Top Health Tips on Treating Whooping Cough (Child)

According to the preconceived notion, drinking alcohol is harmful to the body. It is partly true. Drinking alcohol is harmful to the body, but only in huge proportions. In fact, despite popular belief, drinking alcohol is also good for health.

Here are 8 alcohols that are secretly keeping you healthy:

Beer: The most common alcoholic drink, beer is loaded with antioxidants called phenols. This protects you against suffering from heart diseases. Beer also lowers the risk of acquiring high blood pressure and helps maintaining it.
Red Wine: Apart from being a classy drink and having the same benefits of beer, the additional brownie points of red wine is that it helps in increasing life span by generating longevity genes. It also increases good cholesterol and reduces bad cholesterol in the body.
Ethanol: Ethanol reduces the risk of wear and tear in the brain neurons. Any damage to the neurons may lead to Alzheimer's or dementia. Hence ethanol helps to prevent any harm to the brain cells.
Vodka: Vodka helps in clearing bad breath as the high alcohol content kills all bad odour bacteria present. It also helps to reduce stress and disinfect wound. It improves the health of the skin and stimulates hair growth. Toothache is also another issue which Vodka can work wonders on.
Whisky: Whisky helps to numb throat pain when it is gargled in a mixture with warm water. It stimulates weight loss. Whisky also helps in preventing dementia. Other benefits of this drink that it prevents diabetes and cancer. It also helps to keep the heart healthy, increases the level of good cholesterol and terminates blood clots. Whiskey is believed to be one of the healthiest drinks among the alcoholic beverages.
Tonic: The combination of gin and tonic is very useful while treating malarial infection as it contains quinine; which is used for the treatment of malaria.
Brandy: Brandy is one alcoholic drink which is full of healthy antioxidants. It has anti ageing properties; hence is very good for the skin. Brandy also reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the body. It also helps in the treatment of bladder and ovarian cancer as well as sore throats and cough.
Rum: Rum increases life longevity. It is very beneficial for the heart. It also functions as a blood thinner and helps in increasing the level of good cholesterol. Having this wonderful drink occasionally also guards you against osteoporosis and common cold.

Jeera or cumin can do more than add flavour to your food. For your health to benefit from jeera, boil a spoon of raw jeera with a cup of water and strain it. This tea can help resolve a number of health issues, skin and hair problems. This should ideally be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. Some of the health benefits of jeera water are:

It aids digestion: A glass of jeera water in the morning can stimulate the production of enzymes that help break down carbohydrates, glucose and fats. It also enhances your metabolism and prevents diarrhoea, nausea and gaseousness among other indigestion problems.
It helps remove toxins: Jeera water is rich in antioxidants that can help flush toxins from the body and promote the healthy functioning of internal organs. This is especially beneficial for the liver.
It boosts immunity: Jeera is rich in iron, which helps the immune system function optimally. A glass of jeera water can account for up to 7% of the recommended daily iron intake. Vitamins A and C, which help protect the body against infections, are also found in jeera water.
It helps treat anaemia: The high levels of iron in jeera make it ideal for treating anaemic patients. Without adequate iron, the body will not be able to produce enough red blood cells and hence hamper circulation of oxygen-rich blood.
It improves the respiratory system: Jeera has anti-congestive properties. Hence, drinking a glass of jeera water can help dilute and discharge mucus in the chest. Its antiseptic properties also help kill microbes that cause colds and coughs.
It improves the quality of your sleep: Jeera water can help cure insomnia to a large degree. Not only does it help you fall asleep faster, it can also ensure you have a better quality of sleep.
It improves memory: Jeera can help enhance ones brainpower. This helps sharpen your memory and increases your attention span.
It helps achieve clear skin: Jeera is full of fibre and free radical scavengers. This helps detoxify the body and helps make their elimination smoother. By fighting free radicals, jeera water helps keep the skin clear and adds a natural glow. This also makes jeera an effective way of treating acne. Jeera also has antioxidant properties that help prevent premature aging. Additionally, jeera water can soothe the skin and increase the skin s ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Jeera or cumin can do more than add flavour to your food. For your health to benefit from jeera, boil a spoon of raw jeera with a cup of water and strain it. This tea can help resolve a number of health issues, skin and hair problems. This should ideally be taken on an empty stomach in the morning.

