When we think of the winter, our minds often go to the hot drinks, Christmas lights, cosy evenings in, and snow day, but along with all of this, the winter months bring the low temperatures which increase the likelihood of getting sick. Beanbag Natural Health, based in Witney, are passionate about health, natural remedies and how we as individuals can influence our wellbeing by considering carefully what we put into our bodies. Here, they share with us their top tips for keeping well this winter.
Soothing a sore throat, naturally
Nearly all of us will have experienced a sore throat at some point. There’s no mistaking that dry, scratchy tickle that heralds something painful is on its way. And once it has taken hold, sore throat symptoms can progress to nasal congestion, swollen glands, hoarseness, and trouble swallowing.
Cold and flu viruses are the most common cause of a sore throat, but bacterial infections can also cause throat pain. Strep throat is one of the most common bacterial throat infections, affecting the back of the throat and the tonsils, and may require antibiotics to treat it.
A sore throat caused by a virus usually clears up on its own, but there are several natural remedies that can help with sore throat symptoms, and even speed its departure.
Echinacea purpurea is a powerful immune-supportive herb that works by improving the way the immune system responds to bugs, especially the common cold. Echinacea Sore Throat Spray contains sage, as well as Echinacea herb and root. Echinacea in spray form is great because it enables you to directly target the back of the throat and any irritated areas. As with other sore throat remedies, see your doctor or healthcare professional if your symptoms still persist after seven days.
Warm it up! Nothing soothes a sore throat quite like a warming drink. Hot honey and lemon works wonders for a sore throat. Honey is recognised the world over for its antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and lemons are a great source of vitamin C, plus they can provide pain relief and help to break up mucus. Simply mix two teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice into a cup of warm or hot water.
Supporting a cough, naturally
A cough is the body’s protective reflex, an attempt to eliminate foreign objects from the respiratory tract. It is quite common for a cough to accompany or follow a cold or flu. A cold will often cause swelling and irritation in the throat and upper airways and the body perceives this swelling as an object, which it tries to expel by coughing. Mucus is produced by mucous membranes lining the respiratory tract in order to trap invading bugs, and this mucus can then to be expelled via a cough.
Cough remedies are amongst our oldest medicines, but first you need to identify what type of cough you have.
A cough can be productive or non-productive – a polite turn of phrase that describes how much or little mucus you bring up when you cough. A dry cough is a type of cough that produces little or no mucus or phlegm. It is very similar to a tickly cough and often, these terms are used interchangeably. Both dry coughs and tickly coughs are known as non-productive coughs.
A productive cough on the other hand, produces plenty of runny stuff. Chesty coughs, also referred to as mucus coughs, are characterised by the amount of mucus they produce. Your natural reflex is to cough up or ‘expectorate’ this mucus to help clear your chest.
Generally speaking, a cough suppressant will help to dampen down the irritation of a dry and tickly, non-productive cough. They work by soothing and reducing the urge to cough. A favourite herb for dry coughs is spruce or pine. Try Bronchosan Pine Cough Syrup to help relieve dry, tickly and irritating coughs, and for children over the age of four, A.Vogel’s Cough Spray for Kids. Both contain honey, which is naturally soothing.
If your cough is productive, you will need an expectorant to help bring up the excess mucus in your airways. Expectorants thin and loosen mucus from the respiratory tract, encouraging its expulsion. Ivy is an example of a herb that exerts an expectorant action, as well as being antispasmodic. Thyme, one of our oldest herbs, can also help to thin mucus and relax the bronchial tract, making it particularly helpful for hacking coughs and catarrh. And liquorice, another old favourite, is widely recognised for its expectorant properties. Bronchoforce Chesty Cough combines all three and is used to help relieve chesty coughs resulting from excess mucus or catarrh in the respiratory tract.
Hot water and honey can also help. Good quality honey, such as manuka honey, can be soothing on your throat, which may be sore from coughing; it also has anti-bacterial properties. Add a slice of lemon for some added vitamin C and extra immune support.
If your cough is worse at night use extra pillows to raise your head slightly. This will help to prevent any mucus from collecting at the back of your throat and triggering your coughing reflex.
Whether your cough is productive or non-productive, staying properly hydrated will help to speed your recovery.
If symptoms persist or you cough up blood, do consult your healthcare professional or GP.
For further information visit the team at Bean Bag Natural Health, 2 Wesley Walk High Street, Witney OX28 6ZJ, or call them on 01993 773 922.
