Achoo achoo achoo!!! Sounds familiarly like the common cold. Everyone suffers from cold once in a while. The runny nose, sneezes and sore throat although gets easily cured in three to five days; however it leaves behind fatigue, weakness and several empty boxes of tissues. The common cold gets easily cured on its own, however, ayurveda can help in speeding up the recovery process and soothe the sore throat.
Ayurvedic interpretation of common cold:
In ayurveda an imbalanced vata dosha and imbalanced kapha dosha causes common cold. When the kapha dosha is imbalanced and suffers from an excess of kapha’s damp and cold qualities it causes runny nose and excessive sneezing. On the other hand, when the vata dosha is imbalanced excessive vata reduces gastric agni in the body and causes cold and chills.
Ginger is the best herb used in curing colds as mentioned in ancient ayurvedic science. Ginger reduces excessive kapha energy and restores gastric fire by reducing vata imbalance as well.
Herbs that can help cure common cold
Ginger is by far the best herb used in treatment of common cold. Apart from ginger, cinnamon, basil, cloves and licorice are also used. These herbs in powdered form are added to hot water and drunk just like tea. The specified herbs can also be added in food while cooking for their healing properties as well as for flavor. These herbs in powdered form are quite easily available at a herbal store or online.
Ginger tea is extremely beneficial for treating runny nose and sore throat. Recipe for ginger tea: add half teaspoon of powdered ginger, cinnamon and tinge of powdered clove in one and half cup boiling water. Steep the herbs in boiling water for about eight to ten minutes and strain them out before having the tea.
Important tip: if you have had aspirin then avoid any ginger tablets or concoction for two to four hours. Both of them have blood thinning effects and may adversely affect the health.
Regular intake of chayavnprash, an Ayurvedic tonic helps improve immune system overtime and prevents frequent occurrence of colds.
Dietary recommendations in Ayurveda
Ayurveda also advises certain changes in diet to treat common cold. Include more of whole grain foods and steamed veggis. Avoid oily food products, milk products, sweets, fruit juice, nuts and meat till your cold disappears.
Other cold fighting suggestions
Chicken soup: chicken soup has been used as a successful remedy in treating cold for more than eight hundred years. Most people who have tried chicken soup will confirm that it really helps in treatment of cold. Chicken soup reduces congestion and soothes soreness in throat. Researches have indicated that it is the vegetables in the stock and not the chicken that promotes the cold fighting abilities. The chicken or the vegetables, whatever it maybe, chicken soup is excellent for colds.
Hot steam: inhaling hot steam clears congestion. Steam inhalers are easily available in the market. Add few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot boiling water and pour it into steam inhaler. Breathe directly from it and voila your nose blockage is gone.
Salt water nasal drops: salt water dissolves congestion. Add half teaspoon of salt to half a cup of lukewarm water. Put two to three drops of this mixture with the help of a dropper in each nostril. Lay still for few minutes.
