Search Results for: remedies

July 12, 2022 By Shaeba Shaikh 2 Comments

5 Simple and Effective Home Remedies For Common Cold

The common cold season is here, where common cold is not that common! Symptoms such as congestion, a runny/stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, body aches, low-grade fever and Malaise (general unwell feeling) run rampant! The Common Cold is an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) mostly caused by the Rhinovirus. It is very common during this time of the year but can be managed well with these 5 simple home remedies!

5 Simple Remedies To Fight Common Cold Naturally

Ginger Ale: Simply boil water, switch off the flame, add a crushed(inch sized) piece of Ginger to it, half tsp turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper, and cover it for 3-5 minutes. Strain and have it with a tsp of raw organic honey. It works very well for clearing congestion, improve runny nose and also to relieve headaches and a sore throat.
Chicken/Veg Broth: Boil chicken or any veggies of your choice with 1 onion, few pods of garlic, 1 inch piece of ginger, salt and black pepper. Once boiled, remove the onions, ginger, garlic, blend them and add them back to the broth. The anti-inflammatory properties in them will help reduce congestion, can open up a blocked nose, will give a soothing effect to the body and help in reducing any aches/pains.
Lukewarm Water Gargles: Gargling with Lukewarm salt water works wonders to clear any throat itching/congestion, as salt has a tendency to absorb the water and along with it the infection causing Microbiota. Best time to do this is early in the morning after waking up.
Honey-Pepper Mix: Mix 1 tsp of raw organic honey with a pinch of black pepper and half tsp fresh ginger juice. It is a good remedy to reduce dry cough. Works very well on an empty stomach.
Hot Water Steam: Boil water in an open vessel, add a tsp of turmeric powder or Eucalyptus oil(1-2 drops) in it. Cover your head with a towel while covering the vessel. Take this hot water steam in the morning and evening for 10-15mins to cure blocked/stuffy nose and/or Chest congestion.

A simple Tulsi leaf decoction will also work wonders in reducing the effects of Common Cold. We hope this article was helpful to you! For more on staying healthy during the monsoon season, check out Healthy Reads or ask an expert by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

How do you combat common cold? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

March 8, 2022 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Home Remedies For Women’s Health Issues

Balancing your work and your personal life as a working woman can be quite tiresome especially when piled up over women’s health issues such as menstrual problems and PCOS. While the pandemic allowed women to work from home, it was far from being a blessing in disguise. Along with office work, they had to manage household chores and take care of their kids with absolutely no help from housemaids.

As per the GOQii Women’s Health Matters survey, we found that women with menstrual problems have increased in 2021, to an average of 38.8% as against an average of 32.8% of female health issues in 2020. PCOS at 31.2% has increased by 9% from 2020. Problems such as Urinary Tract infection (UTI) and Vaginal Discharge have seen a decrease of 2% and 4% respectively from 2020. You can get more insights from the full report here: http://indiafit.org/womens-health.html

The lockdown only worsened the situation, causing unprecedented psychological stress, leading to the release of excessive prolactin and cortisol hormones which interfered with their natural estrogen-progesterone cycle – which is responsible for regulating periods.

Balancing Hormones For Women’s Health Issues

Some issues can be solved by balancing the hormones progesterone and estrogen. This can be done through seed cycling, walking, weight management, cutting down on refined products and managing stress. In terms of diet, women can focus on Vitamin E rich foods, raw and sprouted seeds, nuts and salads. Homemade cottage cheese, fresh raw vegetable juice and cold pressed coconut oil also help! Vitamin C, B6 and pantothenic acid rich foods have properties of stimulating the body’s production of estrogen.

Remedies To Reduce Menstrual Pain

A Gentle Massage: over the abdomen, back, legs and feet for 15-20 minutes will ease the pain and relax the body. You can use oils like sesame, mustard and coconut for better results.
Hot Fermentation: Applying heat to the abdomen and lower back is also a very effective remedy to reduce the pain and cramps. You can use a hot bottle, heating pad, warm towel or even have a warm bath.
Good Sleep: for 7-8 hours (undisturbed) helps to relax your body and mind, both.
Natural Herbs: like fennel seeds, chamomile tea, cinnamon and ginger have antiinflammatory and antispasmodic properties, that are very beneficial in reducing the menstrual pain.
Avoid Certain Food Items: that increase the uneasiness by inducing gas and bloating issues, for instance, sugary soda drinks, alcohol, caffeine, salty foods, fried food, junk food items, etc.
Caffeine free teas like ginger tea, lemon tea, lavender tea, decaffeinated green tea can help in relieving pain associated with menstrual cramps.

