Suryakshetra

SURYAKSHETRA (69)

What this little man speaks……………………………………………………

Quote: Unselfishness is more paying; only thing is that people have no patience to practice it.

COLD, FLU & COUGH :-
All the human beings from every region of the globe experience it at one time or another during their live times. A simple common cold is a collection of familiar symptoms signaling an infection of the upper respiratory tract which includes the nose, throat and sinuses. At least five major categories of viruses cause colds. One of these groups and perhaps the most common, the rhinoviruses which has a minimum of 100 different viruses. Though we say “cold and flu” in the same breath, influenza is a very different disease from common cold. The influenza virus takes up residence mainly in the throat and bronchial tract. If one has flu, one should usually have a fever and a fever is not usually present in the cold. The fever usually passes within three days, but the fatigue, muscle aches and cough that result from the flue can linger for weeks.

As per traditional systems, plains Indians used purple coneflower or echinacea(Echinacea angustifolia) as a remedy for colds and flu. Today it is the best selling herbal remedy in the county. Several studies supported this and as per science echinacea activates the immune system, the body’s natural agent of healing. Any one can purchase tincture of echinacea and at the first sign of a cold or flu take one teaspoon of the tincture every hour for three hours. If the infection still persists, take one dropper full of the tincture every three hours and it does not matter even if one takes other medicines.

As per NEW ENGLNAD traditional system, take garlic (allium sativum) for colds. The American southwest and China use garlic for colds and bronchial problems. Even the ancient Egyptians used it to treat cough and cold besides fever. For this they used to blend three cloves of garlic in a blender with a little water. The clove must be cut or crushed in order to release its constituents. Interested persons can add half of a lemon skin and all to the garlic put the contents in a cup and fill the cup with boiling water. Inhaling the fragrance, add honey and drink the entire cup in slips. This can be done three times a day for few days. Rural remedy is that the cousin of garlic-onion is used to treat colds in virtually every folk tradition in North America. Wild Onions have been used for the same purpose by Native American tribes in every region of the country.

Using Onions to treat colds persists to day in the folk medicine of New England, upstate New York, North Carolina, Appalachia, Indiana and within Chinese communities through out North America. May be the pungent aroma is cutting through even the stuffiest nose, cold sufferers have been drawn to the bulb. The modern science is confirming that the plant has anti-infective properties. To realize what it is, cut up one large onion and simmer in a covered pot for twenty minutes and later drink a cup of tea three or four times daily when you have a cold or flu.

Some residents of New England, North Carolina and Indiana recommend hot sage (Salvia Officinalis) tea to break up a cold. They say sage is especially good for sore throats that often accompany colds. Place one teaspoon of sage in a cup and fill with boiling water, cover it and let it sleep for ten minutes. Then strain; add a little lemon and honey and drink. Repeat three to four times a day for as long as one can do.

This is the practice and it is atleast as old as the ancient Romans. What made our ancestors turn to a lemon for relief is unknown still? This time, place one chopped, whole lemon skin, pulp and all in a pot and add one cup of boiling water. While letting the mixture sleep for five minutes, inhale the fumes, then strain and drink. The wisdom of Hippocrates advocate inhaling of the fumes of vinegar to treat it as a remedy for cold and it is as old as ancient Greece. The Greek Physician Hipporcrates recommend the treatment for coughs and respiratory infections. For this, Pour a half cup of boiling water in a jar and add half a cup of vinegar, gently inhale the steam, but remain careful not to burn oneself.

Sniffing salt water could ease nasal congestion. Towards this put a quarter teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot or warm water and sniff some of the water. Adding butter to hot tea is another remedy used in the high altitudes of Nepal and Tibet to prevent colds. New Englanders use a similar technique of adding butter to hot hot water to treat colds.
I will be back again soon……………………………… HARA HARA MAHADEVA
Dr P V Sesha Sai 1-9-317/3, MCH No 770, Road No8, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad 500044 Ph 7661613,6581368 Cell 98483 32978 e mail shodasisai@hotmail.com, perisepallipadmasai@rediffmail.com