Some of the health benefits of jeera water are:

It aids digestion: A glass of jeera water in the morning can stimulate the production of enzymes that help break down carbohydrates, glucose and fats. It also enhances your metabolism and prevents diarrhoea, nausea and gaseousness among other indigestion problems.
It helps remove toxins: Jeera water is rich in antioxidants that can help flush toxins from the body and promote the healthy functioning of internal organs. This is especially beneficial for the liver.
It boosts immunity: Jeera is rich in iron, which helps the immune system function optimally. A glass of jeera water can account for up to 7% of the recommended daily iron intake. Vitamins A and C, which help protect the body against infections, are also found in jeera water.
It helps treat anaemia: The high levels of iron in jeera make it ideal for treating anaemic patients. Without adequate iron, the body will not be able to produce enough red blood cells and hence, hamper circulation of oxygen-rich blood.
It improves the respiratory system: Jeera has anti-congestive properties. Hence, drinking a glass of jeera water can help dilute and discharge mucus in the chest. Its antiseptic properties also help kill microbes that cause colds and coughs.
It improves the quality of your sleep: Jeera water can help cure insomnia to a large degree. Not only does it help you fall asleep faster, but it can also ensure you have a better quality of sleep.
It improves memory: Jeera can help enhance ones brainpower. This helps sharpen your memory and increases your attention span.
It helps achieve clear skin: Jeera is full of fibre and free radical scavengers. This helps detoxify the body and helps make their elimination smoother. By fighting free radicals, jeera water helps keep the skin clear and adds a natural glow. This also makes jeera an effective way of treating acne. Jeera also has antioxidant properties that help prevent premature aging. Additionally, jeera water can soothe the skin and increase the skin s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
All the points discussed above prove that jeera has countless health benefits. Hence, start consuming it daily from today only to keep yourself healthy and fit.

Coughing during the night can really wreak havoc for your sleep and cause inexplicable discomfort in the throat and chest region. Thankfully, you can manage it by soothing your tickling throat as well as sensitive airways before you go to bed at night.

Drink herbal tea: A mugful of non-caffeinated tea mixed with a teaspoon of honey before going to bed can help you to a considerable extent. This is because any warm liquid has the power to break down the formation of mucus in the throat region and with a bit of honey, the herbal tea becomes even more powerful.
Try to sleep in an inclining position: Gravity is your greatest enemy while combating night-time cough. When you lie down flat on your back at night, all the mucus and dust particles, which you have swallowed all through the day, would accumulate in the throat area and aggravate it making more cough. But you can easily defy gravitational force by piling up some pillows and prop yourself on them while sleeping. You may also keep a wooden block of 4 inches height under your head, which would keep the acids in the stomach so that they don t come up to irritate your throat.
Make sure you use the steam cautiously: When your airways are dry, it can make you cough harder. Therefore, you may find relief if you take a warm shower or a bath before going to bed. But you have to be sure that you don t have asthma as steam can prove harmful for you.
Check the level of humidity: Humidifiers are known to soothe the problem of persistent coughing when the surrounding air is dry. But too much of moisture during the night can also make you cough. This is because dust mites, mold and other allergens thrive well in the damp air and they could conspire to make your cough even worse. So, pick up a cheap hygrometer from a hardware store and see that the humidity level stays within 40 to 50 percent.
Equip yourself at night: Keep all the things from drops to water to cough syrup or anything that soothes coughing at your bedside so that you can help yourself in case you wake up in the middle of the night and start coughing.
By following these few tips every day, you can manage the night time cough and have a good night s sleep without any interruptions.

No matter how well you take care of yourself, everyone catches a cold or flu at some time or the other. That s probably the reason why it is popularly known as a common cold. A cold on its own does not harm the body much but it leaves you feeling weakened and suppresses the immune system. Cold is a viral infection and hence is usually unresponsive to antibiotics and other medication. However, Ayurveda can help manage a cold better and speed up the recovery process.

