Looking for home remedies for cough this rainy season? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The pitter patter of the rain has been constantly nagging our roofs for a few days now. With the forecasts of low pressure area (strengthening Hanging Habagat in return) looming over the country, we can expect a wet season in the following days or weeks.
As the scorching sun gives way to the refreshing rains, a transformative metamorphosis sweeps across the landscape, rejuvenating everything it touches. The rainy season, with its soothing showers and lush greenery, casts a magical spell on our senses, offering respite from the sweltering heat of summer. However, amidst the enchanting allure of this season, there lurks a recurring concern that often dampens the spirits of many: the heightened susceptibility to cold and cough.
For countless individuals, the rainy season is accompanied by unwelcomed visitors in the form of sniffles, coughs, sore throats, and eventually common cold. As the raindrops fall gently upon the earth, so do viruses and bacteria, exploiting the favorable conditions to thrive and spread. The combination of frequent rainfall, cooler temperatures, and dampness creates a breeding ground for these pathogens, increasing the likelihood of compromising our immune system.
With this in thought, its important to shield ourselves from the threats of the unpredictable weather. In this article, we will explore the wonders of ayuvedic medicine and how you can ward off the common cold and cough with this Indian medicinal technique.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayuverda is the combination of the sanskrit words ayur meaning life and veda meaning knowledge. With this, we can safely say that Ayurveda means knowledge of life. This holistic system of medicine that originated in India 3000 years ago, views the body as a whole, and seeks to treat the root cause of an illness rather than just the symptoms.
This holistic approach comes from the idea that ‘disease is due to an imbalance or stress in a person’s consciousness,’ as John Hopkins Medicine mentions in this article. Thus, Ayurveda promotes changes in your lifestyle that adjusts and aligns your body, mind, spirit, and environment in a harmonious balance.
“Ayurveda treatment starts with an internal purification process, followed by a special diet, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation,” says John Hopkins Medicine.
Ayurveda is deemed to be the equivalent of the traditional Chinese Medicine, conventional Western medicine, and the like. The belief that all physical things are composed of atoms of earth, water, air, and fire (vaisheshika) combined with nyaya (school of logic) and samkya (duality of body and eternal spirit) are regarded as the foundations of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic Medicine: Home Remedies for Cough
While Ayurveda is one of the oldest traditional healing methods in the world, its popularity is continually increasing. Modern-day practitioners use this holistic technique in treating certain illnesses and sickness like cough.
Depending on the affected dosha (vata, kopha, and pitta), the ayurvedic treatment is different. To give a better understanding, ayurveda has five different classifications of cough (kasa) which are; Traumatic: Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Kshataj; and Tubercular: Kshyaj. These coughs are triggered by different factors. The California College of Ayurveda provides a comprehensive explanation of these types of Kasa.
Basil – Treatment for Dry cough
Basil or tulsi is regarded as the ‘Queen of Herbs’ and ‘Mother Medicine of Nature’ and is commonly used as a cough medicine in Ayurveda. It is believed to boost the antibody production in your body.
If you have chronic dry cough that won’t seem to go away, just make yourself a Tulsi Kadha! Check out this recipe from Metropolis India:
Start by throwing a couple of basil leaves in boiling water. Then add grated ginger and 5-6 peppercorns. After 10 minutes of boiling, add a pinch of black salt and squeeze half a lemon to the mixture. Let it sit for one more minute before straining and drinking.
This concoction will help liquify the phlegm and provides relief from throat irritation.
Similarly, you can create herbal tea using 10 grams each of long pepper, ginger, and tulsi. Throw in 4-6 cardamoms and grind them together into a fine powder. Place equal amounts of the powder and honey into a cup and pour in hot water and you get yourself a nice, warm remedy from chronic cough.
Ginger – Treatment for Cough with Phlegm
Dealing with wet cough? Let ginger take care of your icky cough problem. Ginger has been known to have antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties and is commonly used as Ayurvedic medicine. Ginger also relaxes your throat’s smooth muscles, suppressing persistent cough reflex.
To make yourself a ginger tea, simply steep 30 grams of ginger in hot water for at least 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can grate the ginger and extract 2 tablespoons of ginger juice. Mix two and a half tablespoons of honey to your ginger extract. Take this cough drops alternative three to four times day until your wet coughs improve.
Licorice Root – For Cough with Sore Throat
Next to our list of ayurvedic home remedies for cough is the licorice root– good for your cough accompanied with sore throat.
Also known as Mulethi in Hindi, the licorice plant is more than just a sweet component for your dessert. Its roots, when grounded into a fine powder, can help aid in clearing airways and nasal passages filled with mucus thanks to its expectorant properties. It is also a great remedy for sore throat and throat pains. Instead of buying over the counter drugs, you can simply make your self a mulethi kadha!
To start, grind your sweet wood into a fine powder. Next, take 1/4 teaspoon of the mulethi powder, black pepper powder, a pinch of cinnamon powder, and a few tulsi leaves and toss them into one cup of boiling water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. When serving, one teaspoon of honey. Drink your concoction twice a day to start feeling better.
Alternatively, you can also make a mulethi tea by simmering one piece of licorice root and a small piece of ginger into boiling water for five minutes. Finally, add a tea bag and let it steep. Finally, the simplest way to prepare it is by simply adding a teaspoon of mulethi powder into a glass of warm water.
Honey – for Acute Cough
Last but not the least in our roster of effective ayurvedic home remedies for cough is honey!
Acute cough is caused by upper respiratory tract infections and usually lasts no more than 2-3 weeks. A great way to treat acute cough is by taking a teaspoonful of honey before bedtime. The anti microbial properties present in honey will help reduce the severity of your cough.
Final Takeaway
It’s about time we explore natural home remedies for cough and find alternatives to prescription medications, which are surprisingly can be found in your kitchen pantry! Natural home remedies for cough are generally safe and effective, less expensive than over-the-counter medications, more natural, and can be customized to your individual needs. Additionally, learning about natural cough remedies can help you feel more in control of your health, learn about the healing power of plants and herbs, and share your knowledge with others.