Get Well Sooner: 8 Home Remedies for Coughs and Sore Throats

 

No one likes having a cough, but how do you take care of your wellbeing without resorting to drugs? Complementary wellness expert Melissa Breyer outlines the best at-home remedies for coughs and sore throats – get well soon!

 

1. Homemade Honey Cough “Syrup”: According to Breyer, ‘There is scientific evidence that honey can be effective in treating coughs and sore throats. You can take it straight, or mix honey with coconut oil and lemon juice for extra benefits. You can also try many a grandmother’s old standby before bedtime: a shot of bourbon mixed with honey.’

 

2. Thyme Tea: ‘In Germany, thyme is an officially approved treatment for coughs, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis and whooping cough,’ notes Breyer. ‘The herb’s little leaves pack a potent punch of cough-calming compounds that work to relax tracheal and ileal muscles, and reduce inflammation. You can make a thyme tea by steeping two teaspoons of crushed thyme leaves in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain. Adding honey and lemon rounds out the flavour and adds extra soothing power as well.’

 

3. A Hot Shower: ‘Crank up the hot water, close the windows and turn off the exhaust fan,’ Breyer instructs. ‘Steam can be a cough’s worst enemy, and thus, your best friend. Steam works to soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs. (Although take note, WebMD warns that steam may exacerbate coughs caused by asthma.)’

 

4. Black Pepper and Honey Tea: Breyer suggests, ‘For a wet cough, you can try a black pepper and honey remedy that is said to work because the pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow and the honey is a natural cough reliever. Use one teaspoon of freshly ground pepper and two tablespoon of honey in a mug, and fill with boiling water. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes, strain and sip.’

 

5. Plenty of Liquids: Breyer points out, ‘Drinking a lot of liquids, whether any of the teas listed here or even just an increase in your daily water consumption can be helpful for a cough. Fluids help thin out the mucus in postnasal drip and keeps the membranes moist, which can help to reduce the need to cough.’

 

6. Suck a Lemon: ‘Pucker up and suck a lemon?’ asks Breyer. ‘Indeed, this popular remedy calls for sprinkling a section of lemon with salt and pepper and sucking on it. (If nothing else, you will probably be so distracted by having a mouthful of lemon that you may forget to cough.) And if the idea of sucking on a lemon lacks appeal, you can try a hot-buttered lemonade…and swap the sugar with honey for good measure.’

 

7. Liquorice: ‘If you think liquorice has a medicinal taste, two points for you,’ says Breyer. ‘Liquorice root, the flavour from which liquorice candy originated, has long been used to treat coughs. Real liquorice — or candy made from it — can help soothe inflamed and irritated throats and help to ease coughing. Slice one ounce of candy liquorice (that contains real liquorice) and steep it for 24 hours with a quart of boiling water; sip as needed.’

 

8. Ginger: Breyer details, ‘Ginger has a lot of secret powers and it has been used for its medicinal properties since antiquity. Practitioners of Eastern medicine commonly prescribe ginger to treat symptoms of colds and flu because of its antihistamine and decongestant capabilities. You can make ginger tea by adding 12 slices of fresh ginger in a pot with three cups water. Allow it to simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Strain, add one tablespoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon, and taste; if it’s too spicy, add more water.’

Categories: black pepper, boiling water, breyer, cough, ginger, home remedies, honey, real liquorice, sore throats, thyme tea

How to Have Great Sex Even If You Have a Lung Condition

Having trouble with your breathing can affect all areas of your wellbeing. Something as simple as spending time with your family or working on your fitness can be all the more complicated, as your problematic breathing makes it difficult to chase after your kids or exercise properly. Everyday tasks and once-enjoyable activities become a real mountain to climb, and the sheer effort of participating can put you off even trying to do the things you enjoy in the first place. This is no truer than when it comes to your sexual health; sex is good for your wellness, providing many physical, emotional and relational benefits. However, there’s no denying that sex is a tiring activity in the best of circumstances, and problematic breathing can put you right off even trying. But does this mean that sex is off the table forever? Of course not.

