HOME REMEDIES FOR WHOOPING COUGH

Whooping cough is medically known as pertussis. Whooping cough is a severe, hacking cough that is followed by a high-pitched intake of breath, which sounds like a 'whoop'. Whooping cough is a contagious condition that involves an infection of one’s respiratory tract or system.Though it starts as cold, whooping cough eventually turns into a serious ailment. The disease is more common amongst children and teenagers, though others might also get affected by it. Highly contagious in nature, whooping cough, at times, makes it difficult for the affected child to eat, drink or breathe.

The bacterial infection in lungs, caused by bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is called whooping cough. A contagious disease, it leads to severe coughing, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting and perspiration. Some of the common symptoms of whooping cough are sore throat, mild dry cough, sneezing, tears, tiredness, loss of appetite, night cough, vomiting, retching, nosebleeds and diarrhea. Though it starts with a mild cough, whooping cough develops into severe coughing, if not treated on time. Whooping cough can, however, be treated with home remedies as well.

The initial signs and symptoms of this condition are quite similar to that of the common cold. Sneezing, a runny nose, low fever and a mild cough are some of the symptoms of this condition.

Causes of Whooping Cough

• Bronco-pneumonia
• Infection of middle ear
• Convulsions
• Micro-organisms Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis
• Through tiny drops of fluid, from an infected person's nose or mouth.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough

• Cold
• Mild cough
• Mild fever
• Night cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Tears while coughing
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Tiredness

Home Remedies:

There are several home remedies however that can help in treating this condition.

Ginger is considered to be one of the best remedies for treating this condition. Grate a piece of ginger and then extract the juice from the shavings. Simultaneously you will need to boil a cup of water (250 ml) and then add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to the boiling water. Let the two simmer for a while on a low flame, till the quantity of water is reduced to half. Once the decoction cools add a teaspoon of the ginger juice and honey to it and stir. This mixture should be sipped on slowly. It will help in gaining relief from the cough.

Mix a teaspoon each of honey and freshly extracted  radish juice. Add a dash of rock salt and mix all the ingredients well. This concoction should be had three times day to help reduce symptoms. Another effective remedy involves the use of almond oil. About 5-6 drops of the oil have to be mixed with 10 drops of ginger juice and onion juice. This mixture has to be consumed three times in a day. Garlic syrup is also recommended for this condition. Half a teaspoon of the syrup has to be had 2-3 times’ a day in order to treat the illness. It should be had more often, if in case the coughing spells tend to get more violent and frequent. Roast 2-3 cloves and then grind them into a fine powder. This should then be added to a teaspoon of powdered milk or sugar. A dash of this mixture if had 3-4 times a day will also help in treating this condition.

Few More Home Remedy For Whooping Cough

• One of most effective home remedies for whooping cough would be to have a cup of grape juice, mixed with a tsp of honey, on a daily basis.
• Roast and powder the root of turmeric. Take 3 grams of this powder, along with milk, two times a day.
• Soak 7 almonds in water, overnight. In the morning, remove the brown skin and pound the almonds, to form a paste. Now, add 20 grams each of butter and sugar. Consume the paste two times a day, in the morning and evening.
• Finely chop an onion and extract its juice. Mix 1 tsp of this juice with 1 tsp of honey and keep it aside. Consume it after four to five hours.
• Cut a small slice of ginger and dip it in some rock salt and lemon juice. Store this in an airtight container. Lick this whenever the cough attacks.
• Crush a medium-sized onion and add the juice of one lemon to it. Now, pour a cup of boiling water over it and add a tsp of honey. Take this 2 to 3 times a day.
• Mix 2 grams of the pulp of the herb of belleric myrobalan, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp long pepper and 2 tsp honey. Have this mixture two times a day.
• Aniseed is helpful in treating whooping cough. Prepare a tea with it and have it 1-2 times in a day.
• Extract garlic juice and have a tsp of this, 2 to 3 times a day. This is an effective way to treat whooping cough.
• In a cup of water, add a tsp each of fenugreek seeds and fresh ginger, along with a dash of honey. Bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool. Strain the drink and consume it.
• Dry the herb of belleric myrobalan and cover it with wheat flour. Now, roast the herb and consume it.
• Grind 100 gm of raisins, with water. Add 100 gm of sugar to the paste. Once it forms a saucy consistency, preserve it. Have 20 grams of this mixture everyday, before going to bed.
• Mix 5-6 drops of almond oil and 10 drops each of ginger juice and onion oil. Have this mixture three times daily.
• Mix a tsp of fresh radish juice with equal quantity of honey. Add some rock salt and form syrup. Consume this every 8 hours.
•  Take a tbsp of carrot juice, mixed with some honey and warm water. This proves beneficial in treating whooping cough.

