Nowadays, people go to see a doctor and take medicine whenever they feel discomfort in their body. Due to stress from a busy lifestyle, people want something that can cure their illnesses fast. Consequently, people get sick more frequently, and are thus more likely to rely on medicine to alleviate coughing.
Actually, the human body has the ability to self-heal.
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If it is not something serious, next time try some home remedies, as they have no side effects and may work well for you.
Coughing constantly is annoying. It is quite difficult to stop coughing, and often you cannot sleep because of it. Some of these home remedies are worth a try if you are suffering from a nagging cough. Those who have tried them praise their effectiveness.
Home remedies to alleviate coughing
1. Aged tea leaves
After years of natural aging, old tea leaves acquire special micro-organisms, and this results in the pharmacological efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine books state that old tea leaves have a detoxifying effect, and can help sufferers with a sore throat caused by toxic heat, yellow swollen sores, and sore fistulas.
Tea itself is bactericidal, and can directly kill bacteria when applied externally; drinking tea can regulate the body’s internal functions, improve the body’s immune system, and fight the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
Preparation:
Add 1 tsp of tea to 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and gently boil for 5 minutes, then simmer for a little bit; add grated ginger or ground ginger powder and a little brown sugar. Drink it warm.
Now, old tea leaves — 20-30 years old — are hard to find. If that is the case, one can replace them with regular tea.
2. Salty lemon juice
Lemon is rich in vitamin C, has anti-bacterial properties, and improves the immune system. Chinese medicine states lemon can dissolve phlegm and cure asthma, bloating, and diarrhea. Lemon juice with salt and warm boiled water can break down phlegm that is accumulating in the throat and help alleviate coughing.
Preparation:
Clean a lemon and let it air dry, and then place it in a glass container. Pour in a large amount of salt over the lemon. Seal it, and put it in a dark and cool place for at least two years.
Put a salted preserved lemon and 4 cups of boiling water into a blender and blend the mixture.
Pour the mixture into a thermos bottle, and drink it hot.
At the onset of a cold, drinking fresh lemon juice directly can add a lot of vitamin C to the body, and can cure it naturally.
3. Ginger and garlic infusion
Garlic contains allicin, which has a strong bactericidal effect. Chinese medicine believes that garlic has a warm nature and can enter the lungs. Therefore, folk remedies use garlic to alleviate coughing and treat asthma. Ginger can help to get rid of cold in the body. It makes the body sweat and promotes blood circulation.
If one suffers from a cold and a sore throat, drinking a ginger and garlic infusion is a good way to go.
Preparation:
Take 8 cloves of garlic and a piece of ginger, smash them, and then add 2 cups of water. After boiling, turn down the heat, and continue to simmer for 5 minutes. Add 2 tsp of brown sugar, and drink it warm to alleviate coughing.
Translated by Ying Ming
