I am down with cough and light fever again. Mumma didn’t allow me to go to school since coughing is infectious; but I hate being sic, since there is nothing much I can do. Most of the times I have to lay down on the bed or read story books; I can’t even go out because it is raining outside. Why do you have to fall sick? All my friends are attending school and playing, while I have to stay back at home.

Mumma says she will give me some magic medicines that will help me get well sooner. I said let’s go to the medical store now to buy the medicines but she said we don’t need to go to the medical store; it’s all available at home. Really? Where? In the kitchen, she said. Mumma stores medicines in the kitchen? I didn’t know that. She understood what I was thinking and started laughing. No I don’t store medicines in the kitchen; I am talking about natural medicines that have no side effects like the traditional over-the-counter medicines. The nature provides us with a number of natural medicines, which can help soothe many conditions such as cold, coughing, irritation, etc.

There are a number of natural medicines that can cure coughing and these include:

• Turmeric: It is an herb that cures coughs, especially dry cough. Turmeric when mixed with hot water or milk can cure coughing. You can also roast the root, grind it and mix it with water and honey. Having turmeric (whichever way you want) twice daily can cure coughing very quickly.
• Ginger: Ginger is another magic medicine for coughs. Grate or slice ginger and boil with water. Strain the water and let it cool. Mix some lemon juice and honey to it and have it for twice or thrice every day. It relieves the irritation and soothes coughing. You can also chew candied ginger to relieve continuous coughing.
• Garlic: Garlic is well known for its antibacterial and antimicrobial characteristics. It can fight infections very quickly. So boil two to three cloves of garlic with water and drink it while it is warm. It makes it easier to breathe and soothes the itchiness in the throat. You can mix honey to make it taste better. You can also fry one or two garlic cloves and eat it with food.

There are many other natural substances that can be used to relieve cough and cold. But why do we have to mix honey to everything? Is it just for the taste or something else? Mumma said honey is excellent home remedy for cough and cold, so by mixing honey, you increase the therapeutic characteristics of other elements. Honey also has antifungal and antibacterial characteristics and it has been used for hundreds and thousands of years to cure cough and cold.

I hope the natural medicines work well and I am able to go to school soon. I miss my friends and school too!