Cold and Cough

Symptoms
Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:
Running or blocked nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Congestion
Headache
Low fever with body pain
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Insomnia
Causes
The aggravation of kapha due to the intake of cold food, drinks and fried stuff etc causes cough. Seasonal changes is also one of the reasons for cough Improper digestion of food transforms into a mucus toxin (Ama) and this circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system, where it causes colds and coughs.

Remedies
The body should be kept warm - especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful.
Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.
Mix half a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey.
Dosage: Take several times a day.
In cases of dry cough (especially during the night), peel a small piece of fresh ginger. Sprinkle some salt on it and chew.
Take equal amounts of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper and cinnamon (1 teaspoon each). Add sugar equal to the total amount of mixture and grind to make a fine powder.
Dosage: Take half a teaspoon twice daily, with honey or warm water after meals.
In cases of sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed.Gargling with warm salty water two to three times a day is also beneficial.
Dos and don'ts
The food and activities that are to be avoided are as follows:
Cold foods and drinks
Ice cream, sweets
Fried foods
Milk products (cheese, creams, yogurt)
Sweet fruit juices
Breads
Meats
Nuts
Pastries
Sleeping during the day
Taking a cold shower
Exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners
Following are the substances and activities that should be taken in cough:
Boiled or steamed vegetables
Vegetable soup
Spice teas
Herbal teas
Hot milk with a piece of crushed ginger
Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder mixed in milk provides relief.