Lemon:

Lemon is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. It is beneficial in all types of cold with fever. Vitamin C- rich lemon juice increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoon of honey should be added to it. This should be taken once or twice daily.

Garlic soup is an old remedy to reduce the severity of a cold, and should be taken once daily .The soup can be Prepared by boiling three or four cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, beside other medicinal virtues. The oil contained in this vegetable helps to open up the respiratory passage. Five drops of garlic oil combined with a teaspoon of onion juice, and diluted in a cup of water, should be drunk two or three times a day. This is also found to be very effective in the treatment of common cold.

Ginger is another excellent remedy for cold and coughs. About 10 gm of ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, prepared by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding the tealeaves, is also an effective remedy for cold and for fever resulting from cold. It may be taken twice daily.

Turmeric is an effective remedy for cold and cough. Half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 ml of warm milk, and taken once or twice daily, is useful prescription for these conditions. Turmeric powder should be put into a hot ladle. Milk should then be poured in it and boiled over a slow fire. The patient should then drink this mixture. In case of running cold, smoke from the burning turmeric should be inhaled. It will increase the discharge from the nose and provide quick relief.
The root of turmeric plants is useful in a dry cough. The root should be roasted and powdered. This powder should be taken in three-gram doses twice daily, in the morning and evening.

Grapes are one of the most effective home remedies for the treatment of a cough. Grape tone up the lungs and acts as an expectorant, relieving a simple cold and cough in a couple of days. A glass of grape juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey is advised for a cough relief.

Onion:

The use of raw onion is valuable in a cough. This vegetable should be chopped fine and the juice extracted from it. One teaspoon of the juice of the juice should then be mixed with one teaspoon of honey of honey and kept for four or five hours- it will make an excellent cough syrup and should be taken twice daily. Onions are also useful in removing phlegm. A medium - sized onion should be crushed, the juice of one lemon added to it and then one cup of boiling water poured on it. A teaspoon of honey can be added for taste. This remedy should be taken two or three times a day.

Raisins:

A sauce prepared from raisin is also useful in a cough. This sauce is prepared by grinding 100gm of raisin with water. About 100gm of sugar should be mixed with it and the mixture heated. When the mixture acquires a sauce- like consistency, it should be preserved. twenty grams should be taken at bedtime.

Basil:

Water boiled with Basil leaves can be taken as a drink in case of cold and cough. This water can also be used as a gargle. In case cold-fever a decoction of the leaf boiled with powdered cardamom in half a little of water mixed with sugar, milk and Basil leaves brings down the temperature.

Gooseberry:

Rich source of natural Vitamin C. Regular intake of Gooseberry in the winter season helps to increase body immunity against attack of common cold and cough.

Vasaka:

For cough 7 leaves of the plant are boiled in water, strained and mixed with 24 gm of Honey. This decoction provides relief. Similarly a confection of Vasaka flowers eaten in doses of 12 gm twice relieves cough and cold. About 60 gm of flowers and 180 gm of jaggery should be mixed for preparing this confection.

Dietary Condition:

In case of severe cold and cough and when fever is present the patient should abstain from all solid foods and only drink food and vegetable juices diluted with water. After this the patient should adopt an all fruit diet for two to three days. Taking three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apple, pears, grapes, oranges, pinepples, peaches and melons. For drinks unsweetened lemon water, or cold or hot plain water may be given. After the all fruit diet, the patient can gradually embark upon a well balanced diet, with emphasis on whole grain cereals, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fresh fruits. The patient should avoid soft drink , candies, ice-creams, and all products made from sugar and white flour.


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