When I have a cold I usually end up with a cough that is dry and irritating. I get a few sleepless nights, hubby has to sleep in another room, and I generally sound terrrible once I get a coughing fit, even though I'm generally feeling much better after my cold (apart from the cough!!:()
Any tips and advice on what I can do when I feel the cold coming on, to prevent the stupid cough I have afterwards??:confused::confused:
hi Foxylady
Liquorice root( Holland and Barret do it) look like shrivelled up old sticks of wood but they are magic for coughs and colds.
You can chew on a few times a day. One stick should last you a few days. worth a try.
good luck
Boosting your immune system should be a starting point. Juicing or making home-made smoothies will give you much-needed fresh plant nutrients - make sure you include plenty of multicoloured fruit and veg especially berries. Drink them within half an hour of making them for the best benefit. Avoid all sugar, white flour and processed foods as they weaken the immune system. Take a quality multivitamin/multimineral (not one from a chemist or supermarket which have cheap ingredients that are poorly absorbed). Eat a wholefood diet and include plenty of onions and garlic. Avoid mucus-forming foods such as milk and dairy produce, and avoid cigarette smoke.
If you have had, or had to take antibiotics then probiotics are a must - 30 billion bacteria per day - from the chiller cabinet of a healthfood shop like [url]this one[/url] to replace the beneficial bacteria killed off by the drugs. You will probably have to take this for at least 3 months, maybe longer. Probiotic bacteria support immune function in the gut and it is thought that at least 80% of immunity occurs in the gut.
Vitamin C and zinc are a must - both support immune function. You'll need 1000mg of vit C daily and probably 25mg for maintenance, but at the first sign of a cold up this to 3-5 x 1000mg vitamin C (you'll know when your body has had enough by the bowels becoming a bit loose, if so space out the doses a bit) and a maximum of 80mg of zinc daily. Zinc and vitamin C can be sucked as losenges where it will attack bacteria in the mouth and throat.
Elderberry extract (Sambucol) is an excellent antiviral - I make my own elderberry cordial each autumn and take a dessertspoon daily during winter and had very few chest infections since the. There are all sorts of other herbs that can help too, so suggest you see a registered [url]medical herbalist[/url].
Hope you get on top of these infections soon.
Thank you
Jnani + Caroline. So you both take these precautions and you never (or rarely) catch colds?
I shall be doing the same.
I shall also be doing more exercise!
My cough has need going on for about 3-4 weeks (on + off) and although I have no other symptoms of a cold, this cough is VERY annoying!!:mad: Seem to be recovering now though. Just don't want it back again!!!:confused:
Nasal breathing to help stop coughs
Since I learned Buteyko breathing for my own health (4 years ago), I haven't had a cough and this is often the case for clients who go from having bronchitis several times in the winter to one or none. We say close your mouth and protect your lungs. So nasal breathing 24/7, even when you are asleep, then colds are less likely to get on your chest. You can even cough "through your nose", taking the breath in through your nose and coughing gently through your nose with your hand keeping your mouth closed. Not easy but very effective!
Good luck 🙂
How can you make yourself breath through your nose when you are asleep? I am a mouth breather most of the time (which probably explains the amount of colds I get):confused: I would have to tape my mouth up at night:D
So, if I'm doing the nose breathing thing.... would it help to "line" my nose with vaseline?:confused:
As for coughing through the nose, VERY difficult with the sort of coughs I get:eek: I've tried it, it feels like I'm going to blow my brains out!:eek:
Since I learned Buteyko breathing for my own health (4 years ago), I haven't had a cough and this is often the case for clients who go from having bronchitis several times in the winter to one or none. We say close your mouth and protect your lungs. So nasal breathing 24/7, even when you are asleep, then colds are less likely to get on your chest. You can even cough "through your nose", taking the breath in through your nose and coughing gently through your nose with your hand keeping your mouth closed. Not easy but very effective!
Good luck 🙂
To prevent yourself from having a cough you have to stay hydrated, drink eight or more glasses of water a day. Keep throat healthy by drinking warm tea with honey.:)
Just in case it's helpful.....am wondering if it's a nervous cough since it only occurs at a certain time (and is unproductive).