Cough and cold can be triggered by a number of factors including a sudden drop in temperature, exposure to dust or pollen or staying in rooms with poor ventilation. Additionally, aggravating the Kapha dosha can also cause a cold or cough. When the food we eat is not digested properly, its turns into ama that triggers cold or cough when it reaches the respiratory system. Some common ayurvedic remedies for coughs and colds are:

Enhance your body heat: Keeping the body warm, especially the head, throat, chest and feet, is the first step to recovering from a cold. Drinking a cup of hot spiced tea or a glass of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, a few times a day, can also help. Spices like cumin, coriander and black pepper are considered heat generating spices and hence should be used liberally when preparing food.
Vapour therapy: To recover from a cough that is accompanied by congestion, try inhaling the hot vapours of water mixed with a little eucalyptus oil. This helps dilate the bronchial tubes and unblocks the nostrils. Inhaling the vapours of water mixed with rock salt can help relieve heaviness in the head and a mild cold. Simple hot water vapours itself can even be inhaled to relieve sinusitis pain. To benefit from vapour therapy, it is essential to sit in a room without the fan on and to cover your head and the vapour source while inhaling the steam.
Dhooma Paan: Inhaling turmeric smoke is said to have an antiseptic effect on the lungs and respiratory tract. To benefit from this therapy burn a dried root of turmeric and inhale the smoke a few times. If you do not have access to the dried root of turmeric, place a red hot piece of charcoal with a few dried leaves in a clay pot, add a heaped spoon of turmeric powder to this and blow gently till it catches fire before inhaling the smoke.

Chest pain is a common problem that most people experience. Chest pain can signal anything from a muscle cramp to even an impending heart attack. You should never ignore symptoms of chest pain as it can signal a serious underlying disorder. The details about chest pain are not described here as it is beyond the scope of this article. The focus is on various homeopathic remedies to treat symptoms of chest pain.

Why homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine that was started in the year 1796, by Samuel Hahnemann. It is based on the premise that the substance that causes a disorder, if introduced in the right quantity in the body, will cure the same disease. Compared to mainstream medicine, homeopathy products are not synthetic and are free from any side effect.
Homeopathic remedies for chest pain:

The homeopathic remedies that are given below not only treat pain effectively but also get rid of the actual cause of the pain. The best thing about these remedies is that they are completely free from any side effect, whatsoever. The various homeopathic remedies for chest pain are:

Rhus Tox: This remedy is effective in treating pain that spreads to the shoulders from the chest; these symptoms tend to worsen in damp and cold weather.
Arnica Mont: If you experience chest pain along with soreness in the body, this remedy is prescribed.
Ranunculus B: In case of intercostal rheumatism wherein you experience pain in the muscle between the ribs, this remedy is usually recommended by the practitioner.
Kali carb: Kali carb is used to treat stitching pain in the chest that worsens during the early hours of the morning.
Rumex C: This remedy is used to treat pain that develops in the left lung, followed by coughing.
Bryonia: For a stabbing or a burning chest pain that worsens when you move, Bryonia is considered to be the appropriate remedy.
Phosphorus: This remedy is recommended when you experience heavy coughing and chest pain caused by pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Carbo-veg: Carbo-veg is used to treat chest pain resulting from acidity, gas and indigestion.
Robinia: This remedy is used to treat symptoms of chest pain that originates from behind the sternum (breastbone) as a result of acidity.

Come winter or even a slight change of season, and it is easy to catch a cold. With cold, it is quite normal and natural to develop a deep chest cough. However, it is to be noted that chest cough develops due to different reasons. Some are due to chest infections, while others are dry cough. Thus, for these different variations of cough, different homeopathic treatments are administered. Here is a list of some of the common types of treatments for curing deep chest cough-

Pulsatilla: Pulsatilla is administered to those who have a sore throat, constant irritation in the eyes and fever. When fever is accompanied with cough and cold, it is important to treat all three symptoms, lest it might usher in a more serious disease. Homeopathy is often described as a holistic form of treatment. Through the medicines, the personality of the patient can be determined. For instance, Pulsatilla is administered on those who are soft, gentle, mild and timid and who have a fear of being abandoned and thus cling on to people.

Nux Vomica: Those experiencing high levels of stress and falling prey to cough and cold with a sore throat and sharp pain while swallowing should try a dose of Nux Vomica. This is used to cure cough and cold, which block the nose, especially at night, making it troublesome for the individual to breathe. This might also cause blockage in the ear and sharp pains while trying to swallow food.

