Ayurvedic remedy magic for coughs and congestion

in Ayurveda we treat dry coughs differently to wet coughs...

a slimy cough with mucous cannot be helped the same way as a cough that is itchy and inflamed or dry as wood!

In other words, for Yoga and Ayurveda nerds like us, Kapha and Pitta Kapha accumulations need a different approach to Vata / Vata Pitta accumulations accumulation.

No Matter you constitution (Prakritti ) In both instances digestive fire will play a role... this is why experience that as the weather changes, we all start to have the symptoms we refer to as a mild or seasonal "cold". Actually what is happening is that our digestive fire is unstable, much like the elements in the weather...

one day strong and hot, one day windy, the next cold and damp.

Its the erratic, nature of the change itself, that no living thing is immune to,

and all fire, whether a flame of a fire or the acidic flame of your belly,

is driven by the fanning or movement of wind and gases, or lack thereof - Vata.

Now depending on your constitution (prakritti) and your behavior or patterning (vkritti) this erratic digestive heat results in either a post nasal drip or mucous (yes there is a difference )

Here is an easy guide of symptoms that you may recognize :

In Ayurveda, Dry cough with hoarseness and weakness of voice =

Vata accumulation/ dosha type of cough

as per Acharya Sushruta - During winter, there is an increase of Vata dosha due to dryness and coldness. At brave we observe that with climate change, we see this also in Autumn and even early spring in the last 20 years.

A common mistake with dry coughs is the usage of honey and lemon. Honey, in Ayurveda has astringent and sweet tastes but is heating & drying in nature, lemon is astringent and drying - hence both are in most mucolytic medicines... think med lemon etc

so by ingesting honey and lemon you aggravate your situation further.

Ghee or sesame oil is better. So oil pulling i.e. swishing oil or dairy keffir 3 times daily, adding a little ghee or oils to food or in a warm drink e.g. warm milk or even hot chocolate, and most importantly applying warm oil topically to your chest and throat area - ideally vata and pitta pacifying oils, are best, because they are sweet yet anti-inflammatory It's important to note that when it comes to oils they too have their own properties so don't just reach for what you believe is best because its more popular or expensive. Sesame, nut or avocado oils are best in Ayurveda for Vata, because they have a warming lubricating action. Coconut for Pitta, beware of Oilive oil, its bitter action will be drying.

In both Vata and Vata Pitta situations you can use the brave inhalation mix below but for dry cough one would add raw salt and steam with something covering the whole head - your cough is dry so we want to encourage more moisture, the Nature of Vata is cold, light and dry.

Also watch your diet applying the same rule - avoid cold, light and dry food... for example rice cakes, salads, ice cream, even a lot of teas - they are astringent. Opt rather for herb and flower infusions. Beware of acidity - no tomato, orange, pineapple, hard to digest food like meets, chickpeas, yellow cheese etc. Many people think they are dairy intolerant when they suffer from erratic or weak digestive fire. Abhyanga or self-massage with warm oil should be done at least once a week for the whole body and daily on your chest, back and face especially around sinus and nasal passages.

Practice Jala Neti, nasal salt water washing, with very mild, salted warm water - it should be the temperature of blood and have only the saltiness of sea water but always follow with a few drops of ghee or sesame in your nasal passages - this will work wonders

In Ayurveda, Wet cough with rattling and sputum = Kapha

Here spices, citrus and honey are best. Please never cook or put honey directly into boiling water, add at drinking temperature. Herbs like eucalyptus and rosemary , spices like clove, are also great because they too are astringent in action and therefore drying. Black and white pepper will also help tremendously for wet coughs. Its better to add these to water than oil for kapha conditions, because we don't want to encourage moisture retention or give the body more ingredients to make snot! a few dabs of these herbs in infused or distilled oil, under the nose, on the chest, in a compress or in your inhalant/ water is fine, but to use the mix below roll a piece of card or paper into a funnel and cover only nose and mouth or even mouth if difficult to breath and breathe through the funnel. Do Not cover your whole head with a towel or blanket...

In Ayurvedic terms, you will make your situation worse, we are trying to introduce less moisture and humidity into our body.

Placing the mix into a hot, wet cloth and making a compress

for your whole chest area is great too!

The Nature of Kapha is cold, wet and heavy, so avoid foods of that nature for example, raw food, soups, smoothies, yogurt, cold meats.... you get the idea.