If none of these remedies seem to work and the condition appears to be getting worse, then consulting a physician is highly recommended.

HOME REMEDIES FOR COLD, COUGH & FLU

Winter infections and allergies tend to take a toll on most people’s health. Coughs, allergies, flu, colds, and sinusitis become very common occurrences, which last for days thus making one’s life miserable.

Home remedies can make in a snap help prevent seasonal colds or cure a stubborn case of the flu.Here are some home remedies:

Garlic tea immune enhancer

A well-known immune system strengthener, garlic shines as an antibacterial and antiviral herb for fighting colds, coughs and the flu. One of the best ways to take advantage of garlic's healing properties is by drinking fresh garlic tea. Sweetened with a little raw honey, it's delicious and helps to heal what ails you. Peel 2 to 3 cloves of fresh garlic and lightly crush them with the side of a wide knife blade. Add them to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for another 15 minutes. Strain the garlic and allow the tea to cool to mouth temperature. Add raw honey, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Drink as much as desired.

Mullein tea for coughs and congestion

Mullein tea is well-known for relieving chest congestion from coughs, colds and the flu. It acts as an expectorant, loosening trapped mucous and soothing sore throats. Make mullein tea by filling a tea ball or strainer with dried mullein herb and steeping in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Sweeten with raw honey and drink as needed to relieve symptoms.

Red onion and raw honey cough syrup

A wonderful home remedy for adults or kids suffering from a cough uses brown cane sugar, raw honey or stevia and red onions to make a soothing and tasty cough syrup. Wash, peel and slice the entire onion horizontally. Starting with the base of the onion, layer the slices in a bowl alternating with layers of raw honey or brown sugar. Stevia powder works well for this home remedy too; however, it is extremely sweet. Continue adding layers of onion and sweetener until the entire onion is reconstructed in the bowl. Cover and allow the sweetened onion to remain in the bowl on your counter for about 12-15 hours or overnight. The next day, there will be about a cup or more of sweet syrup in the bowl. The cough syrup contains a range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the onion and the honey to help fight infection and soothe sore throats and quiet a cough. Take a spoonful as needed. Has no onion-y taste.

Raw honey and lemon for sore throats

A mixture of fresh lemon juice and raw honey provides soothing relief for sore throats and helps stop the tickle that stimulates coughing. Raw honey -- with all its components including royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen -- is high in nutrients and enzymes which kill bacteria and viruses. The vitamin C and antioxidants found in fresh lemons boost the immune system, speeding healing. Together these two home remedies are a powerhouse for getting over a cold and sore throat. Mix the juice of 1/2 the lemon with 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey and sip throughout the day as needed.

Chicken soup antiviral

Chicken soup really does act to knock out a cold or the flu and hasten healing. Take advantage of the high antioxidant properties and nutrients found in organic vegetables and chicken. Although non-organic chicken soup may relieve some cold symptoms, it also supplies the body with pesticides, growth hormones, herbicides and antibiotics that are not recommended for well being. Go organic all the way and get well quickly.

FAT REDUCING INDIAN FOOD

You don't have to acquire a taste for olive oil, seaweed or soya to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet. Indian cuisine can be healthy too, if it's cooked with oil and ingredients that take care of your heart and health.

Ayurveda suggests you include all tastes — sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent — in at least one meal each day, to help balance unnatural cravings. Here are some foods that can help you lose weight and gain health:

Turmeric: Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is an object of research owing to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting, helping to prevent heart attack.

Cardamom: This is a thermogenic herb that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. Cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.

Chillies: Foods containing chillies are said to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.

Curry leaves: Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can help you lose weight. These leaves flush out fat and toxins, reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.

Garlic: An effective fat-burning food, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

Mustard oil: This has low saturated fat compared to other cooking oils. It has fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It contains antioxidants, essential vitamins and reduces cholesterol, which is good for the heart.

Cabbage: Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.

Moong Dal: The bean sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programmes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fibre, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fibre content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.

 

Honey: It is a home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra fat deposits in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.

Buttermilk: It is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss.

Millets: Fibre-rich foods such as millets - jowar, bajra, ragi, etc - absorb cholesterol and help increase the secretion of the bile that emulsifies fats.

Cinnamon and Cloves: Used extensively in Indian cooking, the spices have been found to improve the function of insulin and to lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.