Do fruits aggravate coughs?

Here's interesting question that landed in my inbox this morning - do fruits aggravate coughs?

As a general rule I would say no. Though if the cough is accompanied by a cold, the Ayurvedic recommendation is to get warm on all levels and that includes what we eat. So hot apple juice with cinnamon and cloves: see my apple winter warmer recipe here would be more beneficial than munching on a raw cold apple.

And here's a fruit that actually helps relieve coughs, and any chest congestion for that matter - including asthma... the humble banana.

Here's what to do to put the healing power of the bendy fruit to work on a cough:

method one - unpalatable but effective
peel a banana and poke 7 cloves into it, cover and leave overnight. Next morning eat the banana and the cloves

method two - almost yummy - and particularly good for dry tickly coughs
mash a ripe banana with some honey and a pinch or two of black pepper

T

Comments

[Ayurvedic Talk]

Another herbal remedy

As a remedy for dry cough, especially during night, blend together 10 grams each of cardamom, black pepper, dry ginger, and cinnamon with sugar or sugar candy of about 40 gms. Half a teaspoon of this powder can be mixed with warm water or honey and taken after meals.

[Ananga]

Thank you for your comments and extra health tips Ayurveda Talk.

[Michael Roberts]

In Traditional Medicine, apples have been called "the body's broom". This concept of apples as a cleansing food is now supported by our emerging understanding of fibre, antioxidants and fruit flavonoids.

HEALTH BENEFITS
Can lower blood cholesterol levels
Help constipation and diarrhoea
Traditional aid for joint problems
Supports general resistance to illness.