Are you looking for an ideal and effective remedy for common cold? Opt for Ayurvedic methods, which are considered excellent for management of cold. Common cold accounts for being the most common dosha or disorder, according to Ayurveda. Every individual suffers from common cold more than once during his or her life.

Ayurvedic view
The condition is referred to as Pratishyaya in Ayurveda. All the three doshas are responsible for common cold. In case of common colds due to vata dosha, dry cough, mucus discharge, and a runny nose are common symptoms. People with pitta dosha having common cold are likely to experience a sore throat, fever, and nose blockage. For people with kapha dosha, common colds are featured by thick mucus discharge, headaches, and head heaviness. The most important Ayurvedic remedies for common cold are as follows:

Ayurvedic herbs
Various natural herbs are used for the treatment of common cold.

Bishop s weed is used for opening up clogged nasal passages. You have to tie its seeds in a piece of cloth and inhale it directly. This clears the congestion and treats nasal blockages in children effectively.
Cassia roots are ideal for treating common cold. The roots have to be burned and you need to inhale the smoke which is emitted. Your mucus discharge increases after this treatment, but stops totally after a while.
Boil cinnamon with pepper and honey in water and consume it. This is ideal for reducing a sore throat and preventing your common cold from turning chronic.
Cumin seeds have antiseptic properties and are effective in treating the harmful effects of common cold in case of fever. Throat irritations are healed as well.
Dietary modifications

Patients of common cold are recommended to fast for an entire day, which enables the body to eliminate toxins. After this, you can eat vegetable soups, and steamed, boiled vegetables with a little spice to taste. You should avoid all food items which are tough to digest such as milk, yoghurt, and food items which are oily, spicy, and rich. You should take hot food in case of common cold.

Ayurvedic treatment

You can use Bringasavam, which is a prescribed Ayurvedic medicine for common cold. You should take 15 ml of this regularly for a period of seven days.
You can also opt for a nasal drop called Anutaila, which is prescribed by all Ayurvedic practitioners. You can also mix Trikatu power with honey. It reduces inflammation in your respiratory tract. You can also use Shabindu taila as a nasal drop.
For knowing common cold remedies suitable for you, visit an Ayurvedic practitioner. The doctor will prescribe the most ideal Ayurvedic remedies based on your condition and symptoms.

Common Cold - The Ayurvedic Way of Treating It!

Children who suffer from recurring cold and cough usually develop other respiratory infections that can result in fever, dry cough and a difficulty in breathing.

Causes-
With more than over 200 different viruses which can cause cold in children, it can be a difficult condition to treat and prevent from recurring. As the immune system in children is comparatively weaker or underdeveloped, changes in weather can make them susceptible to cold and cough.

Symptoms-
A cold usually begins with a sore throat followed by a runny nose and cough. The sore throat is a result of built-up mucus which will then run down to the throat from the nose. As the cold gets worse, the child will start feeling tired, start coughing and experiencing soreness in his throat and muscle pain. It might also cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

The repeated recurrence of cold and cough makes many children dependent on prescription medications, which is detrimental to their health in the long run. Homeopathy is a much more natural alternative that remedies the infections causing the cold and cough and prevents them from recurring.

Boost Immunity With Medication Of Homeopathy!

Homeopathic Treatments-

Homeopathy uses different herbaceous plant extracts to cure colds and coughs that a child might develop after being exposed to cold weather. If the cold causes dryness of mouth and hoarseness, then these extracts will help remedy that.
The essential oils derived from certain root vegetables help remedy nasal discharge and violent sneezing. This also helps relieve congestive headaches that occur in the frontal area of the head due to a cold.
Certain chemicals are used in diluted concentrations to treat the redness and puffiness of eyes and the frequent sneezing caused by cold. It also helps relieve any fatigue and muscle pain that might be caused by a cold.
Plant extracts are also used to treat heavy and constricted breathing that might be caused by a cold.
Benefits of Homeopathy-

Small dosages-
Medicines in homeopathy are prepared from substances derived from minerals and plants and administered in low doses. This makes it much safer for consumption by children compared to other forms of medicine. It also ensures that there are no adverse allergic reactions.

Builds Immunity-
Since homeopathic medicines are sourced from natural ingredients, they counteract any illness at its root level. This helps enhance the body s resistance and immunity against the disease.

