Honey cough syrup: 1tsp honey+ pinch black salt (kala namak) + pinch turmeric (haldi). Warm up slightly and take to relieve coughing and pain. If you take this as soon as you feel pain swallowing — which usually indicates the onset of a sore throat — you may avoid the infection altogether. It works for me!
This ‘medicine’ tastes quite good — my kids love it. The dosage, however, has to be reduced for them: a couple of drops of the mixture should be enough.
Honey and ginger brew: Add 1 tsp ginger juice and the juice of one lemon (or half an orange) to 1 cup of hot water. Add honey to sweeten. Sip slowly, letting it rest in the back of your throat between sips, to provide immediate relief from pain and irritation. This concoction worked wonderfully every time my brother had a tonsils infection.
Snorting water: This is extremely effective for clearing the airways. It may be a little painful for the first 5 seconds, but gives instant relief so it’s well worth a try. Mix 1 tsp salt in a bowl of warm water. Take a handful and ‘inhale’ it through your nose, as far as you can. After a couple of times you’ll figure out how to take the water in your nose and out of the mouth. I know it sounds disgusting but it works like magic! Repeat at least 8 to 10 times. Warm salt water loosens the mucus, which you can then easily blow out through your nose. This gives immediate results.
Massage oil with carom seeds (ajwain): Simmer 1 tsp ajwain in half a cup of olive oil over a very low flame (a high flame will cause the oil to ignite) until the seeds are completely burnt. Cool and strain into an airtight container for storage. It works so well I always keep some in store.
Massage warm oil on the throat area, and wrap around a piece of cloth — great for curbing night-time coughing. For wheezing, massage onto the chest area (front and back) and wear an extra layer of clothing. To clear the nasal passages, massage onto the bridge of the nose and forehead, and wrap a scarf around your head. This will clear up a stuffy nose; especially important for getting much needed sleep! This remedy is great for young children who can’t expectorate mucus.
Masala tea: My father drinks this whenever he feels a sore throat coming on and it always helps. Put 2 cloves (long), 2 whole black peppers, a one-inch piece of cinnamon (dalcheeni) and some chopped ginger in a cup of water, and slowly bring to boil. Make your choice of tea with this water, and enjoy.
Take steam. Hot vapours help clear the air passages, and release mucus. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, or menthol, for better results. Studies have shown taking steam shortens the duration of a throat infection.
Other remedies: Gargling with salt and water is a common remedy for a sore throat. Add ½ tsp turmeric, a pinch of cayenne pepper and an aspirin to increase its effectiveness tenfold.
A slightly odd, but effective, remedy calls for a cloth soaked in cold water, placed on your throat, and wrapped around with another piece of cloth. Leave overnight. This works as the cold compress draws blood to the region, and expedites the healing process.
If you can tolerate the taste, suck on raw garlic; otherwise eat it mixed with food. It is a natural antibiotic, excellent for fighting all kinds of infections.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, August 28th, 2011.
COMMENTS (9)
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@Fehmeen: Thanks Fehmeen. Saman corrected the article immediately and what you are seeing is the revised article. Just chewing on the beeswak fresh after picking is also a great cure to throat irritation or cough! I learnt it while on a visit to a native beekeeper in interior Maharashtra. Thank you
Homa and Maha,
I agree with the author in that the honey should be warmed up to room temperature, and that idea doesn't clash with Ayurveda theory (they didn't have fridges back then, if you remember, so everything was at room temperature, and let's not forget the temperatures in the subcontinent go pretty high in the summer).
I personally know the grand daughter of an hakeem that lived back in the 1800s (yes, she's quite aged) and she confirmed Saman's suggestion through her grandfather's version of the honey-recipe for coughs - he used to advise his patients to take some 'kala namak' and warmed honey, apply it on their bare finger and 'lick' it off. Obviously, anything higher than room temperature would burn your fingers. And that's perfectly in line with what the author advises us :)
Like I said, it is not compulsory to use the honey warm, just my personal preference and what worked for me and my family. Just like Ayurveda advises against heating honey, there are studies that suggest using honey with warm water, or in tea, is beneficial to good health.
I'd like to reiterate that if any one has any doubts, they're welcome to take it cool- it's the honey that helps in healing, not its temperature.
Good idea about including this in the article- it's in process.
Saman, Homa is right. In Ayurvedic period, they did not have a thermometer to read 108DegF. It just says use warm water, no warmer than half the body temperature. which is room temperature. Which makes it not Hot water, but normal water. Ginger yes, you can piece it and put it in Hot water. But once it cools down, add Honey and then sip it. I think you take the suggestion contructively and correct the article. Not too many read the comments. That will make you socially responsible too;-) God Bless.
PS-- a lot of Ayurvedic practitioners advise against heating it at all, and recommend not adding it even to hot milk or tea, for greatest efficacy.
@ Homa
Yes! This is true, which is why honey should always be mixed in lukewarm water as opposed to hot water.
Thanks for the heads up.
Heating honey does make it toxic according to Ayurveda, but ONLY if it is heated to a temperature of greater than 108 degrees Fahrenheit (or 42.2 degrees Centigrade). It becomes glue-like if heated above this temperature, sticks to body tissues, and becomes very difficult to remove, hence is considered toxic.
The honey in the cough syrup needs to be warmed only slightly (for example, to bring it to room temperature, if it has been in the fridge) so it shouldn't be dangerous.
Still, if in doubt, go ahead and have it without warming it up, it won't take anything away from the remedy. The warmth is to soothe the throat only.
P.s. Scientifically, room temperature is taken to be between 20 and 23 degrees Centigrade.
Excellent. One Caution however: Ayurveda says heating honey makes it toxic. Better not to heat the honey.
Thank you for sharing your treasured treatments of your daadi.