Herbal Remedies for Cough and Cold

Herbal Remedies for Cough and Cold

Cough and cold are the most common of all health ailments that usually develop due to seasonal changes. While cough may be caused by inflammation of the larynx or the pharynx, the common cold is caused by the infections of the respiratory tract. Natural remedies along with some changes in diet and lifestyle prove to be effective in relieving the condition of cough & cold. Here are some of the tried and tested herbal kitchen remedies to treat cough & cold -

• While preparing tea, add powdered 2-3 black pepper, ginger, a clove bud and a few basil leaves to the preparation.
• A tsp of turmeric with a 1/4 tsp of carom seeds & honey can be taken with hot water to treat cough and cold.
• Boil about 5 clove buds in a cup of water. Make it into decoction and have it with honey thrice a day as an expectorant.
• Take equal amounts of powdered cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and mix well. Sniffing this formulation induces sneezing, thus, opens blocked nose due to cold.
• To cure cough and cold, mix turmeric powder and salt in equal amounts and take a tsp of the same with warm water.
• For bronchitis, mix powdered clove buds, ginger and black pepper in equal proportions. Half tsp of the same should be administered with honey twice a day.
• Take 1/4th tsp powdered black pepper and add sugar to it. Have it with clarified butter to treat all types of cough.
• Mix a few drops of clove oil and garlic in honey. Take this formulation before retiring to bed. It is said to be beneficial in spasmodic coughs during asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis.
• Grind together equal amounts of ginger, dried basil leaves & black pepper. Add a little honey so as to have a consistency to make it into pellets. Suck these pellets thrice daily to treat cough and cold.
• Chewing a clove with common salt is said to provide relief from cough.
• For cough, crush betel leaves and make its paste in water. Apply the same topically over the chest.
• Having a tbsp of onion juice with equal amount of honey taken twice a day is said to treat cold.
• To treat cough and cold, massage the chest with warm clarified butter (ghee) with a pinch of salt for few minutes followed by a steam inhalation.

Cure Cough and Cold with Herbal Remedies

The patient should eat a light diet including fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables and grains. Vitamin C rich fruits (lemon, orange, sweet lime, strawberries, etc) are extremely effective in treating cold and cough. Salt water gargles prove to be quite effective for soreness of the throat. The patient should reduce the intake of cashew nuts, walnuts, almonds, ground nut, sugar, pickles, spicy, canned food, candies, chocolates, cold drinks and ice-creams. The intake of fluids should be increased to keep body hydrated.