6 natural remedies to cure cough in senior citizens

Using natural remedies to treat cough in aging loved ones is an excellent way to treat the cough itself and the underlying cause of it. When you choose home remedies and essential oils over prescription drugs, you can rest assured that your loved one will be treated with the utmost care and respect without having to worry about side effects or other complications. There are many natural cough remedies that aging loved ones can use to treat a cough successfully, so let’s look at them now!

Honey Tea

You can prepare it at home by boiling 1⁄2 teaspoon of honey in a cup of water, adding a slice of lemon and ginger to it. You should drink 1-2 cups every day. This tea can soothe your throat and treat cough naturally.

Chewing Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds are good for treating cough as they help decongest your airways. You can make powder out of them by mixing them with rock salt in an equal proportion, storing it in an airtight container, and using it whenever you need to treat cough. You should chew 1-2 teaspoons of this mixture every morning on an empty stomach for about two weeks to reduce symptoms related to cold and cough.

Ginger

Ginger has long been used as a natural remedy for many ailments, and it turns out it’s particularly effective for curing coughs. The active ingredients in ginger are isosteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols that have immune system stimulating properties. Many studies have found that consuming fresh ginger does help alleviate cough symptoms when you feel like your lungs are filling up with phlegm. Ginger is also an excellent carminative that aids in digestion by eliminating gas from our intestines—it’s a great addition to any meal! You can consume powdered ginger mixed with hot water or try incorporating freshly grated ginger into soups or stews.

Fluids

If a person has a productive cough, it is important to ensure that they are staying hydrated. Fluids will thin out mucus and help with clearing congestion from your lungs. Try water and herbal teas as a starting point for liquids. When choosing beverages, look for low-sugar options or add honey or maple syrup for flavor without extra calories or sugar. If you’re not feeling up to drinking, consider something thicker like soup broth instead of water. These liquids will help rehydrate your body while making you feel better at the same time.

Steam

A hot shower or bath can help ease a cough by opening up your nasal passages and allowing you to breathe more easily. This is why many people find a warm cup of tea or hot chicken soup helps with coughs (note: steer clear of sugar, honey, and anything else that can lead to choking). If you don’t have time for a hot shower or bath, try adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your steaming pot of water—it’ll loosen your congestion and make it easier to breathe.

We hope you have found the article worth-reading not only for yourself but also for your parents who are in senior citizen bracket.

Adapted from: https://www.rittenhousevillages.com/assisted-living-blog/7-natural-remedies-to-treat-cough-in-seniors/

Foods to avoid during monsoon

Although during monsoon we enjoy having khichdi (or khichuri) for lunch with a dash of lemon and various fried items like papad, fish, potato etc. yet there are certain things which are best avoided. In July 20, 2021 an article was published in The Times of India ‘Foods that you should avoid during monsoons’ is quite pertinent. That monsoon has not yet picked-up the momentum in this part of the country is a different story altogether. We reproduce the article:

1. Mushroom: Mushrooms are most prone to insects and bacteria during monsoons because of the moisture-laden atmosphere. Mushrooms are in close proximity to soil and the damp air creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Bacteria-infected mushrooms might not be visible to the naked eye but can give rise to stomach infections and diseases. Thus, it is best to stay away from mushrooms during the rainy season.

2. Sour food: Sour foods like pickles, chutney, sour candies, tamarind etc must be avoided during monsoons. Such sour foods can cause water retention in the body, which can make you feel bloated. Tangy foods during monsoons can cause throat ache and ultimately fever.

3. Roadside juices: Juices might offer an instant relief during hot and humid weather but can also lead to trouble. Street vendors usually cut the fruit in advance which makes them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you want, you can prepare fruit juice at home or opt for coconut water, jaljeera and lemonade.

4. Seafood: The risk of contamination through water is highest during monsoons. Thus, foods like fish, prawns, shrimp etc pose the highest risk of infection. Seafood can be an active carrier of infection which might prevail even after proper washing and cooking. Thus, it is best to stick to chicken and other non-veg dishes during monsoons and avoid seafood for a few days.

5. Leafy vegetables: Even though leafy vegetables are super nutritious for your body and should be an integral part of your diet, you must abstain from eating them for a few weeks during the monsoons. The hot and humid weather of summer and monsoon combined can make the green leafy veggies go bad in no time. Due to the dampness in the air, vegetables like spinach and cabbage are highly susceptible to germs. So, opt for fresh seasonal vegetables and make sure to cook them properly.

We hope you have enjoyed reading the article and also share it with your near and dear ones.

Upskilling the Caregivers

Those of us who have availed services from Porosh are aware that it goes all-out to serve its members in need without batting an eyelid. After all, that is the reason for Porosh’s existence. So, while the caregivers take efforts to address the medical and non-medical needs of its members, it is equally important that the team of spirited caregivers are also trained to be more efficient and better at what they are all doing.

Thus, for quite some time we have been thinking of conducting upskilling program named ‘Abhudaya’ for our caregivers to ensure all-round development. In this context we grateful to one of our empaneled doctors – Dr. Sourav Dey – who volunteered to be a part of this initiative.

The first session of three hours was conducted on June 17, 2023. The theoretical and practical sessions covered the following topics under ‘Emergency Services’:

• Dehydration

• Diarrhea and dysentery

• Types of IV fluids

• Handling stroke and heart attack &

• Fall injury management

The session was quite lively given active participation of the caregivers. Moreover, live demonstration by Dr. Dey made it all the more engaging and interesting. For those who are keen to more about it can visit www.poroshkolkata.org.in which has a few videos and photographs of the session.

We hope that a series of such upskilling sessions will indeed make Porosh one the most trusted organizations catering to the medical and non-medical needs of the elderly members in Greater Kolkata.