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Symptoms
The common symptoms in this condition
are running or blocked nose, sneezing specially when exposed to cold air or drinking ice
cold drinks, sore throat, cough, congestion, headache sometimes low fever with body pains.
Anorexia , laziness and difficulty in sleeping are also seen when the symptoms become
severe.
Causes
This is a very common problem and is
caused by aggravation of Kapha. It may sometime be
caused by weak digestion. When the food we eat is not fully digested it changes into mucus
which in Ayurvedic language is called as ama. This mucus or ama mixed
with various circulations reaches the respiratory system and causes cold or cough. Other
causes are exposure to cold or humid conditions or cold air.
Exposure to hot and cold conditions
alternately with in a short period that is exposing the body to extreme temperature
conditions. For example if an individual is sweating heavily and he drinks very cold water
at the same time. Eating hot and cold food at the same time e.g. ice-cream with hot
coffee. Eating cold foods and ice cold drinks in the cold weather that is not eating
according to the season. Eating foods which increase Kapha
like milk products, foods heavily fried in oil or ghee (clarified butter). It is also
generally caused at the time of change of the season.
Remedies
- The body should be kept warm especially
feet, chest, throat and head. Precaution should be taken when going out in cold. Sweating
is very helpful. The simplest way to do it is drink hot spice tea or some other hot drink
and lie down on the bed .Take some warm cover like blanket and let the body sweat for 15
to 20 minutes.
- Fresh ginger juice (half a tea spoon)
mixed with half tea spoon honey should be taken three times a day- morning , noon and in
the night. In the winter it is better to warm the mixture before taking it. Mixing a tea
spoon of warm water in this misture also helps.
- Half a glass of warm water mixed with
one tea spoon of lemon juice and one tea spoon of honey can be taken 2-3 times a day.
- In case of dry cough especially if it
trouble is during the night, take fresh ginger and peel off the skin. Cut it into small
pieces of about two inches long. Apply some common salt and then chew it. You can also
keep it in the mouth and sleep. Black salt or rock salt gives better relief.
- Take cardamom, dry ginger, black pepper
and cinnamon in equal quantity, say 10 gms. each. Take white sugar or rock candy equal to
the total weight that is 40 gms. Grind them and make a fine powder. From this take half a
tea spoon ( about 3 gms.) twice a day with honey or warm water after meals.
- In case of sore throat a clove or two
cardamoms or rock candy or a few raisins can be chewed. Gargling with warm salty water is
also beneficial. This can be done two to three times a day.
Fasting is also helpful to relieve the symptoms of cold and
cough. It is very important that the patient has no constipation. In that case some
laxatives can be taken in order to clean the system every day.
Diet and Regimen
- Cold foods, cold drinks, ice cream,
sweets, fried foods, milk products like cheese, creams, yogurt etc. should not be taken.
Hot milk without fat can be taken if boiled with a piece of crushed ginger. Half tea spoon
of turmeric powder is good to mix with the milk. Sweet fruit juices should also be
avoided. Breads, meats, nuts and pastries are not good to take.
- It is good to take light and warm diet
like boiled or steamed vegetables, vegetable soup and fruits which are not juicy like
papaya and apple. Spice teas, herbal teas and some other hot drinks are good.
- Sleeping during day time should be
avoided. Taking cold shower, exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners etc. should be
avoided.
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