Home remedies for Common Cold and Cough, with a pinch of Turmeric

This weekend was a hell of a one for me. I caught what is commonly called as Common Cold with a lot of Cough. There's no one who has ever escaped from these viruses (Viruses in general always cause trouble whether common or computer).

So here's a few home remedies if you have one or just remember them for times when you are in dire need of something like this:

1. Put about a glass of water to boil. Add to it 1/2 tablespoon turmeric, 1/3 tablespoon pepper, 1 tablespoon ginger and about ~2 to 3 tablespoon of jaggery. Let this mixture boil for about an hour till the quantity of water reduces to half. You will also notice that the liquid has become little thick. Sip it regularly twice thrice a day and it will soothe your throat and help reduce your cold.
2. Drinking little hot than luke warm water with a tablespoon of honey soothes your throat. This can be done multiple times a day.
3. Gargling hot water with a table spoon of salt soothes the throat. If you are have constant cough, I recommend this strongly. It will help you get instant relief.
4. Taking steam fews times a day also helps decongest the nasal track. It will though result in yellow mucous coming out, but that's the sign that your body has started fighting the viruses.
5. And this one came in just recently about an hour back from a friend. Warm the frying pan on the burner to a good enough temprature that its hot. Then sprinkle 1/4 tablespoon of turmeric on it, and immediately inhale the vapours generated. The vapors will last for a few seconds and the turmeric will burn to black. Clean the pan with a dry tissue and repeat it again for a few times.
6. Mix jaggery and turmeric powder and make small balls. Eat a ball whenever you want to get temporary relief from continous cough.

Few more tips:

• Drink lot of water and fluids
• Make sure that your digestion is good. Take laxative if you have a constipation
• Taking extra Vitamin C and Zinc may help, but its not proven
• Wash your hands often so that your near and dear ones don't catch from you
• Avoid staying in a warm dry place. Make sure that there is enough humidity in your place
• Avoid taking cough suppressants syrups or pills; instead you can go for expectorant kinds of medication syrups
• Sleep well and don't go out in the cold weather

If there are any remedies that have worked for you, I would appreciate if you can tell me by leaving a comment to this post.

(I will try to update this post, as and when I get more to learn about more home remedies)