A lot of posts have been distributed across the web comparing symptoms of coronavirus, the common cold and flu. Often we just "know" we are coming down with "something". How it starts is surely variable in each of us, as is how it affects us and interrupts our lives. Something that stands out to me with cold type symptoms is their similarity to many allergy symptoms. In my experience dry, raspy throat, reddening, sensitive eyes and itchy, sniffly nose can be the start of some sort of cold or an allergic reaction.

Taking precautions and taking action to deal with and eliminate one cause becomes priority as we all want to get on with our lives feeling energetic, clear headed and productive. Which package in your medicine cabinet do you reach for first, however? The antihistamine, the cold and flu tablet or the paracetamol?

Do we put antihistamine products into our bodies in the hope we are not treating something that isn't, in fact, there? Or the cold and flu tablets containing other chemicals in the hope we are not treating something that isn't, in fact, there and hope none of it does us too much harm? This is a small-scale example of how our bodily systems are commonly experimented on with both prescription and non-prescription medicines.

However, everything that takes place in our bodies has an underlying cause owing to an imbalance within our system that can, especially in these minor examples, be dealt with safely using natural home remedies.
Why I say safely is because what I would recommend you use are things you can not only find in your kitchen cupboard but undoubtedly often consume in meals or drinks without questioning whether these things are doing any harm or good!

When we hear talk of natural home remedies, a lot of the time we think of old wives tales and herbal "concoctions". It is often forgotten that nature provides until someone stumbles across a stinging nettle and remembers that a dock leaf will be nearby.

At the time of writing many people want to ensure they are in a healthy starting position to face the uncertain times ahead brought to us by the outbreak of the coronavirus. Ayurvedia has taught human beings over the centuries that our both our mindset and natural environment provide what we need to prevent illness and ensure wellbeing. Nothing guarantees against an epidemic other than sensible precautions and taking care to stay well; but to be well in the first place and have a healthy immune system is always a good starting point!

Now, when many people are relying on what they have at home and avoiding venturing out among the masses, it is reassuring to know that items you may already have in your kitchen cupboard could provide  natural home remedies that have been picked up in the weekly shop without even knowing their full curative or preventive potential. Rather than waiting for an online order to be delivered or heading to a pharmacy or supermarket for an over-the-counter medicine, the answer could be readily available to you without even leaving the house.

This blog hopes to provide some tips and advice on ways to stay well and potentially boost your immune system through better nutrition choices and mitigate or prevent illness (or dis-ease, a state of not being fully at ease). It may not necessarily be a case of actively consuming a particular item but possibly avoiding a certain product that is known - in Ayurveda at least - to contribute to a particular issue you are experiencing.

The Ayurveda Natural Home Remedies page has two webforms. One is to contact me for advice on a particular matter which will often be suited to anyone with the same issue. Sometimes there are very specific variants of an ailment which are best responded to in a more specific way. When you complete this form I may have to ask you for some additional information.

The second webform is next to two forms to download then complete and send me the results which will help me determine your personal "constitution" that a remedy can be more specifically provided for or if you would simply like a what to eat and not eat guide suited to your constitution.

Keeping checking back for more posts and ideas to stay well. The next article, Covid-19, Hot Water and Ayurveda considers the social media myth of how hot water can combat the coronavirus and explains why this seems to credible to many.

If you have followed any guidance published here or have received personalised guidance for any issue and found something particularly helpful, please share it in the comments under this post or on a post relevant to the issue or tip.

In such times where life is anything but as we know it, keeping well and especially doing what we can to prevent illness is top of everyone's priorities. COVID-19 is a terrifying and as yet not fully understood disease. As often happens, a lot of information is shared across media channels, some of which is misinformation or passed on in good faith giving hope - sometimes false hope. Although experts across the globe are collaborating around the clock to understand the coronavirus and find treatment and a vaccine, nothing is yet officially approved. Despite claims to the contrary across various sites, there is no miracle cure or prevention, no diet or practice that can counter scientific understanding in this case.

This post therefore refers to one of the disseminated rumours that hot drinks and gargling are two ways to counter this and will focus on the first. This rumour indicates that regular sipping of hot liquids keeps the mouth moist and flushes the virus that may have entered the mouth to the stomach where gastric juices neutralise it, thus not spreading to the lungs which are the organs most severely and primarily affected by solidifed mucous in the airways that must be opened.

Sensible as this sounds on first reading, I would refer you to paragraph one. However, from the perspective of Ayurveda and natural home remedies it is understandable why many people globally have taken faith in this advice which will be explained below.