September 20, 2007

Cough Remedies – 9 Useful Home Remedies for Cough

Author: Dr James Sameul
Read this Article to know the most of the Home Remedies for Cough which are especially recommended by most of the users. First we will discuss about Cough and its causes

Cough is an important reflex action, which the body undertakes to get rid of substances that are irritating the air passages. A cough is usually initiated to clear a buildup of phlegm in the trachea, by forceful expulsion of air at high speed away from the body. You can choose to cough (a voluntary process), or our body may cough on its own (an involuntary process).

Cough can be of 2 types - acute and chronic. An acute cough is one that begins suddenly and is present for less than 3 weeks. They can be infectious (common cold, sinus, pneumonia), or non-infectious (asthma, bronchitis). Chronic coughs are present for more than 3 weeks. .

Some common causes of cough –

The cause of a cough is usually based on where it is originating from. However, the most common triggers of a cough include -

1) Allergies or asthma, chronic bronchitis

2) Common upper respiratory tract infections, resulting from the secretions of the nose and sinuses draining into the throat, such as in cases of sinus infections, chronic postnasal drip, diseases of the external ear, infections of the throat

3) Exposure to environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke, dust, pollen, pet dander, industrial chemicals.

4) Smoking as well as exposure to second hand smoke.

5) Side-effects of certain medications

6) Chronic fluid build-up in the lungs.

7) Blockage of the airway due to an inhaled object such as food.

8) Gastroesophageal reflux is also a very common cause of cough. This occurs when acid from the stomach travels up the esophagus, resulting in the reflex production of a cough. This is often associated with a sensation of heartburn; and worsens during the day or when one lies flat on the back.

Symptoms of cough –

The symptoms of a chronic cough can be hard to assess, because many causes of chronic cough have overlapping signs and symptoms. Infact, a cough is an annoying symptom that can have many causes.

However, some common cough symptoms include –

1) Shortness of breath, as well as coughing up pink, frothy mucus – maybe the cause is fluid retention in lungs

2) Cough produces clear pale yellow mucus – due to viral infection, such as cold

3) Cough produces yellow or greenish mucus – cause may be chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.

4) If cough is associated with wheezing and shortness of breath – reason could be asthma.

5) Fever, chills and night sweats along with chest pain when you cough – the cause may be tuberculosis

6) If lung cancer or a cancer of the air passages is present, one may cough up blood. Other symptoms that may point towards a cancer include increasing fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained loss of weight, or decreased ability to swallow solid or liquid foods.

Treatment –

Coughs can be treated with cough medications. Dry coughs are treated with cough suppressants that reduce the urge to cough, while productive coughs (coughs that produce phlegm) are treated with expectorants that loosen mucus from the respiratory tract.

Antihistamines and decongestants are a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip.
If some underlying disease is causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.

A recent study indicates that, because of the presence of theobromine in chocolate, a bar of dark chocolate may be an effective treatment for a persistent cough.

Gargling with salt and warm water is also very helpful by cutting phlegm and reducing inflammation. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon table salt in 1/2 cup warm water, and gargle every three to four hours.

Some Useful Home Remedies for Cough

Symptoms of cough usually subside on their own with 7-10 days. However, lot of simple home remedies are there which provide relief from the discomfort associated with it.

1) Take three peppercorns, and add a pinch of black cumin seeds and rock salt and consume it.

2) Drink hot milk with honey at bedtime for cough relief.

3) Make a decoction by boiling 50 grams fresh ginger with 5 tablespoon sugar in 2 glasses water for 30 minutes. Drink it hot, twice a day, in one day as this is very effective Home Remedy for Cough.

4) Mix powdered cinnamon, lemon juice and honey. Take two teaspoon twice daily.

5) In one cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder (Haldi) and drink twice a day.

6) Mix half a teaspoon of tulsi juice with half a teaspoon of ginger juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey. Take the above mixture 2-3 times a day. This is also useful Home Remedy for Cough

7) Prepare a mixture by adding 1/2 teaspoon honey with 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and take it every 12 hours. Honey relieves the itchiness by moistening the throat passage.

