Excessive Cough  Bhairvi

Some explanation of why cough arises in toddlers and how to treat it with kitchen spices and vegetables

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ayurvedaonline/message/5608

Testimonial to above remedy working in a middle east country>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ayurvedaonline/message/5629

Cough is generally a symptom of some other problem in the body. It is wise to allow the body to treat the cough by helping the rest of the body get well. Healthy bodies do not cough. Whether it is a cold, flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia, strengthening one's immune system can only help. It is unfortunate that our aping the west has caused vaccine jabs in infants and immunity is compromised in the process.

In some other posts in this list, this author has written about how to boost immunity with Aamla, Lemon etc. A simple reminder: "Take as much Vitamin C through fruits/drinks needed to be symptom free, whatever the amount might be." That is usually just under the amount that would result in loose bowels. In India, Lemon, Aamla are available in all cities these days. For children like this, just 1 aamla juice with 1 tsp honey, only once a day is just like antibiotic injection taking care for 24 hours.

And you people are the pillars, on your shoulders only Ayurveda can ride to next generation.

Author's mother used to mix honey in lemon juice and give as cough syrup. Author did this for his own children -- they liked it, it seemed to soothe the throat, and they could have it as often as they wanted, unlike the drug store cough syrups. At grandma's house, author remembers grandmother treating our coughs with a green onion concoction. She would take green spring onions and chop them up in a bowl and cover with crystal sugar (rock candy, Khadi sakkar), then allow it to sit awhile until the juices from the onions and the sugar made a syrup and then make us drink it. If you like onions it is at least better than some of the cough remedies
available at that time.

During days when spring onions were not available, grandmother used to put salt in the palm of child's hand and child would just get some on his tongue and let it melt there and that would help with a COUGH, and would work for several hours. Another variation of this is keeping two pinches of Bhimsen Kapur on the tongue, which works for nearly 4-6 hours. This is the trick with which this author wins the toddlers love. They always want to come to this Vaidya uncle.

Another remedy which not only cures cough but also treats some of the "modern" problems (arising from growth hormone imbalances) of children is to make them drink Honey, lemon and onion in warm water. despite the worst taste it works really well.

Here is one more which can be tried only during July-November time (Chaturmas, when sweet potatoes arrive in Indian markets). A slice of raw sweet potato. Suck on it and the cough will go away or lessen in a few minutes. Sweet potato is termed Genasu in Kanad, Ratalu in Marathi. Shakaria in Gujarati, Shakarkandi in Hindi and Punjabi.

Author has sent in more remedies than necessary since he wishes that Ayurveda, home remedies should grow through moms. Since modern moms do not have much time, author left out some "Sweet barfi, Paks" and "Murabbas" which are "ready to munch" and "very much mouth watering" cough remedies, since they require time and patience and cooking skills too.