Also known as: common cold · जुकाम · सर्दी · runny nose · नाक बहना
Food Remedies
Main remedy
Tulsi tea with honey and lemon — brew fresh tulsi leaves in hot water with a spoon of honey and lemon. Ginger-pepper tea: boil ginger slices with black pepper, strain and drink. Chew tulsi or dry ginger for immunity.
5–7 fresh tulsi leaves chewed each morning, or boiled into a cup of water and sipped warm.
Traditional
अदरक · Ginger
A thin slice of fresh adrak chewed before meals, or ½ tsp dried sonth in warm water twice a day.
Traditional
CautionNot in large amounts alongside blood-thinning medicine. Stop before surgery.
शहद · Honey
A teaspoon of raw honey, taken as is or in water that is warm but never hot — heat destroys its value.
Traditional
CautionNever give honey to a baby under one year — the risk is infant botulism. This rule has no exceptions.
नींबू · Lemon
Juice of half a nimbu in a glass of warm water, first thing in the morning, with or without a little honey.
Traditional
काली मिर्च · Black pepper
Two or three crushed peppercorns with honey, or a pinch of powder added to whatever else you are taking.
Traditional
जीरा · Cumin
1 tsp jeera dry-roasted and taken with warm water after meals, or boiled in water and sipped through the day.
Traditional
खट्टे फल · Citrus fruits
Lemon and honey in warm water three times a day — it shortens a cold.
Traditional
नींबू घास · Lemongrass
Lemongrass decoction with honey — it opens both throat and nose.
Traditional
On this page Documented — There are human studies behind this ingredient for this particular complaint. Traditional — Carried by tradition and experience; modern evidence for this particular complaint is limited.
All of this is what others have found — tradition, shared experience and the studies done so far. It is not advice given to any one person. Before changing your diet, and especially if you take any medicine, ask your dietician or doctor.
Naturopathy
Fast on warm water and citrus the first day; steam every four hours.