home remedy Archives

December 17, 2020 By Aruna Bhatia Leave a Comment

Natural Remedies For Gas and Bloating

Ever eaten something that made you feel uneasy? Did it turn your stomach into a balloon? Does this happen all the time? Well, you’re a victim to gas and bloating! It can be a terrible experience after you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your meals. There are several reasons for gas and bloating. So let’s understand them and look at a few remedies that will help you out.

What Is Gas and Bloating?

During digestion, a good amount of gas is released in the abdomen. This is because digestion involves acids secreted by the stomach cells to break food into smaller components. When your stomach bloats, it’s actually excess gas in the digestive tract. The entire gas and bloating issue is caused due to indigestion, eating at a fast pace, irregular meals or overeating. At times, conditions such as lactose intolerance, premenstrual syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and some other medicinal after effects may also be the cause for gas and bloating.

Are There Any Easy Home Remedies?

Of course there are! You don’t need to rush to the hospital for gas and bloating. You can treat it easily with certain lifestyle or diet modifications which will surely work if followed with discipline and consistency. Some of these remedies are as follows:

Probiotics: The calcium components present in curds or yoghurt bind to the stomach acid and can relieve bloating. You can have a cup of curd or unflavoured yoghurt or a glass of buttermilk along with meals to avoid this issue.
Fennel Seeds: contain extra estragole, anethole, fenchone that can cure indigestion fairly quickly. Soak one tsp fennel seeds in 500 ml water and boil it till it reduces to 400 ml. Keep sipping on a cup of this water after meals or drink a glass on an empty stomach.
Lemon Water: Lemons are naturally diuretic when added to warm water which will push fluids out of the body, thus reducing all the salt retained in the body, helping you avoid gas and bloating. This is best when taken on an empty stomach.
Ginger: It stimulates the body’s digestive enzymes and helps relieve inflammation by protecting the lining of the stomach. It is best when taken by boiling shreds of ginger in water after meals.

The above suggestions not only relieve gas and bloating but can also help prevent stomach ulcers from forming in the future. We hope this article helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more easy and effective home remedies, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

September 17, 2019 By Navnee Garg 1 Comment

8 Home Remedies For Dry Cough

With the increasing pollution levels, exposure to chemicals, or the unpleasant viral & flu, we wouldn’t be particularly surprised if you were looking for home remedies for dry cough. A dry cough is a nonproductive cough that doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus.

Dry cough is generally caused by viral infections and allergies. It is very necessary to consult a doctor to find the underlying cause of cough. Along with prescribed medications and treatment, you can also try a couple of home remedies to find relief.

1. Turmeric Milk

Turmeric Milk or Haldi ka Doodh, as it is popularly known in India, is one of the oldest and most trusted home remedies for dry cough. Turmeric is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps in treating infections. Also known as Golden Milk in the west, it is easy to prepare and highly effective. Drink a cup before going to bed to see the best results!

2. Honey Tea

Honey is an important ingredient for many different home remedies. It is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help ease the throat. You can use honey in various ways, like adding a teaspoon in warm milk or water. You can also just have a spoonful before going to bed.

3. Masala Chai

Masala Chai or Spiced Tea is one of the easily available home remedies for dry cough especially in Indian house setups. Apart from soothing the irritation in the throat, the antioxidant quality of cardamom and cloves also help release the toxic and cough-triggering effects of pollution and dust particles. Just add black pepper, cinnamon powder, cardamom and cloves while preparing tea and sip while hot!

4. Ginger

Ginger eases a dry or asthmatic cough, as it has anti-inflammatory properties. It also relieves nausea and pain. Prepare a soothing ginger tea by adding 20–40g of fresh ginger slices to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for a few minutes before sipping. Add honey or lemon juice to improve the taste and further soothe a cough.

5. Lukewarm Salt-Water Gargle

Gargling is the most common home remedy for dry cough. For relief from dry cough, try gargling with lukewarm salt-water. This soothes the throat by adding moisture to it. Add half a teaspoon of salt to a cup of lukewarm water till it dissolves completely. Let the mixture sit at the back of the throat for a few seconds before spitting it out. Gargle with salt-water three times a day until the cough improves.

6. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has natural healing energy which makes it helpful in relieving dry coughs. Use eucalyptus oil to decongest your throat. This oil not only promotes vitality but also helps in treating the infection. Add eucalyptus oil to a cotton cloth piece and keep it near your nose and mouth. The other way to inhale this is to add 2-3 drops to hot water and inhale the steam.

7. Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme that comes from pineapples. Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties and may also have mucolytic properties. This means that it can break down mucus and remove it from the body. Drink pineapple juice daily to reduce mucus in the throat and suppress coughing.

8. Warm liquids to Find Relief from Dry Cough

Staying hydrated is important when you’re down with dry cough. Warm liquids reduce the symptoms of a sore throat and cough and thus, provide immediate relief from dry cough.

Hot beverages that may be helpful include:

Clear broths
Herbal teas
Decaffeinated black tea
Warm water

If you haven’t noticed any improvement in your dry cough even after 7 days, it is necessary that you consult your doctor. Home remedies for dry cough can be an added measure but not a permanent solution for a persistent cough.

We hope these home remedies for dry cough help you find relief! Is there a personal home remedy that works for you? Share it with us in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

August 6, 2019 By Richa Sanghvi 4 Comments

3 Easy Tips To Help Heal From Dengue and Viral Fever

No matter how much you try, getting caught in the rain or getting drenched cannot be avoided. This is often followed up by that dreaded sneeze that culminates into a fever which doesn’t leave your side for a few days. We’ve all been through this at some point or the other.

Though there is something enchanting about the rainy season, it is also the time of the year when all the bacteria and viruses come out to play. These viruses and bacteria are responsible for problems like cold, cough, common flu, viral fever, and dengue, etc.

The most common fevers that can be seen during this season include dengue and viral fever. Some Symptoms include sudden spikes in body temperature, body pain, tonsillitis, reddening of the eyes, nausea and fatigue. If you have been experiencing this, it is time to take precautions!

If the above-mentioned issues have placed their grip on you, you can break free using these measures:

1. Cheers to Papaya Leaves Juice

For this kind of fever, your best bet is to drink Papaya leaf juice. Papaya leaves have organic compounds which help in increasing your platelet count – something that hits a low when you’re affected by dengue and malaria. It also has Vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system.

How to prepare: Take few papaya leaves and crush them to remove the juice from it.

2. Watch Your Water Intake

Keep yourself hydrated if you’re suffering from a viral fever. Water is one of the simplest and easiest ways your body eliminates toxins. The more water you drink, the more toxins will be eliminated. Also, drinking more water can relieve common symptoms such as headache and muscle cramps.

3. Basil/Tulsi Leaves to the Rescue

This is your go-to if all else fails! One can chew on basil leaves or you can drink a concoction of it. Basil/Tulsi Leaves have antibacterial and antiviral properties which can help in treating any kind of viral and bacterial infections. It also strengthens the immune system.

How to prepare the concoction: Add 10-15 Basil Leaves to 1 litre of water and boil until it becomes half. Filter it and keep to cool. Drink this every one hour to help cure any kind of fever.

If you don’t find any relief from the above tips, visit your doctor to rule out any other possibility of a flu or something more severe. Avoid any self-medication, especially antibiotics.

Stay safe during the rains! Hope you found these tips helpful. Do leave a comment below!

#BeTheForce

July 30, 2019 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!

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 works wonders as well in reducing the effects of Common Cold. You can also check out LIVE and archived classes on GOQii Play on combating common cold.

We hope this article was helpful to you! How do you combat common cold? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce