Hardly anyone is unaware of the health benefits of ghee or what has now come to be known in western countries as clarified butter. From weakness and skin diseases, to pimple and joint pains, there's nothing this Indian superfood cannot fix. No wonder then that ghee has been an essential part of countless Ayurvedic medicines and is still used in numerous home remedies as well. There's no dearth of research papers singing praises of ghee and its healing properties for the human body, especially during winters.
Ghee is a magic food during the winters and any typical Indian household consumes it on a daily basis. From putting it in sweets to slathering a generous amount of it on chapatis and bread toasts, Indian cooking makes good use of ghee. But very few people use it to treat cold, sinusitis and stuffiness of nose.Indians grow up with a wealth of home remedies for a number of ailments, using everyday foods that include fruits and vegetables. Naturally, for treating cold, cough and nasal blockages also, there are a number of quick home remedies. Some of them involve ghee, like sautéing a few garlic cloves in it and eating it warm. But did you know that rubbing the magical concoction on your body may also work and offer almost instant relief?
Many believe that ghee may be directly used to treat cold by either using it as nasal drops or rubbing some of it on your chest and your extremities, that is, your hands and legs. Protecting your hands and legs is the most important during winters, as cold generally creeps into the body, through those parts. Hence, rubbing a small amount of warm ghee on your hands and legs, before going to bed, can help you keep warm during the night. Needless to say, it's great for the skin of the limbs as well, as these are the body parts where the skin tends to get especially rough and dry during the cold weather.
The even more rare home remedy involving ghee for cold is the nasal drop therapy. Its a remedy suggested by Ayurveda and must strictly be followed only after consulting an Ayurveda expert and must be done under their supervision. Ayurvedic experts call it the Nyasa treatment for cold and it involves pouring a few drops of warm pure cow ghee into the nostrils, first thing in the morning. It is supposed to provide quick relief and soothe the infection. However, one needs to make sure that the ghee is pure and made from unadulterated cow milk. Moreover, make sure the ghee is warmed to a lukewarm temperature and is not scalding hot.
The method can be repeated twice a day, if the congestion is really bad. Therefore, lukewarm ghee can be used for nasal intake once before bed and once after waking up in the morning. A certified practitioner and an Ayurveda expert must be consulted before trying a home remedy like this.
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