Winter Blues: Coughs and Colds
Our ancestors were inherently susceptible to the climate and changing seasons in their time. Yet the way they coped with their ailments can still serve as a resource for us today. During the winter season, we typically suffer from respiratory illnesses, colds and coughs. The following insight and remedies are sourced from Տանու Բճիշկ (Home Doctor) written by Garabed Kochariants (1863), as well as Ճողովրդական Բճշկութէան Դեղատոմսեր (Traditional Folk Medicine) published in 1992.
Dr. Kochariants identifies the cause for getting the shivers (colds and coughs) as any rapid change in one’s body temperature. Be it due to a sudden shift in the weather or being exposed to temperature extremes, the fault is when we move from one state too quickly to the next. We risk this by sleeping near a fire, sleeping in a cold, drafty room, moving from a warm room into the cold, or working too hard in cold weather before exposing ourselves to warmth.
Interestingly, I wanted to emphasize the extreme caution he made against drinking warming liquids, specifically strong hot teas. This is typically our go-to remedy but they believed it did more harm than good. They wanted to assist the body in leveling out, reaching a more balanced state.
Below, I have organized remedies by the key symptoms that one is dealing with, the overall spirit of the remedy and it’s accessible options.
In the case of nausea and inappetence…
⌯ Solution: Kochariantz encouraged facilitating the body’s strength with the use of laxatives. In addition, he encouraged light fare including wheat porridge, rice and apricot juice.
⌯ Remedies:
▸ Laxatives to remedy vomiting and nausea (pick one and repeat for 3 days):
▹ 8 tsp of epsom salt mixed with 1 cup of hot water
▹ 1 tsp of grd. rhubarb mixed with 1/2 cup cold water (infused overnight)
▹ 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil mixed with 2 tbsp of honey
▹ 1 cup of apple juice mixed with a pinch of salt and 2 tsbp of honey
▹ 1 tsp of olive oil mixed with 1/2 cup of cold water
In the case of coughing up phlegm, and the prevalence of a mucus (white/yellow) coated tongue…
⌯ Solution: Kochariants emphasized the importance in encouraging the body to breakup the bile and phlegm.
⌯ Remedies:
▸ Thyme steam inhalation to help clear out phlegm.
Pour 4 cups of hot water over 4 tbsp of chopped fresh thyme and
inhale the steam.
▸ Marshmallow root infused in water overnight.
▸ Linden tree leaf and flower tea.
In the case of fever and sweating…
⌯ Solution: Kochariants and folk texts wanted to encourage this symptom in the patient and advised utilizing diaphoretics (sweat-inducing medicine).
⌯ Remedies:
▸ Nightly vinegar baths/rubs using a mixture of hot water and vinegar.
▸ Half a handful of barley boiled with 1 cup of water. Drained and mixed with
3 tbsp of honey-vinegar✷ and drank.
▸ Elderberry flower tea prepared with honey-vinegar✷. Drink once cooled.
▸ Lemon balm and Yarrow tea. Drink once cooled.
▸ Mullein tea. Drink once cooled.
✷ Honey - vinegar tea instructions:
Mix 2 parts high quality honey with 1 part wine vinegar
Expose to medium heat in a sealed pot until foaming is observed
Increase heat to a rolling boil for 5 minutes.
Let cool and store.
Tea ratio instructions:
2 tbsp of dry herb to 1 cup water ratio
If there are specific ailments you’re curious about, email me.