Phosphorus: At times, one experiences an extreme bout of cough that is triggered through dry throat and coarse fever. This violent cough can be nerve wrecking at times and a relaxing remedy is preferred by the patient as soon as possible to soothe the irritation.

Bryonia: This is the best medicine to treat dry cough that can be a symptom of a slowly approaching influenza. Such coughs occurs when an individual takes a high intake of cold drinks or due to sudden weather changes. The cough is followed by fever and dryness of the throat. It might also itch to a certain extent.

Natrum Mur: It is the best treatment for a dry cough, which often causes a tingling sensation in the throat. This sensation creates irritation and often leads to sleepless nights for the patient. There is also presence of whitish mucus in such types of cough.

These are some of the most common types of homeopathic treatments for treating deep chest cough. Each cough is different in nature and origin, and hence should be treated differently as per the individual symptoms.

A lime may be one of the smallest things that most people don't consider buying especially when they go for fruits and vegetable shopping, but it is one of the high nutrition food item in the basket. When it comes to lemons the first thing that pops into our mind is the presence of vitamin C, but in reality, there are a number of health benefits that most people are not aware of.

Along with a boost of vitamin C, lemons are infused with the goodness of fiber, calcium, thiamin, pantothenic, acid folate, magnesium, copper, etc. and to top it all they are also low in calories. Apart from the aforementioned benefits, there are certain reasons why lemons should be consumed daily.

A powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals: Lemons are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium which is essential for heart health, nerve function and are good at maintaining the level of blood pressure in the body. They can also reduce cancer as they contain antioxidants and bioflavonoids.
Fights infection: We all know lime to be very good at fighting cold and cough. Not just that. It is useful in severe infections like cholera and E.coli infections. As cholera is transmitted by food, adding lime to the food will help in preventing its transmission.
Heart health: Lime is rich in antioxidants which is responsible for keeping the arteries healthy and improve blood circulation. They also reduce the buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries, which prevents the hardening of arteries and reduces the onset of blood pressure. Lemons can work wonders when it comes to maintaining the overall heart health. One can also include lemon peel and oil in their daily diet for good health.
Drink to your health: Drinking a glass of lime juice with a spoon of honey, on an empty stomach is the best way to start a day, as it will provide the body with a boost of energy it requires.
Fights cancer: Considering lemons are packed with antioxidants along with certain compounds which are good at fighting cancerous cell development. Further, the presence of compounds, such as hesperidin and d-limonene are well known for their cancer prevention properties, due to which lime is amongst the best cancer-fighting foods.
Glowing skin and hair: After squeezing out the juice from the lime, rub the lime on the face and notice how the skin glows. If that sounds not feasible, apply lime oil on the face, this will keep the skin elastic and youthful. Applying lime to the hair is a natural way to keep the hair shiny and black.
Joint movement: It is common for uric acid to accumulate in joints, which leads to bone pain and discomfort. Citric acid from the lime ensures this uric acid accumulation is reduced, thereby, reducing gout and inflammation.
Weight loss: The citric acid is an excellent fat burner, and drinking two glasses of warm lime water per day can give obvious results in a week s time.
Now that the benefits of lemons are out of the bag, don t forget to throw in a couple of lemons in that shopping bag. Further, in case of a query, do consult an expert & get answers to the queries.

Traditionally, the use of honey stretches back to time immemorial. It is still considered one of the most precious gifts of nature to mankind. Modern research also suggests that honey has unique medicinal and nutritional properties. Honey should be incorporated in your daily diet as it is one food which is naturally beneficial for your overall health and does have any side effects.

Following are the traditional uses of honey, according to ayurveda:

1. Prevents anemia: Honey contains high amounts of iron, manganese and copper which are very essential for building hemoglobin. According to ancient texts, honey is a traditional cure as well as prevention for anemia as it helps in maintaining the optimum level of red blood corpuscles and hemoglobin.

2. Promotes eye health: Honey has been used to treat various eye diseases since ancient times. It is known to improve vision with daily application. It is an effective cure against diseases like conjunctivitis, trachoma or even something as minor as eye itching. It is also beneficial to treat glaucoma in the early stages.