Remedies For Bloating and Heavy Period Flow

Jaggery and carom seeds drink: Boil 1 glass water and add ½ tsp carom seeds followed by 2 tsp jaggery powder. Boil till jaggery dissolves, strain and drink. This drink can instantly relax tensed uterus muscles and provide relief from pain and bloating associated with periods.
Soaked methi seed water: Soak some methi seeds overnight, warm the water in the morning and drink on an empty stomach. The major bioactive compounds ‘polyphenols’ in fenugreek seeds are believed to help reduce abdominal pain.
Turmeric and nutmeg milk: Adding a ½ tsp of turmeric and a pinch of nutmeg in warm milk and drinking this before bed helps in menstrual pains. This combination of 2 spices acts as an antispasmodic agent.

Certain Yoga poses to ease menstrual pain include:

Child’s pose or Balasana
Knees to chest pose or Apanasana
Camel pose or Ustrasana
Forward fold or Padangusthasana
Resting corpse pose or Shavasana

Tips To Reduce Bloating During Pregnancy

Eat small proportions: Splitting your food into six small meals rather than three heavy meals will avoid overloading your digestive system.
Eat slowly to improve the digestion. Take a few deep breaths before and during the meal to relax. Also, do not eat when stressed
Consume fiber rich foods like carrots, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, apples, and pears. These are some of the best sources of fiber.
Foods such as onions, cabbage, broccoli, and beans are gas-inducing. Fried foods may not release gas in the stomach, but they can slow down your digestion process, leading to bloating. Hence, avoiding fried and gas inducing food is important.
Carbonated beverages and sweetened fruit juices contain high levels of fructose corn syrup, which contributes to bloating. Choose fresh fruit juices over carbonated beverages.
Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Start your day with a glass of water and then keep sipping water throughout the day. Include fresh fruit juices in your diet, water helps in flushing out toxins from your body. Also, helps in preventing bloating and constipation.

Remedies For Increased White Vaginal Discharge

White discharge is caused mainly due to hormonal imbalance, increased secretion of estrogen, improper hygiene habits, loss of iron, and sometimes due to indigestion and constipation. Remedies can include:

Foods that are gut-friendly such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, etc. for better digestion.
Optimum water and fiber intake to avoid constipation
Water residue which is used for white rice preparation. This will reduce the heat in the body.
Concoction of fenugreek seeds: Boil fenugreek seeds in water till it reduced to half, cool it and drink.
Guava leaves can be boiled in water, cool down, and drink – this also helps relieve vaginal itching.
Proper vaginal hygiene
Include iron-rich food such as black raisins, dried apricots and green leafy vegetables, etc.

We also hope this article helps you overcome these women’s health issues. For more on women’s health, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach for the right advice and guidance directly by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Happy Women’s Day!

February 11, 2022 By Neha Sharma 3 Comments

12 Amazing Home Remedies To Reduce Acidity

Acidity can literally be a pain to deal with but before we move on to home remedies to reduce acidity, it’s important to know its origin, symptoms and causes. Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) is produced in the stomach to digest food and it plays an important role in digestion but sometimes, HCL is produced when there is no food inside the stomach and it leads to the eruption of the lining of the stomach, giving rise to acidity.

Sometimes, the acid finds its way to the esophagus and you experience inflammation and a burning sensation in the food pipe. This needs to be treated as soon as possible as it may lead to ulcers. Meal timings, physical activity, proper sleep, no stress, less consumption of tea or coffee, moderate intake of alcohol and modification in cooking are some of the key points which help keep acid under permissible limits.

Simple and Effective Home Remedies to Reduce Acidity

Let’s look at some simple but amazing home remedies to reduce acidity which can be easily included in your daily routine:

Basil Leaves: are easily available. One can chew a few leaves of basil or can have basil tea as its calming and soothing properties help reduce acidity.
Fennel Seeds: can be chewed after meals to increase the rate of digestion and they help in reducing acidity. Fennel tea can be taken 1-2 times a day or it can be infused with water and taken on an empty stomach to curb acidity from morning itself.
Buttermilk and Curd: are always considered important for digestion and lactic acid present in them normalizes the acidity in the stomach. You can also add roasted cumin powder, a pinch of black pepper and a few leaves of mint & coriander to ease digestion.
Ginger: Grated Ginger can be boiled with water and that water can be taken the whole day or before and after meals to increase the rate of digestion. Ginger tea with honey can be taken without milk to reduce acidity.
Banana: gives instant relief from acidity. It can be taken during morning or mid morning and can also be combined with curd.
Ajwain: Ajwain water can be taken on an empty stomach (1 tsp of ajwain can be soaked in a glass of water overnight) or ½ tsp of ajwain with a pinch of black salt can be taken after meals to ease digestion.
Cumin Seeds: 1 tsp of cumin seeds can be soaked overnight in a glass of water or can be boiled in water and its water can be taken after meals to increase the rate of digestion.
Cold Milk: gives instant relief from acidity and one can have a cup of cold milk to neutralize gastric acids in the stomach. For those who are lactose intolerant, other options should be taken into consideration.
Cardamom: Chewing 1 cardamom pod after meals prevents acidity, flatulence and aids in digestion.
Coconut Water: turns the pH of the stomach alkaline and thereby prevents acidity and the lining of the stomach from getting ruptured.
Aloe Vera: Always go for fresh aloe vera! Mix the pulp with some water and have it 2-3 times a day. Otherwise, you have to go for organic aloe vera juice.
Lemon Juice: Have some lemon juice in lukewarm water on an empty stomach the first thing in the morning. It helps a lot in reducing acidity.

