According to Ayurveda, the aggravation of kapha is due to the seasonal changes, stress, intake of cold drinks, and overexposure to cold which causes cough and viral infections. Improper digestion of food transforms into a mucus toxin (ama) and this circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system and causes colds and coughs.
Ayurveda states that every human being is composed of five cosmic elements (space, air, water, fire, earth) in different proportions. These proportions or "dosha" determine the character, the mood and the health of the person.
Ayurveda actually distinguishes three types of basic constitution: Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
When these three are well balanced, our body and our mind are in good harmony and we feel positive energy flowing in us. But when the balance weakens, the body becomes susceptible to stress, weakness, viruses and bacteria ... Too much work or inadequate diet can as well cause an imbalance. We must therefore balance the dosha to regain a healthy mind in perfect coordination with the body. An incorrect or poor nutrition will cause an alteration of agni (gastric fire) and therefore improper digestion of food, with a formation of toxins (ama). The accumulation of ama then causes disease.
Cold and Cough Symptoms
Following are the signs that indicate the presence of cold and cough:
- sore throat
- headache
- lethargy
- running or blocked nose
- sneezing
- congestion
- feverish feeling
- loss of appetite
- insomnia
Ayurvedic Cold and Cough Remedies
Ayurvedic medicine suggests the following cold and cough remedies:
- The body should be kept warm, especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful. It eliminates the toxins.
- Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice (or dry ginger powder or fresh grated ginger) mixed with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.
- Take one teaspoon each of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper and cinnamon. Add sugar and grind to make a fine powder.Take half a teaspoon twice everyday (after meals) diluted with warm water.
- In the case of dry cough (especially during the night), peel a small piece of fresh ginger. Sprinkle some salt on it and chew.
- Mix half a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey. Take several times a day.
- In the case of sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed. Gargling with warm salty water two to three times a day is also good.
Food and Activities that are to be Avoided to Reduce Kapha
According toAyurvedic medicine, some food and activities should be avoided to reduce kapha, including the following:
- sweet and sour fruits
- chilled water, cold drinks, ice cream
- red meat, seafood
- heavy beans, black lentils
- all nuts, especially peanuts
- fried food
- yogurt
- nuts
- cold showers
- going out in a cold, humid and breezy place
- cross ventilation
- sleeping during the day
- swimming
- exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners
- walking barefoot
The Following Things Should be Taken in Case of Cold or Cough
In the case of a cold or cough, the following Ayurvedic remedies can be tried:
- eating boiled or steamed vegetables
- having warm or hot vegetable soup or thin lentil soup
- drinking spicy teas with a piece of ginger, clove or cinnamon
- drinking infusions with fresh mint leaves, honey and cloves
- drinking hot milk mixed with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
When you have cough, it's good to include the following in your diet:
- fruits like apples, apricots, dried figs, dates, mangoes
- pungent and bitter vegetables to eliminate the toxins
- rice
- lentils
- pumpkin seeds
- spices like ginger, garlic, black pepper, asafoetida
- honey
Homemade remedies to reduce mucus, coughing, colds and allergies include the following:
- Take half a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice or grated fresh ginger mixed with a teaspoon of honey.
- Take half a teaspoon of fresh basil juice or fresh basil leaves crushed and mixed with honey.
- Take one pinch of black pepper powder mixed with one teaspoon of honey.
Take these mixtures twice or thrice a day or more
Healing herbs to reduce kapha or mucus, coughing, colds and allergies and to reinforce the immunity system.
Adenanthera Vasika or Malabar Nut
This plant can be found all over India. Almost all parts of the plant (root, flowers, leaves and the bark) possess a healing property. It is also known as vasaka, adosa and vasa.
- The plant can improve the organism’s total functionality and state. Due to its expectorative characteristics, it’s also used to treat respiratory system disorders, like asthma, bronchitis, different types of cough, flu symptoms, and so on.
- The remedy is also applied to soothe and relieve different kinds of pains, including those induced by epilepsy.
- The plant is also used externally to treat insect bites (like those of mosquitoes, flies, centipedes and others), skin problems, neuralgia, fevers, dysentery, urinary tract problems, hysteria.
- It can be applied to stop vomiting, swelling and wasting. It is produced and taken in form of infusion, powders, and extracts.
Licorice
Licorice may be applied in respiratory conditions, like sore throats, coughs, and bronchitis. It is highly effective for a wide range of inflammations. It is primarily applied to relieve liver conditions, like cirrhosis and recurrent hepatitis. It is also used for some digestive disorders, like gastritis, stomachaches, colic, and so on
Solanum Xanthocarpum
Solasonine is present in the fruits. This plant is employed for cough, asthma and pains in the chest. The plant is also credited with diuretic properties and is used to cure dropsy. A very spiny diffuse herb with blue flowers and yellow, globose berries, it goes by the English name "yellow berried nightshade."
Clerodendron Serratum (Bharngi)
The botanical name of bharngi is Clerodendrum serratum and it belongs to the family verbenaceae. It is the most valuable herb to take internally in respiratory ailments and for all fevers in general. Bharngi liquefies the mucous, it is salutary in respiratory problems like colds, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and tuberculosis. In such conditions, varied combinations of bharngi are recommended:
- The juice of its roots and ginger relieves bronchospasms in asthma.
- In cough due to kapha and vata, the jam prepared of sesame oil, jaggery, bharngi and sunthi is beneficial.
- In hiccup, the root powder is given along with sugar.
- The decoction of bharngi roots is benevolent in worm infestations.
The Sanskrit word "bharngi" literally means "that which is glorious."
It grows throughout India up to 1500 metres height. It grows in Eastern Himalaya, Nepal, Kumao, Bengal and Bihar in abundance. It is a perennial shrub, growing 0.3-3.0 metres in height. The leaves are seven to 15 cm long and five centimetres broad, rough, serrated and tapering at the apes. The flowers are blue, fragrant and the plant looks beautiful during flowering. The fruits are purple drupes and succulent. The flowering and fruiting occurs during April and November.
Bharngi is bitter, pungent and astringent in taste. It is useful in asthma, cough, fever, worms, burning sensation of the body and wounds.The roots and leaves of bharngi have great medicinal value. The plant is useful, both internally as well as externally. The leaves are useful as an external application for cephalalgia and ophthalmia. The pulp of the leaves applied externally, mitigates the glandular swellings and hastens the wound healing. The juice of its leaves is applied on the lesions in erysipelas. The root paste applied on the forehead alleviates headache.
Internally, bharngi is used in vast range of diseases. It is an appetizer, laxative and digests ama; hence it is beneficial in anorexia, tumours and distaste. The decoction of bharngi root is extremely effective in oedema over body, especially due to kapha. The plant works well as a blood purifier. The decoction of sesame seeds (tila), mixed with ghee, jaggery, trikatu powder (sunthi, marica and pippali) and bharngi root powder is the best medicament for amenorrhea and uterine tumours (rakta gulma).
Be ready to face winter and the change of seasons without any fright. Nature has provided us magical plants and simple remedies to preserve our health and to protect ourself from harmful viruses and bacteria.
Take care and remain in best of health and spirit and share this benefic knowledge by transmitting this article to your friends and family!
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Pascal Marion - Author, independent researcher, responsible of Terres d'Asie.
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