3. Skin care: Ancient texts on ayurveda mention that external application of honey is effective in curing sores or other wounds. It works like an antiseptic and helps to soothe pain and hastens the healing process. It is also used to treat skin burns or carbuncles.

4. Cure for coughs: Honey is extremely useful in treating coughs. It works as a demulcent which aids in soothing the swollen mucous membrane present on the upper respiratory tract. It relieves you from irritating coughs and associated symptoms like frequent spurts of cough while talking and difficulty in swallowing. It is a chief ingredient in ayurvedic cough syrups for the same reason. You can also try honey gargles to relieve pain from throat inflammation.

Every moment from the minute we are born, we are constantly inhaling and exhaling air. However, we rarely think twice about the quality of the air that we breathe. Ideally, we should be inhaling air rich in oxygen, but today, the air we breathe is contaminated with carbon dioxide, particulate matter etc. as a result of air pollution. Breathing this polluted air can be extremely detrimental to your overall health.

What is air pollution?
Air pollution can be defined as the introduction of gases, fumes and dust particles that distort the natural balance of elements in the air. Pollution in the air spreads easily and is difficult to avoid. These elements that pollute the air can be classified as primary and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants are gases or particles, such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides etc. that are directly emitted into the air. Pollutants that develop as a result of interaction between primary pollutants in the air are known as secondary pollutants. Smog, such as what is enveloping the Northern India today is one of the most common examples of this type of air pollution.

How is it measured?
Air pollution is measured by measuring the amount of pollutants such as Carbon monoxide, Ozone, Nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometres and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres. This data is collected through monitoring stations in various cities and measured in the form of micrograms or milligrammes per cubic meter. For carbon monoxide and ozone this reading is taken as an average concentration of pollutant over 8 hours while for others it is averaged against 24 hours. This can be seen online on India s air quality index.

What is the significance of air quality index(AQI)?
The air quality index is a visual representation of pollutant levels in the air around you. A quick glance at this colour coded map can tell you if the air outside your home is likely to harm you or not. The code is broken down into 6 levels ranging from green that signifies minimal impact to red that marks pollution levels that can harm a healthy person and seriously impact those who are already ill. The higher the AQI, the higher the level of air pollution.

How does it affect your health?
Watery eyes, coughing and wheezing are the most common results of breathing polluted air. The risk of falling ill due to air pollution is dependent on the pollutant type and amount and duration of exposure to the polluted air. Heart disease and lung disease patients, pregnant women and children under the age of 14 are most vulnerable to diseases caused by air pollution. Air pollution can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, damage cells in the lungs and put the heart and lungs under additional stress to pump oxygen. Long-term exposure to polluted air can cause the lungs to age faster, lead to decreased lung capacity and functioning and can also result in the development of asthma, bronchitis and even cancer. It can also cause heart attacks and shorten the lifespan of a person.

How can you protect yourself against the ill effects of air pollution?
Looking at the AQI levels of your city every morning should become a habit for city dwellers. If the pollutant levels are excessively high, it is advisable to stay indoors. On an average, air pollution and day temperatures have a direct relationship. Hence, avoid scheduling outdoor activities for the afternoons. Avoid routes that have heavy traffic and try carpooling or walking, biking etc. In areas where it is not possible to escape the pollution, use a handkerchief or face mask over your nose and mouth to filter the air. Eating fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants can help strengthen your immune system and shield your body against the ill effects of air pollution.

Within your house, clean the air conditioner and heater filters regularly and vacuum the house often. On days when the AQI is low, open your windows and allow fresh air to circulate. Sheets and stuffed toys are magnets for particulate matter in the air and hence should be washed often. Do not burn trash or allow people around you to do so.

Air pollution is a big problem to tackle and in order to fight it, requires effort from each and every individual. Take a look at the amount of pollution you generate and try reducing it. Car pooling and using public transport are often the first steps towards reducing your carbon emissions. Wherever possible use hand powered or electrically powered equipment instead of gasoline powered ones. Simply stating that the air is polluted will not help; get involved with the efforts being made in your locality to clean up the sources of this pollution. Remember that if you do not do your bit to fight this menace, it is you that will be harmed by it.