How to treat a cold without antibiotics?

Every year, the winter holidays and New Year's holidays for my household are overshadowed by high fever, stuffy nose and debilitating cough. We don't like pills. What to do?

Winter cold is a real haven for colds. Every year, the holidays and New Year's holidays for my household are overshadowed by high fever, stuffy nose and debilitating cough. We don't like pills. What to do?

Tatyana Galsanova , doctor at the Naran Clinic of Tibetan Medicine, Moscow:

- On average, a person gets three colds per year. If you get sick more often, you should think about it seriously. A runny nose, ARVI, flu, sore throat and bronchitis in the cold season are a serious threat to children, the elderly and weakened people. The tricky thing about a cold is that it can cause complications. For example, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses can develop into inflammation of the middle ear, bronchitis, pneumonia, and even into a terrible disease - inflammation of the brain. That's why you need to treat a cold on time!

All colds in traditional Eastern medicine are classified as “cold”. Wind people (thin, nervous, excitable) and Mucus people (loose, obese, lethargic) are especially susceptible to them. This applies to both children and adults. Hypothermia, eating foods with “cold” properties and stress are a direct way to “not get out” of a cold.

How to protect yourself?

A runny nose and various complex inflammations of the paranasal sinuses, sore throat, pharyngitis and bronchitis, as well as other winter “surprises” are quite easy to avoid.

If someone in the family is sick, place saucers with finely chopped or crushed garlic in different places in the apartment. And another simple but effective recipe: put finely chopped garlic in a pre-scalded teapot without water and breathe in steam through the “spout” for 5-10 minutes.

At home, preventive rinsing of the nasal cavity with water and sea salt (1-1/2 tsp per 1 glass of boiled water), infusion of green tea or mumiyo (1 g diluted in 0.5 liters of boiled water) is recommended. Gargling with a solution of sea salt, infusion of calendula and other herbs is also effective.

How to treat?

If you catch a runny nose, do not push the mucus deeper with vasoconstrictor drugs! Grind or grind the propolis, mix with thick honey (1 teaspoon each), place it in the form of a cake over the maxillary sinus and cover with an adhesive plaster.
Warm the area of the maxillary or frontal sinuses, as well as the soles of your feet, with dry heat. These can be bags of heated coarse rock or sea salt, or a hard-boiled egg. Duration of warming up is 15 minutes for children, up to 30 minutes for adults, 1–3 times a day.

Acupressure near the wings of the nose, in the middle of the nasolabial fold, along the nose, under the eyes in the middle of the cheek gives a good effect. Also thoroughly massage your palms, feet, and ears, which will give the body a good energy boost. The massage will be more effective if you use the Vietnamese balm “Star”.

Licorice will help with a severe cold cough (the plant has anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and antitoxic properties). Raisins are also used as an expectorant. A handful of raisins should be boiled until the broth turns the color of black tea.

How to eat

Therapeutic nutrition for lung diseases aims to increase the body’s protective properties and reduce inflammatory processes. It is necessary to stop eating milk and dairy products. Milk is a product that provides mucus to the body. Hot lama soup, ginger drink, and warming seasonings will help fight illness and fill the body with warmth and energy. But with citrus and other fruits you should wait. They are “cold” by nature, and the high content of vitamin C stimulates the nervous system and significantly inhibits recovery.

If there is no improvement within 5–7 days of self-treatment and the process threatens to become chronic, we recommend that you consult a doctor of Tibetan medicine.

What are the dangers of antibiotics?

It is worth forgetting about antibiotics for a while, since their frequent use leads to a vicious circle: the body, weakened after taking them, loses the ability to resist infections, and soon antibiotics will be needed again, only even stronger.

It is important to be able to relieve stress

Sit very quietly in a position that is comfortable for you for 10 minutes and breathe correctly. Take a deep breath - hold the air longer - and exhale calmly. During these 10 minutes, try not to think about anything - let your body, soul and thoughts rest.