Lifelong viability-
Homeopathy does not carry any risk of side-effects or toxicity, thereby making it suitable for people across all age groups.

Recurrent Cold & Cough In Children - Immunity Medication Of Homeopathy! 

If there is one disease which most people would definitely be affected by, it has to be the common cough and cold. It is not without reason that it is called  common cold.  When we look back though, common cold and cough was not so common. It is evident that it has become common due to the lifestyle and environmental changes and can be managed again by looking at how it used to be managed earlier.

Ayurveda believes that health is determined by the balance between the tridoshas in the body, namely vata, pitta, and kapha. Common cough and cold are caused by an imbalance between all 3 components. The type of cough, phlegm, congestion, etc., will vary depending on which dosha is predominant. People who repeatedly have attacks of common cold would be delighted to know there are remedies which are commonly available and can keep these attacks at bay. Read on to know more.

Garlgling with salted lukewarm water soothes the throat and helps in relieving cough.
Taking a combination of honey, lemon, and lukewarm water 3 times a day is very effective in preventing common cold.
Drinking warm liquids like herbal teas and clear vegetable soups with garlic added soothes the throat and also provides antioxidant benefits against cold and cough.
Boil some handful of tulsi leaves in a litre of water, strain and drink it through the day to get rid of cough and cold.
Eating onion dipped in honey also can prevent chronic cough and cold.
Boiling tulsi seeds and ginger in water and drinking this after straining also helps the throat.
Drinking juice of betel leaves is another natural remedy.
Add some salt to mustard oil and rub it on the nose and throat to get immediate relief.
Similarly, a mixture of curd, sugar, and black pepper powder provides relief from cough and congestion.
A mixture of cinnamon, honey, and pepper also helps people with cough and cold.
Add a small quantity of asafetida (hing) to a glass of warm water and feel the relief in the lungs and throat.
Boil water with jaggery and coriander seeds, strain and drink twice a day.
A mixture of ginger and milk can be used in concentrated form to be instilled in the nose.
A mixture of fennel seeds and clove powder mixed with honey provides great relief.
Inhale the vapour of ladies finger from water in which it was boiled. This relieves throat infections and dry cough.
In addition, Ayurveda has specific yogasanas like jal neti, sutra neti, kapalbhati and setubandha, which are aimed at clearing out nasal and airway passages.

Common Cough & Cold - Ayurvedic Remedies For It!

Flu is caused by a virus known as influenza and is a common respiratory disease. It is typically caused from the month of October to May. Some of the common symptoms include fatigue, runny nose, fever, cough, muscle ache, sore throat, body ache, etc. 

The flu vaccination helps to protect from influenza. The effect generally lasts for a year. It is recommended that an individual takes this vaccination once in a year since the strain of the virus keeps changing every year. Flu vaccine comprises of an egg-based technology.

Who Can catch flu?
Anyone can get a flu vaccination. Children above the age of 6 months or more are eligible to get a flu vaccination. In addition, the person who has a severe outbreak of allergic reaction due to the flu vaccination should also stay away from this. 

Pregnant women can also get this vaccination without any worry about the baby. They not only safeguard the mother, but protect the child from influenza too. Adults who are more than 65 years old can take this vaccination without worrying. Patients with an acute allergy should consult their doctors before taking a flu shot.

Are there any side effects?
Although most people do not feel a thing after the flu shot, some might experience mild symptoms, such as redness of the area where the vaccine has been injected, mild body aches, soreness, redness and fever. Other serious side effects include allergic reaction resulting in soreness and very high fever. A doctor or healthcare personnel should be immediately contacted in such an instance. 

Can flu shot cause flu?
This is totally a myth. A flu vaccine doesn t result in the flu. The virus content of the flu vaccine doesn t contain any live virus that can potentially trigger an outbreak of flu in the body. They are noninfectious in every sense of the word. It takes a couple of weeks for the flu vaccine to build immunity in the body. A person might get affected during this time if he comes in contact with an infected person.

Confusing flu with similar symptoms:
Common symptoms of flu such as nausea, vomiting, sneezing, body ache and fever can be symptoms of an entirely different disease such as diarrhoea. Until the tests are conducted and the doctor gives an assured verdict of flu, it is unwise to take a flu vaccination based on gut feel and mere speculation. 

