Chest cold is very common in general population. You can find very few people who never had a chest cold! Chest cold usually recovers on its own but the associated suffering it gives is tedious. The biggest issue is antibiotics can not help to better the situation regarding cough; many times cough lasts longer than other symptoms like fever, headache etc.
With such helpless situation, you will wonder to know, there are several natural ingredients that can help you to get chest cold relief. No matter how worsen the chest cold situation is, applying these 17 home remedies are surely going to give you relief. The chest cold home remedies for children are different from adult, so don’t apply these remedies to children.
Turmeric milk:
Turmeric milk is one of the very effective home remedies not only in chest cold (acute bronchitis), but in many other related diseases. Making Turmeric milk is really easy! Take a glass (approximately 250/300 ml.) of warm or luke milk. For the Turmeric Milk most preferred milk is cow milk. If not available, then take any other type of milk.
Next add approx. one teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. Let it for few minutes. Drink it two times or three times a day. If you are a pregnant or lactating mother, then do not use turmeric in large amounts. Also if you have stomach problems, gallbladder problems, bleeding disorder or iron deficiency then use turmeric with caution.
Holy basil:
The herb holy basil (Tulsi) works like magic in chest cold. The best way to consume the holy basil in chest cold is to eat 4/5 raw leaves just by chewing it. Else you can consume holy basil tea. Prepare normal tea with 4/5 basil leaves. Also instead of tea, you can boil holy basil leaves in plain water and drink it. If your cough is very dense, try to repeat it two to three times a day. It certainly helps.
Black pepper milk:
Very similar to turmeric milk black pepper milk works equally well in chest cold relief. This is specially useful if you are facing issues to breath due to cough. Take 7/8 black peppers and grind it to powder. Now take a cup of milk (approx. 200 ml), add approximately 50 ml water. The amount of water and milk is not very specific. Now in the milk add this freshly prepared black pepper powder, let the mixture boil for 5 minutes. Now take this mixture in luke warm form. If one has any issues with milk, then one can substitute the pepper milk with pepper tea. Both works equally good.
Ginger and honey:
Mix 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger juice with an equal volume of honey. Take this two times a day. It helps to improve the frequency ( how often it occurs) and intensity of your bronchitis. You may also take ginger tea to get relief from bronchitis symptoms.
Ginger and black pepper:
First make one cup of boiling water. Then add one teaspoon of ginger powder and one teaspoon of black pepper to this boiling water. Then boil it for few minutes. Next, add some honey to it. Drink this two times a day. Do not take ginger in large amounts if you have diabetes, heart problems, blood disorders, or if you are a pregnant or lactating mother.
Dry ginger, black pepper, and long pepper:
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties so it helps to reduce inflammation. Black pepper helps to reduce nasal congestion. Long pepper has anti-inflammatory properties. So, take all the three ingredients, make it a powder form. This powder is called Trikatu and mix all these in honey. Then drink the mixture three times daily.
Plain hot water:
The most simple trick in chest cold is drinking Luke warm water. It helps to soothe the throat as cleanses the extra cough.
Tomato soup:
Tomato soup contains a high amount of vitamin C. It helps to reduce the excessive mucus formation during bronchitis. Drink this at least two times a day to get effective results. You may also add some freshly ground pepper to it.
Honey and lemon water:
Lemon is an expectorant and honey has antibacterial properties. Honey helps to soothe irritated mucus membranes. So add honey to warm lemon water and drink it. Never give honey to infants below 1 year of age because it may cause botulism.
Mustard oil and camphor:
Take approx 30 ml ( two tablespoons) mustard oil or any other vegetable oil. Then warm it well. Now dissolve approx. two grams camphor in the oil. Then gently apply it all over your chest, neck, and back. Do not massage, just wait and allow this camphor mixed mustard oil to work for a few minutes. Next, give a dry fomentation. Anyone can apply this because it is simple to make the mixture and a simple way to apply this. It is good for all ages. But if you are allergic to camphor then don’t use it.
Use steam:
Take steaming hot water in a bowl. Then inhale the steam. Steam inhalation helps to loosen the secretions in your lungs. Additionally, you can add few (1-2) drops of eucalyptus oil in this hot water. It helps to soften the mucus in the obstructed airway of the lungs. It also has antibacterial properties. So it is an effective home remedy. Eucalyptus has pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sesame seeds:
Sesame seeds have medicinal properties to cure bronchitis. It also helps to relieve chest congestion. First, take two tablespoons of water in a cup. Then add half a teaspoon of sesame seeds powder to it. Then drink it. Drink it two times a day for getting the best results.
Epsom salt:
Epsom salt gives relief from acute bronchitis symptoms. Add few tablespoons of Epsom salt in bathing water. Then for 30 minutes, soak in this Epsom salt bath.
Saltwater:
Take a glass of warm water and add one teaspoon of salt to it. Then with this saltwater, do gargle. Gargle helps to soothe throat inflammation. Remember do not use excessive salt because it can cause a burning sensation in the throat and too little would be ineffective. After the gargle always spits the water out.
Giloy juice(Giloy is Tinospora Cordifolia):
Giloy has a soothing effect on the throat lining. So it gives relief from the inflamed bronchial lining. That is why this home remedy is popular in India for ages! Drink it every day, once in the morning and once in the evening to get effective results.
Garlic powder and Trikatu:
Take garlic powder and Trikatu. Make a mixture with 4 parts garlic powder and 1 part Trikatu. Then add little honey to it. Take this two times daily to get the best results. But if you have a bleeding disorder then use garlic with caution.
Spogel seeds:
Spogel seeds improve regular bowel movements. So you may use Spogel seeds ( also known as psyllium) for this purpose. As attacks of breathlessness are more actively precipitated by constipation, so regular bowel movement with ease can help.
Image- Spogel Seeds
Takeaway:
All the above home remedies are tried and tested not only for once or twice. All these home remedies are applied in Indians household for thousands of years. Made from natural ingredients, all these remedies are effective yet safe. Trying all the remedies at a time in a single day is not advised. It is just that what ingredients you have in your home, try out those ingredients related home remedies. For severe chest cold use 3/4 remedies simultaneously. Stay healthy and happy.
Sources:
All the above mentioned home remedies are tried and tested. All these home remedies are used in India over thousands of years. Officially you will get many of these remedies in