8) Mix 8 - 10 tablespoon of coconut milk with 1 tablespoon poppy seed (powdered) and 1 tablespoon of pure honey. Take this every night before going to bed. This remedy is very good Home Remedy for Cough

9) Garlic-onion-chicken soup is an effective remedy for cough. Take it steaming hot, to give relief to irritation in throat.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/cough-remedies-9-useful-home-remedies-for-cough-196575.html
About the Author
Dr James Sameul is an Ayurvedic doctor having years of experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative medicine. Find out more Home Remedies for Cough at http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/
He has an exclusive website on Home Remedies for various diseases. You can also contribute to the Home remedies by visiting the website

September 19, 2007

Effective Ways to Treat Constipation With Home Remedies for Constipation

Author: Dr John Anne
Constipation is a common health complication that originates in the digestive tract. The symptoms of this complication may include irregular bowel movement, insufficient emptiness of bowel etc. The most common among all symptoms of constipation is infrequent, irregular or difficult removal of the hard faecal matter.

Additional symptoms of constipation may include a layered tongue, stinking breath, appetite loss, dizziness, dark circles under eyes, headache, mouth ulcer, sense of fullness, pimples, lumber region, heart burn, insomnia, acidity, depression and many other related complications. One may suffer from chronic constipation, if he or she suffers from high blood pressure, appendicitis, cataract, arthritis, rheumatism, and cancer.

There are various remedies available for treating constipation problem; however, one may count on home remedies for constipation treatment as well. This article focuses on various types of home remedies for constipation and their unique features.

Treat constipation with Bael fruit

If you are suffering from constipation, it is advisable that you eat Bael fruits. It is an excellent laxative. An adult can take approximately 60gms of this fruit to avoid constipation problem. Some people eat banana for treating their constipation; however, modern scientific studies strongly discourage this idea. It is recommended that you should not eat jackfruit if you are suffering from constipation. Except these two, most of the other fruits including Bael fruit can be effective during constipation.

Hence, these fruits can play a key role in home remedies for constipation. It functions by cleaning and toning up the intestines. Regular and prolonged use of 2-3 months of time can ensure a significant degree of removal of accumulated faecal matter from intestines. While applying as home remedies for constipation, you should use it in its original form before your meal.

Treat constipation with Pears

Pears are considered as one of the best home remedies for constipation problem. Only one single pear taken at the time of dinner or breakfast can do all the wonder in normal case. However, for the chronic constipation problem, one may need to eat one pear regularly or may drink pear juice everyday to get rid off the problem.

Treat constipation with Guava

Guava fruit is loved by many individuals, irrespective of their age or location. It also offers effective home remedies for constipation. When it is eaten with seeds, it offers roughage effect to the diet, helping the clearing of the bowel wastages. A regular use of one or two guava can be beneficial in treating constipation.

Treat constipation with Grapes

You could rarely find people who do not like eating grapes. Grapes, rich with different nutritional qualities, offer you good solution for constipation problem. It contains organic acid, sugar and cellulose that make it a unique product for fighting against constipation naturally. It is beneficial for chronic constipation problem as well. If you are suffering from chronic constipation problem, you should eat 350-400gms of grapes to have the desired effect.

Treat constipation with Orange

If you can eat one or two orange before you sleep at night, it can offer you an excellent solution for clearing your bowel in time. It has the ability to stimulate the bowels and it also helps preventing the buildup of colon wastages.

Treat constipation with Papaya and Figs

If you eat half of a papaya daily in your breakfast, it can function effectively as a natural laxative. You may also add figs in your daily routine to get rid off the problem of constipation. You can use either of dry or fresh figs; both of them are beneficial as an effective laxative.

Treat constipation with Spinach

Since ages, spinach is well respected among the mass for its ability for cleansing, reconstructing and regenerating of the intestinal tract. If you can have 100ml raw spinach juice on regular basis, you will be free even from most aggravated form of constipation within few days. It is really effective for any sort of constipation problem.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/effective-ways-to-treat-constipation-with-home-remedies-for-constipation-246075.html
About the Author
Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health.
Find out more Home Remedies for Constipation at http://www.natural-homeremedies.com Check out the complete Home Remedies for various diseases. Also Participate in Home Remedies Q & A, the first user interactive Home Remedies Board.