When is an ideal time to take flu vaccine?
There is no right or wrong time of taking a flu shot. It is seriously infectious and can catch hold of a person at any time. The right time to take a flu shot is now. It is readily available over the counter and can be injected at any time of the year.

Flu Shot - Things You Need to Know About 

Children are highly at risk of developing a common cold. It has been said that 22 million school days are lost each year because of the common cold. This can easily be prevented by a number of simple measures. Here are the most common methods which people take to make sure that they do not catch the flu:

1. Make your child wash their hands
This is the most common reason for children getting the common cold. It is possible that whatever you touch may get infected with your germs and pass on to your children. This can happen even hours later. Therefore, it is crucial that you wash your hands as often as possible and if this is not possible, you should at least make your child use a hand sanitizer.

2. Do not sneeze into your hands
When you sneeze into your hands, the virus clings to your hands. Therefore, when you sneeze, try to sneeze into a tissue or at least into the inside of your elbow so that your child does not get a cold.

3. Make your child not touch your face
Colds can only enter your body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Tell your kids not to touch their faces so that they do not catch a virus.

4. Make your child do aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise increases your heart rate and this means, that it also increases the ability of the body to kill viruses.

5. Give your child foods with phytochemicals
Green, red and yellow vegetable and fruits are very good at fighting off viruses. Eat them so that the natural virus fighting ability of the body is increased.

6. Do not allow your child to come near smoke
Smoking reduces the body's ability to fight off cold. This is why smokers get more severe and more frequent colds. It has been said that one cigarette can stop cilia from working for 30 to 40 minutes.

7. Relax 
There is also a lot of evidence that your immune system is stronger when you are not stressed out. Try to see that your child is not stressed from school or any other place which may cause them stress.

How to Prevent Common Cold in Children?

Cold and cough is caused by a viral infection, which can last for about two to four weeks. The symptoms include stuffy or a runny nose, coughing and sore throat. Many times, the infection may raise body temperature and the child may suffer from fever. Our body s immune system naturally fights with such infections. Depending on the type of cough and the symptoms, the virus can stay active in the body for about 4 to 6 weeks. It is quite painful to see the child suffering from cold and cough. The symptoms of this infection are worse during the first two days.

The child will experience pain and irritation in the throat with difficulty in swallowing, frequent coughing with mucous, breathing difficulty and high fever. Most parents rush to over the counter drugs for cold and cough to ease of their child s agony. However, most drugs/ cough syrups available over the counter only provide temporary relief. Medical evidence suggests that antibiotics do not kill viruses, thus, it is not advisable to treat cold and cough with antibiotics unless accompanied by another infection. So, what do parents do? Well, there is a lot that can be done.

Let s first understand the type of a cough your child might be suffering from:



Dry cough: Generally occurs due to infection in upper respiratory tract, cold or influenza. Children with asthma and allergies are also prone to this type of cough as dry cough is triggered by smoke or dust.
Croup Cough: A harsh barking and dry cough with swelling beneath vocal cords.
Wet Cough: Most commonly caused by cold. This is an infection of the lower respiratory tract characterised by mucous secretions.
Whooping cough: Characterised by fast coughing, breathing difficulties and a whooping sound while breathing.
Apart from this, If coughing starts suddenly along with choking, the child may have inhaled a foreign body. Immediate help may be required. For babies less than 12 months of age, cold cough followed by breathing difficulties may indicate bronchiolitis and require a paediatric attention. A normal cold and cough generally subside with two to four weeks. However, it is important to understand when to consult a doctor.

Chest pain or breathing problems
Cough lasting for more than 6 weeks.
A yellow, green or brown mucous indicating another infection.
Swollen glands, persistent high fever, rashes.
Body getting pale and symptoms getting worse.
Temperature higher than 38 degrees in the case of infants.
Precautions and diet that should be taken care of

Increase Intake of fluids especially hot liquids
Never stop breastfeeding the baby
Vapour rub applied on chest and back is an effective remedy
Inhaling steam provides relief to a sore throat and nose
Intake of crushed tulsi leaves with honey or hot turmeric milk is soothing and very helpful
There is little we can do to prevent viral infections. However, proper care and caution can ensure a smooth recovery.

Cold and Cough in Children - Precautions that Parents Must Take

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