Steaming - is it always good for you when you are ill?
Yes and No!
Yes - when you experience cold, sinusitis, runny nose and cough with phlegm along with the rise in the body temperature
No - when you do not have the above-mentioned symptoms; only there is increased body temperature.
What is the right way to steam?
Steaming is a sharp, intense and concentrated procedure. But it is recommended, to avoid steaming too often in children, as they are soft and sensitive. Here's are some notes, you should remember:
- You should watch out on how much you stem when there is excess phlegm and if you have sinusitis.
- Avoid direct contact of steam with your eyes. So keep those eyes shut.
- Inhale the steam through nose/mouth, but exhale through ONLY MOUTH and not through nose. Falling to do this causes damage to the olfactory nerve and inner nasal structures.
Massaging - is it ok to get massaged because of the body ache?
- A massage is not recommended.
- Exceptions: in severe cough and breathlessness, local massage to the chest region with medicated oils or eucalyptus oil, followed by psudation/fomentation (steaming) is beneficial.
Are you dumping your body with foods that aggravate your cold, cough and fever?
- Excess dairy products: if you are more prone to catching a cold and cough, decrease your dairy consumption as its mucus producing (even for children!) - this includes yogurt, cows milk, buttermilk, paneer (cottage cheese) etc
- White flour based products
- Bananas, and most fruits. exception is pomegranate
- Carbonated drinks
- Raw sprouts
- Ladies fingers
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes
- Refrigerated food and drinks
- Cold/cool water - prefer warm/hot water
- Deep fried food and greasy food
- Caffeinated food or drinks
- Trans Fats
- Processed meats
- Excessively spicy food
- Table sugar (refined sugar)
- Excess table salt
- Deep fried food
- Excess sugary cereals: These foods are highly addictive
- Canned food: Avoid this completely; as far as possible prefer freshly prepared food
- Low fibre diet
- Ajwain (carom seeds) potli press on chest, back, and shoulders does help. but you should avoid this if you have high grade fever and dry cough. Can be given in low grade fevers with body ache, or fever arising from common cold. Cough with mucus can also be managed with this potli
We hope these remedies help you make better choices, and help heal the fever, cold or cough quicker.
Disclaimer: These are general guidelines not based on a personal consultation, always speak to your health care professional/nutritionist for specific issues.