Air pollution is one of the leading causes of asthma and other respiratory disorders, especially in children. The atmosphere of Indian cities these days is teeming with toxic elements such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, airborne diesel and petrol-based fumes, benzene, trichloroethylene and others.
While we have little control over the atmosphere, we can use several techniques to manage our health especially during Diwali, a period of heightened air pollution.
1. Add a little gur (jaggery) to your diet. Gur, used daily by coal miners, helps clear smoke particles from the lungs.
2. Grow indoor plants that are known to prevent air pollution within the home.
Areca Palm survives well in indoor conditions, and just needs intermittent exposure to sunlight.
Rubber plant cannot survive in direct sunlight.
Peace lily just needs to be watered well and grows well in places without sunlight.
3. Boil half a teaspoon of turmeric in water. Take this with half a teaspoon of honey in the morning.
4. To clear the air of pollutants, burn a small amount of camphor in a camphor pot, which is easily available nowadays.
5. For blocked sinuses and nostrils, use either anutailam (classic ayurvedic oil for the nostrils) or organic cow’s ghee. Whichever you use, put two drops in each nostril at night.
{{/usCountry}}5. For blocked sinuses and nostrils, use either anutailam (classic ayurvedic oil for the nostrils) or organic cow’s ghee. Whichever you use, put two drops in each nostril at night.
{{/usCountry}}6. Ayurveda recommends a pippali (long pepper) decoction. Add a pinch of pippali and a pinch of turmeric to crushed ginger, and boil well. Take this decoction with half a teaspoon of honey every day.
7.To unblock your nose, take a dose of steam with eucalyptus, an essential oil.
From HT Brunch, October 29, 2017
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