Tag Archives: cough remedy

Healing with what’s in the cupboard

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I love healing with food and herbs. It’s thrilling when I can open my kitchen cupboards and find a remedy that comforts and relieves. This is particularly helpful knowledge for soothing the young and elderly. Their constitutions are particular sensitive to the influence of kitchen and herbal remedies, along with medication. I have a deep respect for allopathic medicine and it has its place in our society but if I can soothe an aliment with food or herbs, you can bet I will go there first.

The elderly, in particular, tend to be over medicated in our society.  When they experience side affects, they are often given something else instead of eliminating or changing medications. Another issue is that as we age, we tend to have an increasingly difficult time giving accurate descriptions of symptoms or even simply remembering specific details. I find doctors often overlook weight loss or gains when prescribing medication, which can present additional problems. When offering herbal remedies it is important to take into account an individual’s weight. A typical dose for a youngling or elder should be lower than for a healthy adult.

Along with many this winter, my 86 year old Mom has been having a rough time. There seems to be quite a few powerful bugs circulating around looking for hosts. The young and elderly are particularly susceptible. My Mom has a rather unique situation as she only has one lung; yes, that’s right, only one. She had her right lung removed due to lung cancer in 1999. Therefore, any type of cough is always a concern.

At the end of last year, she came down with a cough and couldn’t breathe. She was diagnosis with pneumonia, immediately admitted to the hospital and put on IV antibiotics and albuterol treatments. After 4 days, she was discharge without a cough and there was no need for O2 in the home.  Although, she didn’t cough for almost 2 weeks, she has since developed another cough, but her O2 remains good. She is being monitored closely but still has a wet cough.

Many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies can elevate blood pressure, a situation potentially dangerous for the elderly including my Mom. Yet, we are lucky to have a few tools in our cupboards. To help my Mom sleep through the night, I massage Garlic Oil it into her feet. When Garlic Oil is applied to the feet, it enters the system and heads straight for the lungs. To prove the connection – simply take a piece of garlic out of the jar and place it between your toes, sleep, and you will wake up with garlic breathe – crazy but true. Please do not put garlic straight onto a little one’s or elder’s foot as their skin is much more sensitive and the garlic may burn them, garlic oil is okay though. Many people eat garlic for its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, immune boosting, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering properties. Garlic is a great soldier in fighting all bronchial infections. It is also known to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria. It really is fantastic. Moreover, and most of all, it tastes great in most dishes.

Our little jar of garlic oil

Garlic Cough Remedy Recipe

•  Chop up several large cloves of garlic

•  Add garlic and olive oil to a small clean jar and cover

•  Let sit for at least an hour; the longer the better

Massage some garlic oil on the soles of the cougher’s feet (use about the size of a nickel); perhaps focus some attention on the areas just below the toes as it’s connected to the lungs.

•  Put on socks to protect the linens

•  Sleep soundly (everyone!)

Before bed, I also give Mom a ½ teaspoon of Raw honey  (be sure it’s raw as commercial honey growers often supplement the bees with sugar water, which dilutes the medicinal qualities of the honey). Honey is one of my favorite remedies for coughs and is so simple. We are not sure exactly why it works but perhaps when you combine honey’s soothing sweetness, which coats the throat with its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant qualities, you may find part of the answer.

Although, my Mom is still struggling with her lingering cough, she can now sleep through the nights. And, the most important remedy for illness is sleep.

What do you use from your kitchen cupboards to heal? Please share and I will continue to share.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

A teaspoon of honey will make the cough go away

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Recently, after we all went to bed, I heard Mathew coughing and asked him if he would like some honey. He earnestly replied, “PLEASE!” Within moments of taking a half of a teaspoon, the coughing had subsided and he fell asleep. The rest of the night was peaceful. I love when that happens. Raw honey (be sure it’s raw as commercial honey growers often supplement the bees with sugar water, which dilutes the medicinal qualities of the honey) is one of my favorite remedies for coughs and it is so simple. A close second is Garlic oil on the bottom of the feet.

For over a thousand years, people having using honey as a sweetener and remedy. Nevertheless, after a study in 2012, it has become even more popular, if you can believe that.  Researchers found honey to be as effective as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications. The “recent discovery” of raw honey made national news because the FDA was moving to ban many children’s cold medications due to their ineffectiveness coupled with dangerous side effects. Of course, the magic of honey is not “new” news but it is important to spread the word nonetheless.

Although the 2012 study was not clear exactly how honey eases a cough, it found it helpful regardless. Perhaps when you combine honey’s soothing sweetness, which coats the throat with its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant qualities, you can find part of the answer.

Although the 2012 study focused on children, it also works well for adults and seniors. This summer my Dad was having a rough time. He has congestive heart failure and prone to fluid retention around his lungs. As a result, he had coughing fits. Although his doctors tried to provide him with many tools/medicines, he found no relief. That is until he tried raw honey. The results were miraculous. He had his first good night sleep after just one teaspoon. His cardiologist was so impressed that he wrote the remedy down, so he was sure not to forget.

So if you need a restful sleep from that irritating cough, be sure to keep your honey near by.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.