Respiratory conditions

Respiratory system has its key functional organs as nose, mouth, throat and respiratory tract. Diseases affecting this system therefore can interfere with inhalation and exhalation of air.

Common cold

Mostly caused by viruses. Symptoms include head congestion, itchy nose, watery discharge, sneezing, restlessness and cough. Usually, cold cannot be cured but symptoms can be relieved, and immune system boosted to relieve the condition. Constant cold in adults indicates that the immune system is not working properly.

Treatment

1. Garlic/Thyme: Eat garlic cloves or drink thyme infusion to kill bacteria. Chew two fresh segments of garlic three times daily. The segments when chewed and retained in the mouth for five minutes instantly clear the throat, nose and ears by penetration of the oil.

2. Lime tea/Ginger root: The tea infusions of lime or ginger root or both taken as 3-4 cups daily for two-three days boost the immune system.

3. Eucalyptus oil: Steam inhalation of eucalyptus oil should be encouraged by using 6 drops in a cup of boiling water and inhaling the steam.

4. Peppermint/basil/lemon grass/cloves: Mint tea (Na’ana) (Hausa), Efinrin Wewe (Yoruba), and silk basil (hairy basil), (Efinrin aaja) (Yoruba), lemon grass tea or a mixture of these taken in sufficient quantity as much as four-five times daily. Also, lemon juice in hot tea, sweetened with honey is also beneficial.

5. Violet tree: A mixture of violet tree powder (Sanya) (Hausa) kyirtito (Yoruba) with honey prepared thus: 3 tablespoonfuls of honey mixed with 1 teaspoonful powder, and taken 3 times daily for 3-5 days.

6. Herbal mixture (ginger, cloves, cayenne, garlic): 2 tablespoonfuls of honey mixed with half teaspoonful of the mixed spices is taken 3-4 times daily.

7. Onion: Juice from half lobe of onion with half teacup of honey thoroughly mixed and taken as one tablespoonful 3-4 times daily.

8. Hibiscus: Infusion of garden hibiscus flowers is taken as tea (Kekere) (Yoruba), Flara (Igbo).

9. Ginger/Garlic: Tea infusion of ginger/garlic is mixed in equal portions, sweetened with honey, and taken as 2-3 cups daily.

10. Mixed spices (ginger, cayenne, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon etc): Powder of these spices prepared as soup is taken to boost the immune system.

Cough

This is a natural reaction to an irritant in the respiratory tract. Cough usually commences when the body is trying to remove mucus accumulated due to the presence of an irritant in the system.

Treatment

1. Lemon/lime/honey: A mixture of 1 tablespoonful of honey and 1 tablespoonful of lemon/lime juice is taken four times daily for 4 days.

2. Onion/cloves: Crush ½ lobe of onion macerated in warm milk plus ½ dozen of crushed cloves; allow to stand for few minutes and administer as 2 tablespoonfuls 3-4 times daily.

3. Lemon grass/onions/honey: Half handful of lemon grass infused with ½ lobe of onion and strained, is taken as 1 teacup with 1 tablespoonful of honey 3 times daily for 3-4 days.

4. Garlic/honey: Garlic mixed with honey is very effective. 7 segments of garlic (chopped) with ½ teacup of honey thoroughly mixed, is taken as 1 tablespoonful 4-5 times daily to eliminate cough.

5. Whole lime/honey: Infusion of about 3 whole balls of lime (boiled with the rind on, in 2 cups of water) is mixed with 3 tablespoonfuls of honey, and the mixture is taken 1 tablespoonful 4 times daily.

6. Borage leaves: Borage juice (1 cup) obtained from water extract of borage leaves is thoroughly mixed with 2 cups of honey, and ½ cup of lemon and administered as 1-2 tablespoonfuls as needed.

7. Nettle leaves/liquorice: Decoctions made by boiling nettle leaves or liquorice root and sweetened with honey to make syrup, is taken as 1 tablespoonfuls 3-4 times daily.

8. Chopped onions/barley water/cold-liver oil: To one cup of barley water, add 1tablespoonful chopped onions plus 2 teaspoonfuls of cod-liver oil. Take 2-3 times daily in sufficient quantity.

9. Garlic/horseradish: A tablespoonful each of chopped garlic and horseradish (freshly scrapped root is preferred) is thoroughly mixed in ½ cup of honey. The well-mixed product is taken as 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls when necessary 4-5 times daily.

10. Ipeacaannha: Water extract of this (Olorin) (Yoruba)is taken as 1 tablespoonful twice daily.

11. Violet tree: Infusion of the root (Sanya) (Hausa), Kyirito (Yoruba) has an expectorating effect. Infusion is in cold or hot water, and taken as 1 tablespoonful 4 times daily for 4 days.

12. Corn/maize Masara (Hausa), Agbado (Yoruba), Oka (Igbo): Equal potions of the ashes of the cub and honey, mixed with a pinch of salt and taken as often as possible is a good remedy for stubborn cough.

13. Liquorice (Crab’s eye) – Idonzakara (Hausa), Otoberebere (Igbo), Oju Ologbo (Yoruba). The juice from the root is extracted pure and given as 1 tablespoonful 3 times daily.

14. Alligator pepper (Grains of paradise) – Citta maiyaya (Hausa), Oburo (Hausa), Ose-oji (Igbo): 2 teaspoonfuls of the grains is mixed with sufficient quantity of lemon grass and mango leaves, boiled, strained and the infusion taken to relieve cough.

15. Garlic/ginger: Infusion of 7 segments of crushed garlic and a piece of ginger in a teacup of boiled water, strained and sweetened with honey is taken as 1 tablespoonful 4 times daily for 3-4 days.

It is advisable if there is cold to treat as above (under cold). Furthermore, the system should be cleared of waste matter by eating fruits, vegetables, drinking herbal teas, and possibly induce vomiting when one feels nausea by taking warm water with a little lime juice or salt.