 

No matter what health problem you have, there is always a way in which you can enjoy sex – you just need to know how! When it comes to people with breathing problems, the British Lung Foundation (BLF) has come up with the necessary measures you need to take if you have breathing problems but want to continue to enjoy a healthy sex life (and who doesn’t?!). According to the BLF’s medical director Dr Noemi Eiser, even if you suffer from a lung condition, you do not have to ‘compromise on intimacy. It is important that you talk to your partner about any worries and are open-minded and understanding. Creating a comfortable and trusting environment will prevent stress and shortness of breath.’ Here are a few more sex tips from the leaflet Sex and Breathlessness, which have been recommended for people with breathing problems:

 

1. Try to Only Have Sex When You Feel Rested: ‘Have sex when you feel rested and your breathing is at its best,’ Sex and Breathlessness recommends. ‘Adequate rest will also take care of any stress you might be having because of your day-to-day life and that is always good for your sex life.’

 

2. Forcefully Cough Before Sex: Sex and Breathlessness notes, ‘If at all you are going to cough, it is better to do it beforehand. Cough up some phlegm before indulging in sex and it’ll make your chest feel much lighter during the activity.’

 

3. Avoid Morning Sex: ‘Try and avoid having sex in the morning as that is the time you will be very like to produce more phlegm,’ Sex and Breathlessness says. ‘If at all you feel extremely aroused in the morning, indulge in masturbation or foreplay to release tension.’

 

4. Avoid Sex After Alcohol or a Heavy Meal: Sex and Breathlessness asserts, ‘Having sex right after a heavy meal or too much alcohol is a bad idea for anyone with breathing problems. Your stomach might feel bloated and your breathing will be weaker than normal. You don’t have to have sex all day, so making a fixed time for sex when you are completely relaxed should be a good idea.’

 

5. Take a Break: Sex and Breathlessness advises, ‘In case you feel that you’re extremely short of breath during intercourse, just pause and take a few deep breaths to regain composure. You can resume having sex once you feel comfortable again.’

 

6. Switch Positions: ‘The typical missionary position may exert too much pressure on the chest,’ Sex and Breathlessness explains. ‘You could instead try positions like spooning.’

 

7. Try Home Remedies: ‘Besides taking these measures, it’ll also be a good idea to address your problems,’ Sex and Breathlessness says. ‘You could try home remedies like mint leaves or pudina to reduce cough and asthma. Besides these, avoiding triggers for asthmatic attacks and eating foods that build your immunity will also help.’

Categories: better sex, Breathing, breathing problems, feel rested, heavy meal, home remedies, lung condition, nbsp, problematic breathing, sex life

How to Have Great Sex Even If You Have a Lung Condition

Having trouble with your breathing can affect all areas of your wellbeing. Something as simple as spending time with your family or working on your fitness can be all the more complicated, as your problematic breathing makes it difficult to chase after your kids or exercise properly. Everyday tasks and once-enjoyable activities become a real mountain to climb, and the sheer effort of participating can put you off even trying to do the things you enjoy in the first place. This is no truer than when it comes to your sexual health; sex is good for your wellness, providing many physical, emotional and relational benefits. However, there’s no denying that sex is a tiring activity in the best of circumstances, and problematic breathing can put you right off even trying. But does this mean that sex is off the table forever? Of course not.

