has been used for a long time. Many are very bitter in taste and the liquid is dark in color. It is mainly used by South-Indian and Bengali families. It is also called "Kwath" or "Kadha" in other cultures in India.
Ingredients.
Many readily used kitchen spices and herbs like tulsi, ginger, neem leaves, cinnamon, cloves, long pepper and pepper etc. are used in preparing kashayam.