Got the Cough Blues or the Cold Woes?

It's that time of the year again. That of itchy throats, runny noses and congested nasal tracks. Not a single year has passed without me catching a particularly stubborn case of the common cold. If you take medication to treat the cold, you will get better in seven days, if you don't take mdeication and just rough it out, you will get better in a week. Haven't we all been there? The result of the following study should come as no surprise to most of us... Cough syrups and other expensive over the counter medication are no more effective against cough than a placebo!! Antihistamines like Benadryl are ok.

This past week, my body showed every usual sign of catching a cold. The painfully itchy thoat, coughing just when you are down for the night which would soon follow up with a runny nose. At the first sign of this common virus, both Hubbie and I took to home remedies to nip the evil in the bud. The best remedy is to drink a steaming cup of turmeric milk at the first sign of the cold. Believe me, I am the world greatest skeptic when it comes to milk. But this has worked for me multiple times.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, and is known widely for its antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties. It is rich in antioxidants, and a staple ingredient in almost all Indian curries. (The picture on the left has been taken from here)

Also, I would like to address a common myth that many people harbor. Consuming milk DOESNOT aggravate musous.

Now that we have addressed the preliminaries, here is how we make turmeric milk. I am not very fond of milk, so I go to great lengths to cover up the 'milk taste' and the 'milk smell' . I use most of the spices that go into masala tea. You can buy 'Tea Masala' available in most Indian grocery stores or use home-made masala (2-3 cloves, 1 in cinammon sticks, 2 cardamom pods ground up in a coffee grinder)

Turmeric Milk	Makes 1 cup
1/2 cup whole milk 1/2 cup water (or use 1 cup of skim or 2% milk) 1 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp tea masala pinch of ajwain (caraway seeds) 1.5 tsp sugar	Combine in a small saucepan on medium heat. Allow to boil for 5-7 minutes. Strain. Drink piping hot.

Also, inhaling steam can be effective in soothing the membranes in the nose and throat. Melt approximately 1 tsp of vaporub in hot water and inhale the vapors. But take care to NEVER heat while inhaling.