If you find yourself sneezing, coughing or getting the flu, try these all-natural Ayurvedic remedies that are also backed by modern science.
Detoxify: Drink plenty of hot water. Why?
It is absorbed by the body more easily than cool water.
Better removes toxins from the body that violate the immune system.
· Moisturizes mucous membranes.
At the first sign of a cold, Ayurveda recommends drinking hot water every 10-15 minutes.
Take turmeric to boost your immunity. According to a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, turmeric extract has been proven to activate immune cells.
Eat warm food.
Ayurveda suggests using food as medicine and recommends eating light, simple, and warm foods, including khichri, dal, clear broths, clear liquids (water and tea), and seasonal vegetables after they have been carefully processed.
Also avoid cold, fried, dry, and raw, hard-to-digest foods.
Gargle with salt water. Gargling with salt water loosens excess mucus and removes bacteria and fungus from the throat. It can provide relief from a sore throat. Dissolve 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. A study published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who gargled three times a day experienced an almost 40% reduction in upper respiratory tract infections during cold and flu season compared to controls.
Eat ginger. According to Ayurvedic theory, ginger is one of the best cold remedies. Its pungent nature in colds reduces excess mucus. But a word of caution: don't combine ginger and anticoagulant drugs like aspirin, as they both thin the blood.
Ginger steam. Inhalation of ginger-infused steam reduces congestion in the sinuses and lungs. First, boil 1 teaspoon of ginger powder in 1 liter of water. Once the water has cooled down a bit, you can lean over the pot, put a towel over your head, and inhale the steam through your nose for a few minutes. Repeat as needed.
Try pranayama to relieve chest cramps. To relieve spasms associated with breathing through a cough, sneeze, take a deep, long breath.
Happy Ayurveda!