Here are some home remedies to control cold and cough

Boil one teaspoon of fenugreek(Methi) seeds in a cup of water,add a teaspoon of tea leaves and honey. This preparation is a good remedy for cold, cough, sore throat and fever. Lemon and honey in hot water, tea and coffee are effective in suppressing the cough reflex.

Steam inhalation for grown up people is an effective and safe remedy. Menthol crystals or eucalyptus oil or Eu de cologne etc., can be added to hot water producing steam for inhalation. It reduces cough and also makes it easier to bring up phlegm. For inhalation put a towel over the head which has been held just above the water, and encourage him to inhale deeply for 3 to 4 minutes. This treatment may be undertaken any time as may be necessary put preferable before going to bed, Infants should not be given inhalation. It is desirable that a baby should be laid on its side without a pillow to avoid the mucus running down the back of its throat. This may make breathing slightly easier Olive oil or mustard oil (warm) may be applied (gently massage) to the chest, as and when necessary but preferably at night which act as decongestant. A drop or two of Olive oil or mustard oil is applied by finger to the nostrils for some relief. The aforesaid methods of massage and application of oil to nostrils would help to clear the catarrh and the nose.

A powder of dried ginger, black pepper and long pepper in equal quantities can be taken with hone thrice a day for good relief in dry cough.

Tulsi is a useful herb for the cough, cold and croup in children. The warm juice of tulsi leaves mixed with juice of onion and ginger with honey in equal parts is recommended.

Powdered pepper mixed with a little honey and pure ghee taken in small quantities in a cup of holt milk at night, for relieving cough, cold and sore throat.

Black pepper powder (1/4tsp.) is mixed with equal quantities of powder of caraway seeds and a pinch of common salt. This mixture can be taken frequently with hot water for dry cough and throat irritation.

The juices of ginger, lemon & onion mixed in equal quantities. One tbsp. can be taken frequently for relief in cold.

Garlic has an antibiotic property. Two raw cloves can be used twice a day at a first sign of cold and will be continued for the duration of the cold.

The paste of one segment of bulbs of garlic boiled in water with five to ten grams of sugar can be taken twice a day for relief in cold

Ginger is an excellent remedy for cough and cold. Ginger tea can be prepared by adding bits of ginger into boiled water before adding tea leaves is an effective remedy.

Ginger can also be used with honey; 10 ml. of ginger juice mixed with 10 gm. of honey can be taken before meals for dry cough and also in whooping cough.

One gram of powdered black pepper with ghee sugar and honey in equal quantities is a good remedy for cough.

A mixture of finely powdered black pepper, cinnamon, black cumin and cardamom seeds in equal quantities can be taken with a cup of sweet milk is also another good remedy for cold as well as cough.

Boil 5 black peppers with a pinch of salt for 15 minutes and strain. The decoction is effective for cold and can be taken twice a day.

Fried turmeric (1 to 2 gms.) can be taken with honey trice a day. This would bring relief from cough and cold.

To get rid of congestion due to cold, put a teaspoon of turmeric powder into a painful of streaming hot water. Inhale vapours for a few minutes to relieve congestion.

Turmeric is also an effective remedy for developing immune system. A teaspoonful of powder or paste should be added to a cup of warm milk and taken with sugar trice a day. This strengthens immune system, prevents lungs complications and is good for influenza.

For a blocked nose, gently apply in and out of nostril few drops of mustard oil, this helps to open blocked nose and eases breathing.

Long pepper powder (half a teaspoonful) mixed with two spoonful of honey and half a teaspoonful of ginger juice administered trice a day would effectively counteract the onset of influenza and cold.

Boil some crushed garlic in water and use it for gargling will reduce swelling of the throat due to cough.

For sore throat and Hoarseness of voice, keep a peppercorn or two in the throat. They greatly soothe the throat and gives relief in sore throat and cough.

Extract the juice of fresh Tulsi leaves and bel flowers, take one teaspoonful twice a day for cough & cold.

Boil six tablespoon of wheat bran (Choakar) in 300 ml of water, add salt or sugar to taste and taken as hot drink. This preparation is a good remedy for cough.

Boil half cup of vermicelli, laung – 2 pc, dry ginger – ½ pc, in one glass of water, add sugar and salt to taste. As a hot drink it is useful remedy for cough & cold.

Fry makhana (two cups) and gum acacia (gond) – 2 tablespoon, separately in pure ghee. Grind the fried gum with poppy seeds (khas khash) – 3 tablespoon, vitis nucifera (munnakka) – 24 pc, coconut – ¼ pc, almonds – 12 seeds, dry ginger (sonth) – 2 or 3 pc, ajowain – 1 pinch and cardamom (choti elaichi) – 4 or 6 pcs. The above grinded material is to be fried and then boiled in water with makhana. Sprinkly sonth and ajowain powder over the extract obtained and taken for cold, all types of cough and sore throat.