SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES FOR COUGH AND CATARRH

I am writing this article out of a personal experience with cough and catarrh, also known as common cold the symptoms of which could be very frustrating. Constant sneezing, blocked nostrils, difficulty in breathing and high temperature amongst others are the general symptoms of cough and catarrh. The experience can be pretty bad for any one because you will have difficulty in sleeping, you will cough all night in the case where the cough and catarrh is severe, you will feel terribly weak, have a headache with a very high temperature. It will affect your daily activities and make you have a bad day.

As the harmattan season is here with the dust, wind and dirt, a lot of children and adults alike come down with a cold (cough and catarrh). Cough and catarrh are caused by viruses known as the flu (common cold) virus. The common cold viruses are airborne, which means they are communicable with air as the source of infection. Also, a healthy person is likely to catch a cold if he or she comes into contact with someone who has cough and catarrh, either through a handshake or sharing things like spoons or towels, and then touches his or her mouth, nose or eyes without properly washing his or her hands.

However, the body usually heals itself of cough and catarrh in most cases within one week, even without any form of treatment. This is because the symptoms of cough and catarrh are the manifestations of the body's immune system actions against the common cold virus invading the body. Treating cough and catarrh the right way doesn’t mean you should constantly rely on medications, there are some ingredients found in the kitchen which can be used to relieve the discomforting symptoms. The home remedies to use in treating cough and catarrh are as follows:

Garlic: Garlic is a powerful antioxidant with the ability to fight against bacteria and virus. It works as an expectorant and decongests the chest and nasal cavity. The use of garlic helps to battle cough and catarrh effectively. You just have to endure the smell of garlic if you want to get well fast.

Honey & Lime:  Naturally the combination of honey and lime as tea really attacks cold all round. The hot tea burns out congestion and sore throat at the nasal cavity, while the lime gives vitamin c. With this remedy, your days of cold and catarrh are numbered.

Vitamin C: The antioxidant property of Vitamin C has made it a good supplement to fight off common cold. So take enough food rich in vitamin C like oranges, pawpaw, berries, peas and leafy greens.

Robb: Robb is another effective home remedy to treat cough and catarrh. Just put it in a clean piece of cloth and inhale and you can as well rub it as an ointment around your neck, face and nasal cavity once you take your bath, this will ease your cough and catarrh. You can also do a steam inhalation using the robb in hot water and covering your head with a towel and inhaling the steam.  Take deep breaths and inhale in and out, allow the steam to heat your face and chest for 10 minutes. You will feel better in no time.

Okra stream and pepper soup are good home remedies as well try them out.

Flaxseeds for cold and cough: Flaxseeds are another effective remedy to cure common cold and cough. You can boil flaxseeds until it thickens and strain it. Add a few drops of lime juice and honey to it and consume the mixture.

Salt water gargle: This remedy is old as the earth and owes its popularity to the magic effect it might have on one’s body. When used as a home remedy for catarrh, it can help the person recover much sooner. All you need is some warm water; get less than a teaspoon of salt, soda or turmeric. It’s a promise that in just a little bit of time you will feel significantly better.

STEPHANIE E. HEMEN