As winter plays hide and seek with us and the cool mornings and cooler nights reveal signs of the changing season, it is best to be prepared to protect yourself and prevent the onslaught of a severe cold, flu and cough. There are a lot of home remedies you can prepare to help you in case you feel your throat getting sore or are suffering from a runny nose.
The
Right Food: Eating
a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are essential for keeping
your immune system in good shape. Steer clear of cold drinks or sour food in
winter which might tickle your throat. Instead it’s better to have a glass of
fresh orange juice for a good dose of Vitamin C to help make the flu symptoms
go away quickly. Remember that Vitamin C deficiency significantly weakens the
immune system and increases the risk of infections.
Regularly
eating garlic may help prevent the common cold or the flu. Blueberries are high
in natural aspirin, which may lower fevers and help with aches and pains. Mustard
or horseradish may help break up mucus in the air passage while onions contain
phytochemicals to clear bronchitis and other infections.
Hot
Drinks: Hot
liquids like tea and soups relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and
soothe the inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat which may be
causing discomfort in a flu. Try a cup of hot herbal tea with one teaspoon of
honey. Black and green tea contain catechin, a phytochemical possessing natural
antibiotic effects.
Gargle
and Rest: Sometimes
it’s as simple as gargling with half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces
warm water, four times daily to make your sore throat better. This simple
exercise can moisten your aching throat and bring relief. Also exhaustion may
be taking its toll so simply resting well might do the trick.
In
case your home remedies don’t help, visit any one of the Tayyebi Dawakhanas in
Karachi or order online for our trusted Laooq Sapistan.
A thick concoction of Aslesoos, Sapistan, Maghz Badam and Unnab available in
100 and 300 gm jars, this age-old herbal remedy for cold, flu, cough and sore
throat in Pakistan has helped many in getting through the winter months.