Andrea Nguyen
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February 11, 2011Home Remedies for Winter Cough: Vick’s and Ginger Brew
Today is the first day in six (6) weeks that I haven’t had spasmodic coughing fits. I’ve been down with this winter’s nasty coughing virus. You may have heard of it – the one that starts with the gripping sore throat, maybe involves fever/congestion/body aches, and eventually settles into a long period of dry coughs. Some say it’s a resurgence of whooping cough. Children are suppose to get immunized.
All I know is that whenever there was a temperature change from warm to cold, I coughed as if my insides were about fly out of my mouth! It was hard to take in a full breath too, but I was basically functional.
By the time I went to my regular MD, she said I was pretty much fine but that I just had to wait for my body to recuperate. No antibiotics but she prescribed an inhaler, which helped a bit but not much. I used it for a few days but the coughing persisted.
My dad and friend Terrence suggested this home remedy: rubbing Vick’s VapoRub on the soles of your feet and wearing a pair of socks. My dad is 80 and Terrence is my contemporary. They both swore that the Vick’s-and-socks approach worked for them and would for me. It’s a remedy that’s been passed around the Internet for a couple of years. Some say it’s a hoax while others say it’s inconclusive. Nevertheless, it’s a topical thing so it’s not like you’re going to swallow it!
I also went to my acupuncturist, Dr. Jasmine Berke. She poked and cupped me to boost my immune system. Then she sent me home with an herbal tonic called “Wise Judge” and a tea recipe called “Ginger Brew.” I was at the tail end of the virus but Jasmine assured me that the tea would help me get over it once and for all. I made a batch and drank it over the course of a week. I dosed myself with Wise Judge too.
The herbs helped but things shifted back to normalcy after I drank the tea and rubbed on the Vick’s. If you got this persistent coughing thing, talk to a medical professional but try the Vick’s and tea to alleviate matters. I am so happy to finally be cough free!
Ginger Brew
Helps with digestion, eliminates clear phlegm and mucous, and warms the interior. Remember to wash the ginger before using it as you won’t have to peel it. Posted with permission from Dr. Jasmine Berke of Acupuncture Today.
Makes about 3 1/2 cups
1/2 pound of unpeeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
8 cups water
1 cup honey
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
In a saucepan, simmer the ginger and 4 cups of water, partially covered for 20 minutes. Strain the ginger into another saucepan. Add the honey, stirring to dissolve. Add the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water. Drink warm or at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.
If you have a remedy to share for a winter cough, let us all know!Posted in Miscellaneous | PermalinkDigg This | Save to del.icio.us | Comments
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Congratulations on getting over the cough! I'm so curious to try the vicks and socks cure. Had something similar a couple of years ago and was prescribed an inhaler which made the cough worse. At a recent visit to the doctor, she recommended that I take a tetanus booster (Tdap) as it is now includes the vaccine for whooping cough as well.
My ginger tea is about the same as the above recipe. Lately, I've started adding crushed garlic (when I know I'm not going to be meeting anyone!). Tastes great to me and garlic has powerful antibiotic properties as well.
Posted by:Veena |February 11, 2011 at 04:42 PMI am glad you are feeling better. I was also down with a nasty cold 3 weeks ago. I hardly ever get sick but once I get sick, it's full blown.
Anyway, I paid a visit to my doctor to rule out any bad bacteria or what have you. I also drank homemade ginger tea with slices of lemon and honey. Let me tell you, it works on my cough like a charm. Even my pharmacist friend recommends it. Apparently, ginger has anti-inflammatory property.
Isn't it nice to be able to take a deep breath without choking up in your cough?
Posted by:Anh |February 11, 2011 at 05:41 PMWhen I was young, years ago, my grandmother would put Vick's on my chest (or on a cloth around my neck) and I would sleep through the night...it was also used for muscle soreness...the active ingredients, camphor, menthol and eucalyptus can cross the skin to enter the bloodstream and work on your body. I would get a variation of the ginger tea as a cough medicine which also contained alcohol. Those were the remedies from my childhood. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by:johnt |February 11, 2011 at 06:57 PMFunny about the Vicks and socks remedy, my aunt uses it a lot and it works for my son when he has a cough
Posted by:momgateway |February 11, 2011 at 08:15 PMPoor A! Take care and keep up the regimen of Pappy Van Winkles.
Posted by:Ivy Manning |February 12, 2011 at 09:27 AMSo glad you are feeling better!
I have never heard of that Vicks thing. Odd. But the tea is one of my standard winter teas. I just chop a few slices of ginger (unpeeled), throw into a pot with some water. Boil a while (maybe 1/2 hour), add honey and lemon to taste. I like it as a warming winter thing.
Posted by:Diane |February 12, 2011 at 10:19 AMIvy reminded me that then I first got sick, I tried to cure myself with a steady supply of hot toddies made with Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. Or, I'd just sip Pappy to calm the cough. I got some psychedelic dreams one night, maybe due to too much Pappy and a light fever(?!).
My dad loves to use 100% eucalyptus oil for cold-like symptoms. I grew up with that cure but boy does it make unpopularly stinky!
Posted by:Andrea Nguyen |February 12, 2011 at 11:29 AMNever heard of the Vick's Feet thing!?!?!?
When I'd just fallen pregnant last winter I had a winter cold that went after a week to be followed by a cough. It too was persistent & I went through three bottles of cough mix. After one finished I tried a different one as the one I'd finished made no difference. A month later, I was still coughing but then found I was expecting! That ruled out any cough mix for me and came up with my own. (Similar to yours in fact.) 4 thin slices of ginger (skin on or off up to you) in a mug, pour in a little hot water and microwave for about 30-60 secs. The water does rise so don't add too much water and watch carefully! Add in 1 teaspoon of honey and 3-4 slices of lemon, top up with hot water. Worked for me when no other cough mix could touch it!
thank you very much,everyone has this problem, hope this will work for my kids,i am always hear them coughing,
Posted by:Illinois health insurance |February 14, 2011 at 02:37 AMGlad you're feeling better.
My family recipe for the ginger brew includes lightly charring the outside of the lemon first before slicing and squeezing the juice out, then dropping the lemon slice, charred peel and all into the brew.
Chewing kumquats is another home remedy for coughs and ... don't know the English word for kh?m kh?c.
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