Home Remedies for Cough - Quit Coughing Tips

Author: Dr John Anne
The spasmodic and frequently repetitive contraction, which is spasmodic, originating from the thoracic cavity, clinically referred to as a tussis, is too well familiarly realized as a cough. The distinctive sound, as well as the sensation, of the cough, is violent, as air is released from the lungs. As the body takes action in eradicating such substances of irritation to the air passages, the action of coughing occurs. As phlegm has built up within the trachea, initiation of the cough engages.

Another instance where coughing presents itself is upon food passing into the trachea, as opposed to the esophagus, based upon the epiglottis failing to react accordingly.

Coughing, of a chronic nature, is generally in correlation to a disease of sorts. With the exception of smoking, the presence of coughs that are chronic in an estimated ninety three percent of those afflicted is the results of conditions, which include asthma, bronchitis, heartburn and post-nasal drip. Two forms of instigation - involuntary and voluntary, bring about the action of coughing. Therefore, it is understandable that individuals suffering from a cough or coughing are in need of home remedies for cough.

The cough, for the majority of individuals, is a primitive and protective reflex. Such a coughing reflex is engaged through the stimulating of a couple of diverse categories of afferent in nature nerves, which are clinically referred to myelinated and nonmyelinated. Myelinated nerves act as advancing receptors that adapt, while nonmyelinated nerves possess C-fibers, which extend into the lungs. In individuals desiring to control either of these reflexes, the search for good home remedies for cough continues.

Adverse impairment upon quality of life, debilitation, and social distress could be common terms in which to describe the ill effects brought about by individuals who suffer from persistent coughing. Hence, for these reasons, individuals choose to resource home remedies for cough.

In the form of a recipe, among home remedies for cough, is one suggested natural formulation. First, acquire the following ingredients -- a one to two inch fresh ginger root, in the consistency of either sliced or grated; half of a fresh lemon, sliced, utilizing both the fruit as well as the peeling; a mashed clove of garlic; two cups of water, a generous spoonful of honey. Next, in a saucepan, combine the water, ginger, lemon and garlic, and then bring the mixture to a boil. After the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat, and then simmer easily for a period of twenty minutes. Then, through the process of straining, pour the cooked mixture into mugs, adding lots of additional honey. If you allow the tea to sit a bit, a will get stronger. It, among home remedies for cough is extremely invigorating and effective.

A two-ingredient home remedies for cough incorporates one tablespoon full of the purest of honey and a generous pinch of white pepper. Top the spoonful of honey with the pepper, and administer orally. Should the cough-afflicted desire to bring up more mucus, and then use black pepper in place of the white pepper. In conjunction with the honey and pepper regimen, drink hot tea with a piece of ginger placed into the cup or mug.
Another recipe among home remedies for cough recommends orally taking a teaspoon full of honey, topped with a few drop of either brandy or vodka prior to bedtime.

To both relieve the cough and soothe the associated irritated throat, combine sage leaf with elder blossom tea, adding a bit of almond oil, oil of clove, and a spoonful of honey as a suggested home remedies for cough.
Another tea concoction amid home remedies for cough is to drink frequent mugs or cups of piping hot tea, stirring in lemon juice and raspberry jam.
Warm one teaspoon full of honey, while stirring in a teaspoon of lemon juice amid those home remedies for cough, and self-administer orally.

Another recipe among home remedies for cough incorporates the ingredients of a quarter teaspoon of red cayenne pepper, a quarter teaspoon of ground ginger, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of honey, and two tablespoons of water. Mix into a blended concoction, and ingest, orally, by the tablespoon, as an aid for the congested cough.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/home-remedies-for-cough-quit-coughing-tips-280581.html
About the Author
Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on Herbs and Alternative health. Read about Home Remedies for Cough at Home Remedies. Also visit http://www.answers.natural-homeremedies.com/ to Ask and Share your Home Remedies