Abhyanga or self-massage with a dry brush or rough cloth like natural cotton or muslin should be done at least once a week for the whole body and daily on your chest, back and face especially around sinus and nasal passages. You can add a little gram powder or natural clay powder. Practice Jala Neti, nasal salt water washing, with very mild, salted warm water - it should be the temperature of blood and have only the saltiness of sea water in the case of Kapha no need to follow with oils.

whatever you include for your inhalation is ideal and delicious to drink as an infusion.

You can put into a small cotton bag and hang over your shower head or bath tap, Fresh herbs are so miraculous added in a bunch too,

as long as the water runs through you'll give the water all the healing qualities.

If you have a kapha cough avoid baths and steamy showers.

Don't forget to clean your tongue,

practice your pranayama especially brahmari ( humming breath) and Ujjayi pranayam, and gentle asana.

Did you know that as aspirant Yogis and Yoginis the best way to do Jala Neti is to combine with practising the Hare - Sasangasan or  shashankasana. kneel in Virasan, inhale salt water, assume Sasangasan. Contrary to popular belief, the goal is to roll your neck right under so that your head is as close to your knees as possible, tail up in the air, essentially in Jalandharbanda or 'binding the throat '... this will unblock the sinus and nasal passages. Remain as along as comfortable, come up slowly to your original kneeling position, tilt your chin upwards and Sniff to clear all the residue into your mouth - we suggest a little bowl next to you to spit into. You can use the flats of your fingers to encourage the liquids by gently pulling from the bridge of your nose downwards to your ears. Repeat up to 3 times.

here is our tridoshic brave Ayurvedic steam inhalation blend for opening lungs and chest suitable for all constitutions and all coughs formula:

· Pinch of crushed Coriander seed

· Pinch of crushed Black pepper seeds

· 3 Star Anise pods

· Tablespoon of Rosemary or Thyme ideally fresh - if you have high Pitta (acidity) or high Blood Pressure please avoid Rosemary

· Tablespoon of Basil leaves ideally fresh /dry is ok

· Tablespoon of Salt (non-iodised raw salt is best)

· A clove of fresh Garlic

· A thumb length of smashed Ginger root

· A pinch of turmeric

if you want to add essential oils please use very sparingly no more than 1 to 3 drops

here are our suggestions

vata - dry cough - camomile, cinnamon bark & rosemary & basil - its nice to add some orange peel.

pitta - inflammation - peppermint, artemisia, rose geranium & basil - its nice to add grapefruit peel.

kapha - rosemary, clove & eucalyptus & basil - its nice to add some lemon peel.

method :

1. gently crush spices and herbs with a pestle and mortar or the bottom of a glass jar wrapped in a tea towel.

2. Place in bowl - must be glass, ceramic or stainless steal you don't want to inhale the chemicals in the plastic

3. pour boiling water to cover.

4. for vata and vata kapha (dry and tight cough and chest) Put towel over head to create a tent over your farce and the bowl.

for Pitta, Pitta Kapha (inflamed and when fever is present) and high kapha (mucousy and clammy) do not cover your head and face rather roll a piece of card or paper into a cone like a megaphone - put the widest part over the bowl and the narrow end over your nose and mouth.

5. if you are using a towel you can put an additional small towel over the top as it will help to keep first towel down.

6. steam for 5 to 10 minutes. you can re-use your mix and bowl up to 3 times. you can repeat up to 5 times per day.

7. we also use the soaked hot herbs after our practice above, as a compress or poultice on the chest.... just strain the liquid and wrap in a small cotton or linen cloth a napkin/serviette or hanky will do and place on your chest. keep dipping in the hot liquid whenever it cools off.

remember to use some dosha appropriate oil to massage your chest and practice Brahmari.... the humming breath. tap gently while humming to loosen phlegm.

Ginger root drunk as an infusion throughout your day is a safe digestion toner for all. Add a few Cardamon pods for Vata and a slice of lemon for Kapha.

brave has our inhalation mix, inhalation salts, nasal inhalers, dosha tea infusions, and organic dosha oils available for each one sold one is donated to a brave in need.

thank you to Sheila and Dr. Ramani James  for their contributions

Om Tat Sat

our Ayurvedic and Yoga therapy teachers are all ways on hand to help and our little ayurvedic brave botanica store has all you need to be your own best healer.

if a cough persists beyond 3 to 5 days you should seek medical help before it becomes an infection.

All is the Maha Bhuta or 5 great elements, harmonising those, internally and externally, is the key to sustained, harmonious health

Om Tat Sat