Ayurvedic approach to common cold
Ayurveda is one of the oldest known medical system in the world, dating around 8-th or 6-th cantury BC.
It is born in the area of Himalayas and by far is thought as the mother of all present day medicine systems.
Today Ayurveda is taught as higher Education in India and is recognized by law as allowed medical system.
In Ayurveda, the attention is focused on toxins in the body from one side and the health of the spirit on the other side. Body and spirit both need to be in good shape to call someone healthy.
Reducing stress is as important as removing toxins from the body. It is proven, that stress hormones can make you ill as much as a virus would.
So,
Common cold.
How can we reduce the impact on our body from this bad ailment according to Ayurveda?
In the first day, when you really feel sick, it is good to reduce food or to feed in small portions 5-6 times a day. Drink more hot fluids like tea or soup so you get sweaty.
[Very good tea for common cold is ginger. Take few slices in a cup of boiling water and cover for 10 minutes.]
When you start to get better, your appetite will come back naturally.
This is the moment when you must feed smart.
Don't overeat, just because you are hungry. A good meal will be a slice of bread with butter and a pinch of salt and savory. A Citrus fruit. Some green pepper and a clove of garlic (if your stomach is fine with it)... Just don't start with meat immediately.
This is what Ayurveda teaches. Don't add more poison and toxins in your body, while it is healing itself.
Warm fluids
are the way to detox your body naturally.
After the acute period passes, you may start with aroma oils if you still feel sick. One interesting method to alleviate symptoms of common cold is to rub 1-2 drops of Eucalyptus oil on your chest bone. The strong aroma will open your nasal ways naturally and you will breathe much easier.
Another approach, if you can't tolerate natural oils is to clean your nasal ways with a saline solution and a small jug with a spout.
This jug is called JalNeti in Ayurveda and is very useful.
Dissolve a teaspoon of clean table salt (or better - sea salt) in a water glass.
The water temperature must be like the body temperature (must feel wet, but not cold or hot).
Lean yourself or the person you are helping over the sink, so your (his) head is laying horizontally.
Pour the saline solution in the upper nostril without snorting. Just let it flow.
Breathe through the mouth only.
The saline will clean the nasal cavity and leak out through the other nostril.
Switch head position, so you can clean the other nostril too.
The saline has very good disolving properties and is mildly antibacterial.
Just do not go outside in the next hour.
I wish you fast recovery ;)
