Home Health Remedies during COVID-19

COVID-19 cases are spiking sharply by the day, and as the climate of running noses and consistent sneezing arrives, we need to care for ourselves all the more. Coronavirus has instilled fear in us; a fear which is likely to get more acute as winter approaches.

Coronavirus has a lot of similarities with a viral fever; hence you must know the symptoms of COVID-19 beforehand. It could save you from the mental stress and the pressure you might have to go through as you might not even know for sure that you have it!

What is COVID-19 and how does a person contract the virus?

“COVID-19” as coined by the World Health Organization (WHO), “is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered Coronavirus which adversely affects a person’s respiratory system.” It is commonly said that the person having this respiratory disease can recover without requiring any special treatment.

Here are some ways it may be transmitted;

• One on one transmission:

This is one of the quickest ways through which it is spreading. This is possible when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks; droplets of saliva from the infected person carry the virus into the air from their nose or mouth to anyone who is within 6 feet radius of that person can breathe it into their lungs. That is why it is advisable to have 6 feet distance when you’re outdoors. That is what social distancing means.

• Surface transmission:

Another way by which one might catch the novel coronavirus is when you touch surfaces that an infected person has touched or sneezed around. This may happen if you touch a countertop or a doorknob that’s contaminated and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. The virus can live on surfaces like plastic and steel for 2 to 3 days. To stop it, you will need to disinfect these surfaces by an alcohol-based sanitizer.

• A Human Host:

This is also one of the ways through which it is spread; let’s say, Mr Z, an uninfected healthy person comes in contact with Mr A in a marketplace or a hospital, and Mr Z gets infected and infects another person Mr B. Hence, it is advisable to wash your hands and change clothes as soon as you come from a crowded place.

How are the doctors treating COVID-19 patients?

Vaccines and treatment options for COVID-19 are being investigated all over the world. There is some evidence that certain medications like Remdesivir and Chloroquine do work, but a foolproof preventive aid or a vaccine is still some time away. Also Favipravir is known to help in mild COVID cases. Hospitals are also treating people by giving them antibiotics, and immunity building medicines and at last isolating them.

Did you know that about 80% of COVID-19 patients have recovered from COVID-19 without hospitalization or special treatment? 

Precautions to take:

It is always said, ‘Prevention is better than Cure’. And as basic as it sounds, “the easiest way to stop coronavirus is to not get it in the first place”. Here is how to do it.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 45 seconds.
• Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if you’re going out and soap wouldn’t be available.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, or mouth unless and until you’ve recently washed your hands.
• Practice social distance and stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing.
• Also, avoid crowded areas to the extent possible.

Home health remedies you can follow:

Let us first understand the symptoms of the novel Coronavirus. It affects different people in different ways while most infected people will show signs of moderate illnesses like cold, fever, dry cough; other uncommon symptoms would be pain, sore throat, diarrhea and loss of taste. 

You could also have other severe symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and loss of speech or movement. You need to seek immediate medical attention if you have such symptoms. 

In case you have mild symptoms, you should manage these symptoms on your own at home. It generally takes 5-6 days to show the symptoms and 14 days to recover from it.

As mentioned earlier, Doctors give COVID patients antibiotics, and immunity building medicines; we can do the same at our home by using our ‘daadimaa’s nuskhe’, also known as homemade remedies. These remedies would build your immunity and help you fight COVID from the beginning. Plus, you can take these irrespective of you being a patient or not! How good is it? If you aren’t a COVID patient, you would build your immunity and cleanse your body, and if you are, you will get healthy faster.

So without further delay, let’s see what home remedies to follow during COVID-19.

• Ginger-honey wrap

This unique wrap works just like a ‘kadha’, but instead of drinking it, you apply it to your chest. It helps in battling germs and infection spread diseases. Ginger is a spiced root which works in reducing symptoms of a sore throat, while honey has anti-inflammatory agents which strengthen your immunity. This unique combination would not only get rid of mucus but would wash down all the irritants giving you a scratchy and itchy throat.

You will need Ginger (grated), Raw Honey, Olive oil, Flour, Napkin/ Tissue and tape. The procedure to make the ginger honey wrap is quite simple. 

Mix honey and flour together, then add grated ginger and then add 2-3 drops of olive oil. To use it pour a little amount of the mixture to your napkin and keep it on your chest, let it settle till you feel the warmth.

• Gargle with salt water:

Gargling with a solution of salt water is one of the most trusted and oldest remedies of all. Be it for a sore throat or strengthening of gums; saltwater is always the solution. It quashes down all the germs and viruses present in your throat.

Experts say that coronavirus stays in your throat for 3-5 days before starting to make a move. So it is advisable to use this remedy continuously. It is also an excellent way to stay hydrated, which is vital.

Mix half a tablespoon of salt with lukewarm water and gargle in the back of your throat. 

• Insert Mulethi in your diet

Mulethi is one of the many traditional Ayurvedic herbs which are added in chai as well as consumed when you feel the onset of a viral infection settling in. It has also been found to contain valuable anti-viral properties which target harmful disease-spreading pathogens, thereby not letting Corona stay in your throat. It also produces healthy mucus, which softens the pain and roughness in the neck and the antioxidants in it take care of any free radicals which may harm your immunity.

• Start drinking apple cider vinegar. 

It has alkaline properties which are anti-inflammatory, and it is also one of the main ingredients present in traditional oxymels. Oxymels are used to treat cough and cold. It is incredibly helpful in relieving a sore throat as the acidic content in the solutions helps eliminate the infection spreading harmful bacteria, which causes inflammation. 

• Coconut oil pulling

Lastly, you can also use coconut oil as it does not have any side effects plus coconut helps lessen your pain and deal with problems of sore throat. 

These home remedies won’t treat COVID-19, as there isn’t any known way to treat the disease for now. But these remedies surely would help you avoid it. It might even help you recover faster and more importantly, there are no side effects.

However, in the event you happen to catch COVID-19, there are numerous coronavirus health insurance plans that you should know about. These will save you a fortune on medical bills. Stay protected, stay safe!