natural remedies
Natural Cough Remedy For Dry Coughs And Wet Coughs
There are two types of cough and you will need a different cough remedy for each.
Dry Coughs
A dry cough is when you have a tickle in the back of your throat. When you cough, the throat becomes irritated, making you cough more. In this case you need to stop coughing. Remedies that soothe the throat are required.
Honey can be very soothing to an irritated throat. The traditional honey and lemon drink is great for a dry cough. You can also add ginger to warm the body, turmeric to treat the inflamed throat and – strange as it may seem – pepper, which can be a great cough remedy.
You can also gargle with raw spinach juice to relieve the throat. You will need a juicer that can handle leaves, or use a blender and then strain the resulting liquid. You can add turmeric and/or garlic for added effectiveness if you wish. Warm the juice to body temperature before you use it. Gargle a few times and then swallow some of the juice. If you hate the taste, try mixing equal parts spinach and carrot juice.
Almonds can be a good remedy too. Soak whole raw almonds overnight or for at least 6 hours. Peel off the brown skin. Crush, grind or blend them and mix with a little honey. This will form a paste which can be eaten alone or on bread.
Marjoram tea can be good for a dry cough. Marjoram is a relaxing herb that eases tension and stress. It can also ease the irritation in your throat.
Wet Coughs
A wet cough is when you are coughing up mucus from the chest. In this case you should not suppress the cough. You need remedies that loosen the mucus so it will come up more easily.
A wet cough is often associated with a chest infection, cold or flu. Garlic can help to treat the infection. Use raw garlic if you can take it, or add it at the last minute to soups and other hot dishes.
Onion also has anti bacterial properties. Juice or blend one medium size onion, add the juice of one lemon and a couple of tablespoons of hot (not boiling) water. Sip this warm liquid slowly.
Grapes can be very good for a wet cough. If you have a cold or flu, you might try eating only grapes for a couple of days. This mono diet will be very easy for the body to digest, leaving it free to focus all of its resources on fighting the virus.
Staying warm is important for all types of cough. Being in a warm, moist environment is ideal. You can inhale steam with some essential oils – eucalyptus for loosening mucus or juniper for a dry cough. Some people like to take a sauna.
It is possible to find a natural cough remedy that works but if your cough persists you should see your doctor in case it is a sign of a more serious problem.
Tags: natural cough remedy, dry cough remedies
Gout Home Remedies: Can They Help?
Gout is difficult to treat but there are a few gout home remedies that you can use to ease the symptoms of this debilitating, painful condition.
What Is Gout?
Gout is also known as metabolic arthritis. It is a form of arthritis caused by a combination of blood acidity and abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid forms crystals which are deposited on the joints, causing pain and distortion in the joints.
A gout attack will cause acute arthritis and it is intensely painful. The big toe is one of the most commonly affected joints. If the condition persists, then over a period of time the crystal deposits will form lumps around the joints and sometimes in other areas. These deposits are called tophi.
Diet is an important factor in causing gout. Genetic factors play a part and gout is more common in some racial groups than in others. It is more common in men than in women and it mainly affects people over 50.
Home Remedies For Gout
Ice packs placed on the affected joint are the best way to relieve pain other than medication. You can use an ice pack for 20-30 minutes several times a day.
During a flare up of gout you should drink plenty of water to help the body clear out the urates. Follow a low protein diet, avoiding meat, fish, sweetened foods and drinks, and alcohol.
Bicarbonate of soda is a traditional remedy which works for some people. However, this will raise sodium levels which can have an effect on blood pressure. Do not take bicarbonate of soda if you have been told to cut down on salt.
Potassium supplements have been suggested in some cases. Most fruit is high in potassium, especially bananas. Black cherries have been helpful for some sufferers.
Some people have reported good results from taking ginseng supplements. Another possibility is to mix turmeric and ginger and add this to food. Turmeric and ginger have anti inflammatory properties.
Doctors will generally prescribe medication, or you can take non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen from the drugstore. These are not natural remedies but may be something you are willing to take. However, do not take aspirin, which can make it worse.
Prevention Of Future Attacks
Anybody who has had gout in the past will be susceptible to future attacks unless they take preventive steps. The most important of these is diet.
The best diet for gout prevention is low in fat and low in protein. In particular, avoid beef and seafood which are high in animal based purine. Vegetable based purine does not seem to have the same effect.
It is also important to avoid certain foods and drinks which are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This is a very common sweetener in the USA and it can lead to hyperuricemia in blood. Just two soda drinks a day have been linked to an 85% increase in risk of gout. Beer should also be avoided.
Consumption of dairy foods, on the other hand, seems to lower the risk of gout.
If you are overweight you can greatly reduce your chances of having attacks of gout in the future by stabilizing your weight within the healthy range for your height.
Always consult with your doctor before trying any gout home remedies to check that they are suitable for your individual case.
Tags: gout home remedies, metabolic arthritis, gout, home remedies for gout
