Winter Colds: How to prevent and treat them
A guest article written by Dr Joshi

Winter has arrived and has ushered in the season of coughs and colds and runny noses. A sudden dip in ambient temperature allows the population of winter viruses and bacteria to shoot up in the surrounding air. Not only that, the low temperature coupled with an early morning fog actually makes them more invasive. Respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, influenza and some adenoviruses abound, as do a few varieties of Streptococci.
Small babies and young children who haven't been exposed to the current strains of viruses and bacteria are the ones most susceptible to catching an infection, as are the old, whose natural immunity has declined with time.

Apart from taking routine precautions such as avoiding a prolonged exposure to cold air ( whenever possible ) and being suitably clothed to protect oneself, one can add herbal teas made from your garden herbs like:

Ginger root

Elderflower

Fennel seeds

Mint

Chamomile

Thyme

You may add any of the following spices to enhance the effect of the herbs:

Dried ginger root

Cloves

Nutmeg

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Saffron

Honey may be added as a sweetener, or unrefined ( brown ) sugar. This tea needs to be taken for as long as there is a chance of catching an infection, or until an infection that has set in passes over.

Apart from these garden herbs, however, there are more specific ones that prevent and treat respiratory infections more effectively.

But these do not usually grow in gardens, so they need to be purchased in the form of herbal remedies from Homeopathic or Ayurvedic pharmacies in your vicinity.

A judicious combination of herbs very often dispense with the need for antibiotics and other prescription medicines, and even over the counter medicines.

For more information visit Dr Joshi's website where she offers online consultations. There is a lot of information on the website as well: www.farawaysister.com

Please note that all the advice and opinions in the article are that of the author. Please note that some herbs which are beneficial in small doses can be harmful if taken to excess or for a long period. You are advised that self-treatment for serious or long-term problems without consulting a qualified medicinal practitioner should not be attempted. If you are pregnant or already taking any medication, you should obtain medical advice on whether any herbs or spices should be consumed and whether there are any contra-indications with the proposed herbs to be taken. Taking this into account, before trying any herbal remedies, I recommend that you sample a small quantity first to establish whether you experience any adverse or allergic reaction. I can not be held responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes, recommendations and instructions contained in the article, and the use of any herbs or spices mentioned is entirely at the reader's own risk.

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