 

No matter what health problem you have, there is always a way in which you can enjoy sex – you just need to know how! When it comes to people with breathing problems, the British Lung Foundation (BLF) has come up with the necessary measures you need to take if you have breathing problems but want to continue to enjoy a healthy sex life (and who doesn’t?!). According to the BLF’s medical director Dr Noemi Eiser, even if you suffer from a lung condition, you do not have to ‘compromise on intimacy. It is important that you talk to your partner about any worries and are open-minded and understanding. Creating a comfortable and trusting environment will prevent stress and shortness of breath.’ Here are a few more sex tips from the leaflet Sex and Breathlessness, which have been recommended for people with breathing problems:

 

1. Try to Only Have Sex When You Feel Rested: ‘Have sex when you feel rested and your breathing is at its best,’ Sex and Breathlessness recommends. ‘Adequate rest will also take care of any stress you might be having because of your day-to-day life and that is always good for your sex life.’

 

2. Forcefully Cough Before Sex: Sex and Breathlessness notes, ‘If at all you are going to cough, it is better to do it beforehand. Cough up some phlegm before indulging in sex and it’ll make your chest feel much lighter during the activity.’

 

3. Avoid Morning Sex: ‘Try and avoid having sex in the morning as that is the time you will be very like to produce more phlegm,’ Sex and Breathlessness says. ‘If at all you feel extremely aroused in the morning, indulge in masturbation or foreplay to release tension.’

 

4. Avoid Sex After Alcohol or a Heavy Meal: Sex and Breathlessness asserts, ‘Having sex right after a heavy meal or too much alcohol is a bad idea for anyone with breathing problems. Your stomach might feel bloated and your breathing will be weaker than normal. You don’t have to have sex all day, so making a fixed time for sex when you are completely relaxed should be a good idea.’

 

5. Take a Break: Sex and Breathlessness advises, ‘In case you feel that you’re extremely short of breath during intercourse, just pause and take a few deep breaths to regain composure. You can resume having sex once you feel comfortable again.’

 

6. Switch Positions: ‘The typical missionary position may exert too much pressure on the chest,’ Sex and Breathlessness explains. ‘You could instead try positions like spooning.’

 

7. Try Home Remedies: ‘Besides taking these measures, it’ll also be a good idea to address your problems,’ Sex and Breathlessness says. ‘You could try home remedies like mint leaves or pudina to reduce cough and asthma. Besides these, avoiding triggers for asthmatic attacks and eating foods that build your immunity will also help.’

Categories: better sex, Breathing, breathing problems, feel rested, heavy meal, home remedies, lung condition, nbsp, problematic breathing, sex life

Different Ways to Help You Deal With Impotence

Impotence is every man’s greatest fear. It affects not only the sexual wellness and wellbeing of those affected, but also their emotional and mental health. Even the word itself seems to somehow imply failure or weakness. Those who are impotent feel that they have lost not only their sexual health but also their dignity, wholeness and masculinity.

 

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction can improve with treatment, however, and is not something that should just be accepted. There are many different causes of erectile dysfunction and there are many different solutions, both medical and non-medical, in the form of home remedies.

 

There are different degrees of erectile dysfunction too. Some men can achieve an erection but are unable to maintain it. Some men become erect but not fully erect. Others only have a problem with a new partner, or with a long-time partner. Then on the extreme end of the spectrum there are those who are unable to achieve an erection at all.

 

Behaviour modification is one way to tackle things, if the erectile dysfunction is caused by emotional issues. If it’s caused by a medical condition (and around 70 percent of cases of impotence are) then there are home remedies and therapies that can help you to get back into your sexual stride.

 

Medical conditions can contribute to erectile dysfunction, the most common of these being diabetes, alcoholism, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease, atherosclerosis and neurologic disease. Around half of all men with diabetes have problems with erectile dysfunction, and younger men tend to fall victim to injuries that cause their erectile dysfunction, such as gunshot wounds, car crashes and skiing accidents. Other causes can include hormonal imbalances.

 

Doctors treat erectile dysfunction with oral medications, vacuum devices, locally injected drugs, behaviour modification techniques and even surgically implanted devices.

Categories: behaviour modification, cures, Dysfunction, Erectile, erectile dysfunction, home remedies, Impotence, Medical, nbsp, Symptoms