These are a few home remedies which you can use to reduce acidity. Last but not the least, positive lifestyle modifications also go a long way. Before you switch to any of these foods, consult your doctor, coach, nutritionist or dietitian.

We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on acidity, digestion, nutrition and other lifestyle issues, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

November 30, 2021 By Saba Mirza Leave a Comment

Effective Home Remedies For Sinus Congestion

If you’ve suffered from sinus congestion at any point in your life, you’re well aware of how painful an experience it can be. Let’s deep dive into what it exactly is as well as learn some home remedies for sinus congestion.

What is Sinus Congestion?

Sinus congestion is a condition in which the cavities around your nasal passage get inflamed and congested. Symptoms appear in the form of a stuffy nose, pain around the nose, cheeks, jaw or forehead. One may even experience swollen or watery eyes and a sore throat.There’s a surge in sinus congestion cases during winters primarily due to the dry, cold weather accompanied by an increase in pollutants and allergens in the environment. If there are no obstructive pathologies for the sinus blockage like polyps or deviated nasal septum, then a few home remedies for sinus congestion can help us soothe the inflamed nasal passage and reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

Effective Home Remedies You Should Try

1. Maintain Humidity: Dryness in cold weather is amplified when you are using a room heater. Dry air makes the mucus thick. This clogs sinus cavities and causes pain and pressure on the surrounding tissues. Using a humidifier while running a room heater and keeping yourself hydrated can help in reducing the viscosity of the mucus, making it easy to drain it out and open the cavities up.

2. Drink Warm Fluids: Warming your body with hot soups, curries and teas is an ancient measure, followed traditionally and ritually for ages! This is found to be quite effective in alleviating the symptoms of sinus congestion. Here are a few simple remedies which can be easily prepared at home:

Ginger-Turmeric Tea: Boil one-quarter teaspoon of dry ginger and turmeric in one cup of water and have that tea by adding lemon and pepper. It is very effective in soothing the sore respiratory mucosa and boosting immunity levels.
Immunity Booster: Take 2 black peppers, 2 cloves, 2 cardamoms, a small piece of cinnamon, small piece of ginger, Tulsi leaves, 2 garlic cloves and ½ teaspoon of ajwain. Boil it till the water becomes half in quantity, strain it and then have it hot with honey (preferably organic). Have this immunity booster drink two to three times a day. It will help you fight off various bacterial and viral infections.
Whole Leaves Green Tea: Being rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, green tea is found to be one of the most effective immunity booster and detox drink!

3. Warm Compresses: Apply warm compresses by covering your face with a clean, warm and wet cloth which will moisten the nasal passages, thin out the mucus plug and help in easing its drain, thus opening the cavities up!

4. Steam Inhalation: Steam inhalation is found to be quite effective in moistening the air passages and reducing the congestion by loosening the mucus. Use a bowl of hot water, add a few drops of an essential oil like menthol, eucalyptus or lemon juice and cover yourself with a thick towel to trap the steam inside!

5. Nasal Irrigation: Nasal irrigation simply means flushing out the nasal pathway with a saline solution. It helps remove allergens, irritants and excess mucus! You can use a nasal irrigation system like a Neti Pot, squeeze bottle or bulb syringes filled with saline solution, which you can get at a medical store. You can also make a saline solution at home by mixing 3 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Use sea salt or pickling salt and not iodized salt or table salt which is added with additives. Store it in airtight container!

How to Do Saline Irrigation: Put the above mixture into a clean Neti Pot or bulb syringe and stand near a sink. Place the spout in the top nostril and pour or gently spray a liberal amount of solution into one nostril, while tilting the head at 45 degrees, so that it flows through the nasal cavity and out of the other nostril! Blow your nose to get rid of any remaining water. Repeat the process on the other nostril.

6. Eliminate the Causative Factors: Factors which can aggravate the symptoms are allergens like smoke, dust particles, perfumes, hair spray, cleaning products and anything which releases fumes! Try to keep the air around you clean from all these irritants!

While these home remedies for sinus congestion are effective, they only tackle the symptoms. If the issue persists, you should consult your doctor. For more home remedies, you can check out the Healthy Reads section in the app or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce