No one likes the taste of cough syrup in their mouth and having a nasty cough that won’t go away has to be one of the most uncomfortable states of being possible. Coughing, of course, is due not only to irritation in your throat due to allergens, but it is also due to a buildup of mucus in your bronchial tubes which can further lead to bronchitis, chronic cough, and dry heaving in the lungs.
What if I told you that there was a natural alternative to calming these symptoms and that it would cost absolutely nothing to your health to give it a go?! The idea is to create a paste out of honey, coconut oil, and flour. After that, simply strap it to your chest overnight (if you’re an adult) to begin all it to aid in soothing your symptoms!
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| Credit:admirablebuilding.org |
It is called a “Honey Wrap.”
What exactly is wrong with cough syrup and pharmaceutical options? Codeine and dextromethorphan
- Codeine sulfate is what is called an opioid analgesic (a pain reliever) that has a whole slew of common side effects such as drowsiness, light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, and the list goes on. Of course, these can be amplified when taken with other medications which also induce sleep as is common when trying to tackle multiple symptoms such as mucus in the lungs, sinus pressure, and allergy symptoms such as stuffy, runny nose etc.
- Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that is commonly used in over-the-counter drugs. This particular drug is used to suppress the signals to your brain that would tell it to spasm your lungs in attempt to purge it from irritants as well as the signals that would come from your throat that would tell your brain to make a powerful cough from your lungs to push the mucus caught in your throat out.
So what can a Honey Wrap do for you? The Specifics
- The first ingredient of interest, in my opinion, wouldn’t be honey, but the coconut oil! Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, therefore it is thought to dissolve the lipid coating (lipid means the “fatty” layer which the virus used as protection) around some viruses and thus makes them more susceptible to attack by the immune system!
- The partner in crime, honey, has often been used orally to temporarily relieve common cold symptoms such as sore, itchy throat and coughing fits. In this case, we are attempting to go straight to the source of the issue, the mucus in your lungs, by applying the mixture topically and allowing it to be absorbed into your system.
Recipe: Honey Wrap (adapted from a recipe by best health guide)
Ingredients
- Raw organic honey
- Coconut oil
- Flour
- Napkin
- Adhesive medical tape
Preparation Method
- Mix a teaspoon of flour with some honey, and then add some warmed coconut oil.
- Apply to a napkin, and place in the center of your chest with some adhesive medical tape.
- This all-natural compress can be applied to an adult overnight, or to a child for only 2-3 hours. You should notice some results after the first treatment, but as with all natural treatments time is your friend, and it’s perfectly safe to do multiple treatments over a week.
Give this method a try! Being an all-natural treatment that uses relatively little of the products in question you can be assured of safety and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, if it isn’t for you, you are now aware of some safety information in regards to common cough-related pharmaceuticals!
