According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing, colds are a Kapha and Vata disorder and the best herbal remedy for overcoming them is ginger. There are many concoctions you can make using ginger, all of which would be useful, but the following is my choice as it is one that tastes good, so even your kids won't mind taking it.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of ginger powder and 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder, with enough honey to make a paste in a tablespoon. Then take by licking slowly. The ginger will help soothe the cough and cold, the honey will help the throat and the turmeric will act as an antiseptic. It is the medicine of choice at my house in winter .
Another variation which is also excellent for cough and colds, is to take the same portions of ginger powder, turmeric powder and a teaspoon of honey, in about 2 ounces of hot water, as the last thing before sleeping. This is also a very effective remedy.
Yoga Remedy for Colds:
To help fight off colds and better still, to help prevent them in the first place, practice Kapalbhati Pranayama. This pranayama is one of the best ways to boost your health and immune system. It also generates heat in the body to offset the Kapha/Vata imbalance and helps clear of system of congestion.
For Kapalbhati pranayama sit up in a comfortable position and then breath putting force on the exhalation, while leaving the inhalation passive. So you will sharply exhale through the nose, allowing the navel to naturally contract inwards, then follow it up with a passive inhalation.
Another pranayama that is great for battling colds and flu, boosting internal heat, detoxifying and building your immune system is the potent Kundalini Yoga Breath of Fire Breathing Exercise.
To practice Breath of Fire, sit up in a comfortable posture, keeping the back straight and then begin to breathe rapidly through the nose putting equal emphasis on the inhalation and exhalation. The stomach will pulse on it's own. The key to breath of fire is to focus the breath at the tip of the nose and not force the breathing using the diaphragm. It is like very fast sniffing.
Summary:
Combining Ayurvedic treatments with Yoga therapy is a powerful way to heal and take care of your health. Both practices are all natural, holistic sciences and the treatments they use have no dangerous side affects or artificial components.
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