Catching a cold is a drag. You constantly blow your nose until it’s so red and raw you can barely touch it. The constant coughing makes it tough for you and everyone else around to sleep. Then, your throat is often so sore that even swallowing a sip of water is painful.
These symptoms can make it difficult to function, so many of us turn to over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies to ease the discomfort.
Certain types of OTC cold medicines can lead to dementia and brain shrinkage. Researchers say many of these medications can worsen your cold, and some OTC medicines can harm your lung cells.
A study found that almost all OTC medicines for colds, coughs, and sore throats can damage the upper respiratory cells and prolong illness.
My company, Naturally Mazcal, has researched this problem and has tested the mechanism behind respiratory inflammation and whether it can be effectively treated with natural Super Syrup for sore throats, coughing, and voice loss.
Sore throat (pharyngitis) is a common symptom of an upper respiratory infection and a leading cause of visits to the physician and antibiotic prescriptions. Even though they’re sold to treat sore throats, few, if any, OTC medications are proven to relieve sore throat inflammation.
There were many studies on the mechanisms behind sore throats; the cells were treated with a variety of OTC sore throat medications, as well as Aspirin and a formula containing it as an active ingredient. The results were shocking: of the 18 OTC products tested, all but one showed inflammatory and damaging effects on at least one of the measures tested.
These cold medicines include widely used ingredients like the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, the expectorant guaifenesin, the pain reliever acetaminophen, and the topical anesthetic benzocaine.
The formulas containing Aspirin were also more effective than any other OTC treatments. This could be because Aspirin is a well-known Cox inhibitor, although it’s not commonly used to treat upper respiratory inflammation.
Yet, the effective dosage of Aspirin proved to be narrow: only 6 mg per dose. Below this dose, the drug didn’t have a significant effect, and above it, Aspirin becomes inflammatory.
This is far lower than the conventional dosages of Aspirin; for example, a baby aspirin contains 81 mg.
Aspirin’s common side effects include conditions of excess stomach acid secretion, irritation of the stomach or intestines, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and stomach cramps.
It’s best to steer clear of OTC cold remedies if you are trying to ease a sore throat. That doesn’t mean you’ll suffer until your cold runs its course. There are plenty of natural ways to relieve a sore throat, many of which are inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Hot teas soothe throats and relieve congestion: Passion fruit and onion, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, golden milk, and lemon leaves. Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and astringent properties that reduce swelling and redness.
The best remedy for your sore throat is honey. It soothes your aching throat and significantly reduces coughing compared to any OTC cold, sinus remedies, and antibiotics. Not only that, but studies show honey helps people recover from upper respiratory tract infections faster than OTC medicines.
Other sore throat remedies include apple cider vinegar, especially when mixed with lemon juice and honey. Apple cider vinegar also helps boost your immune system.
If you want to heal the following symptoms fast: Sore throat, persistent cough, and laryngitis, try Dragons Blood, a super syrup! It is a natural relief from chronic cough, phlegm, and laryngitis.
It is a combination of three herbal medicinal cultures: Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Herbolaria Mexicana, as practiced by the Olmec, Toltec, Maya, and Aztec healers. These three branches of herbal medicine have been in continual use for more than three thousand years.
Honey is one of the ingredients in the Dragons Blood Super Syrup for sore throats and coughs. The other ingredients are a precise blend of the following herbs:
- Chilcoatl, a Mexican root, can help eliminate viruses, fungi, and bacteria on contact.
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its most active compound, curcumin, have many scientifically proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health and prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. It is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and it may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
- Piperine has many pharmacological effects and health benefits, especially against chronic diseases.
If you have any comments or questions, contact me by email or at my Weekend Market on Cuale Island in downtown Puerto Vallarta.
I am available from 10 am to 3 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Also, Monday to Thursday from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Artisan and Herbal Marketplace on Cuale Island.
You will find many organic products and supplements, 38 different spices, organic coffees, turmeric tincture, honey, Ceylon cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar with the Mother. Superfoods such as Maz-mix are digestive formulas and fermentation products with probiotics and prebiotics. Moringa leaf, also in a powder, and a wide array of other tinctures, tonics, and herbal supplements.
