Health  ·  06. January 2021

    Coughs and Colds

    Winter = Coughs and colds. I think thanks to Covid, there will be lesser spread of the cold virus, hence lesser colds and coughs. What are the remedies? What do you do when you have a cough or a cold?

     

    I am one of the few lucky ones who rarely has coughs and colds. Er, I am mostly at home (even pre-Covid), so exposure risk is minimal. 

    One of my favourite remedies for Colds (and coughs due to cold) is Trishun. It is an Ayurved preparation. In my experience, if realize you are about to get a cold, and you take a tablet of Trishun, every 4 hours or so. You will not get the cold. If the cold has already set in, Trishun...and probably everything else....is of no use.

    Famous saying:

     

    Cold treated is cured in just one week and cold untreated is cured in seven days.

     

    I can sense a cold (usually), and I immediately take Trishun. Gone. Stop. The bacteria/virus is refusing to budge and still hanging around. One more tablet.

    Doctors have good ways to make you comfortable when you have coughs and colds. It is best to go to them. Typically, you feel relief immediately on taking their medicines. 

     

    When my daughter was small, her pediatrician recommended honey with a few drops of lemon. It worked!

     

    Not sure why I never tried this remedy on myself. 

     

    Of course, I have tried honey during the night. So that the liquid draining from the nose does not irritate the throat leading to cough!

     

    URTI - Upper Respiratory Tract Infection - is what many of us have. This typically requires doctor intervention. They treat you with antibiotics (to kill the BACTERIA), antihistamines, expectorants, cough suppressants and painkillers.  If the URTI is viral, then antibiotics will not help. You can try honey. Not sure how honey helps. Maybe it acts in multiple ways. 

     

    Blocked nose is a problem many of us face. Vicks Inhaler I have found provides relief. Of course, many rub Vicks Vaporub. 

     

    Warm salt water gargle (I add a pinch of haldi these days) is a very effective remedy to clear your throat of infection.

     

    Kadhas/Kashayas are age-old remedies which are really, really effective. The best part is that you can take it along with most other medicines. It will help your condition, lessen the symptoms and maybe get rid of the problem from the root!

     

    Steam inhalations too are a good remedy if your chest is congested.

     

    It is important that you have only hot and warm items. Totally stop having anything cold, including plain water. Have warm water. Keep a flash for 3-7 days. 

     

    Dairy (milk, curds, etc) forms mucus. This is not good for a cold. So avoid curds. I think people do have warm/hot milk with haldi. 

    OTC Medicines for Coughs & Colds

    There are so many tablets for Coughs and colds. So many syrups.  There are many medical sites which will give you information on these medicines. 

     

    Here are some vitamins and minerals which you can take, which MAY help.

     

    Vitamin C You actually require large doses, but even the regular dose should help in fighting the cold and cough. 

     

    Zinc is supposed to relieve the severeness of cold symptoms. Taking them in the form of multi-vitamin may do you good. There are Zinc lozenges also. 

     

    Throat Lozenges will help you keep your throat clear of infection and provide you symptomatic relief.

     

    Home remedies for Coughs & Colds

    Ginger is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.  Remove the skin. Chop about a pinch of ginger. Put salt and have it several times a day. Throat infection, cough and cold will disappear. You can add honey to make it even more effective and also palatable.

     

    Honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It is a good remedy for coughs, colds, throat infections. 

     

    Kadha/Kashaya this is one of the best remedies for chest infection, congestion, throat infections, colds and coughs. Ready-made kadhas are also available. Homemade is best. But  there are good brands of Kadhas/Kashayas available. Many Coffee shops, street shops, have started serving these drinks!

     

    Salt Water is antibacterial. Warm salt water gargle 3-4 times a day will keep your throat clear and get rid of the infection. 

     

    Haldi/Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, has antioxidant properties, is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic. Turmeric Latte/Golden Milk has become very popular. People used to dread Haldi doodh. Now, it is drunk with relish. 

     

     

     

    GERD Cough

    I suffered from GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) COUGH for almost a year before a doctor (ENT Specialist). GERD cough is the one that you have mostly while sleeping. You are OK most of the day.  Gautam Govitrikar has a nice thread on Twitter. It has helped me a lot. Here it is: