8 Cultural Remedies to Treat a Cold

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When faced with a cold, our ancestors turned to nature for its

treatments. And throughout the world, parts of plants -- the roots,

stems, leaves, fruits and flowers -- are used to ease a cold and its

symptoms.

 

In the United States, chicken soup is often used, and the broth does

appear to have therapeutic benefits. Here are some of the techniques

used elsewhere:

 

Ginger Tea

 

In many regions of China, the popular remedy for a cold is ginger tea.

It is consumed mostly during the beginning stages of a cold. The

spicy-tasting tea is made by cutting small pieces of fresh, peeled

ginger root into boiling water. This is steeped for five to 10 minutes

and then strained.

 

Bitterroot

 

Bitterroot is known among American Indians as a treatment for a sore

throat or a cold. Bitterroot goes by many other names, including

singer's root (since the remedy is used for a hoarse voice). You take

a little chunk of bitterroot or bite off a piece. The root is hard,

but soon it softens up and becomes spongy, so you can suck on it for hours

 

Wormwood

 

Wormwood, also known as stinkweed, has been used for centuries as a

cure-all for everything among the Inupiat Eskimo, a group found in the

Northern coastal region of Alaska. The plant can either be used

" green, " meaning freshly picked, or dried. It's placed in a pot and

boiled for 20 minutes. You remove it from the heat and allow the

avocado green liquid to steep. The tea can be served hot or cold. But

have food with the beverage, because it's very potent.

 

Uhaloa

 

This native Hawaiian plant is well-known for its medicinal use among

traditional healers. It's the juice from the inner bark that's thought

to be most beneficial for cold symptoms. The inner bark can be chewed

to release the juice inside the plant. Swallowing this juice as it

mixes with the saliva in your mouth can help soothe a sore throat. It

can also be boiled into a reddish-colored tea that's drunk for sore

throats, as well as for bronchial and bacterial infections.

 

Sheena Judd

http://health.naturalhealthinformation/