In case of illness, it is not necessary to immediately see a doctor and swallow pills. Here are some unusual tips from German physicians and healers.
Autumn always brings with it a wave of colds. How not to get sick from the cold wind, or how quickly to recover if you still catch a cold? In addition to traditional methods of treatment, there are also very original methods.
"The real flu comes suddenly: half an hour ago, a person was working or playing sports and suddenly collapsed with a high fever, sore throat and cough," says Professor of Virology at the Technical University of Munich Ulrike Prozer. It all depends on how low the immunity is, the professor emphasizes. The lower it is, the more dangerous any hypothermia.
However, with insidious viruses, even when they occupied your body, you can quite successfully fight. You do not have to go to a doctor right away and swallow the pills. The DW portal has collected unusual advice from German doctors and physicians.
Movement, optimal nutrition and mental balance all contribute to a speedy recovery, says Professor Procer. “Plus fresh air and medicinal herbs,” says Johannes Gottfried Mayer, a renowned German expert on monastery medicine and herbal medicine.
It is noteworthy that about 85% of German residents turn to traditional medicine for the treatment of colds.
The recipes of the famous healer of the Middle Ages, Hildegarda Bingen, have not lost their relevance to this day. She highly recommended herbal medicine.
“The herbal teas that she recommends contain saponins that thin the phlegm in the bronchi and have an expectorant effect, as well as essential oils whose antibacterial and antiviral properties are now known to many,” explains Mayer. Rosehip, sage, chamomile, linden - these are the most common components of "herbal" medicine.
Equally popular are onion syrup, garlic drops, radish juice, and licorice root. They blend harmoniously with lemon and ginger.
Ginger tea with lemon and honey is a versatile antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent.
To get rid of cough "naturopaths" suggest, for example, with the help of hay. A bag with hay and meadow flowers, heated over a pot of boiling water, should be placed on the chest and covered with a woolen scarf. And try to fall asleep in order to sweat thoroughly. And for pleasant dreams, you can pre-grease your temples and forehead with mint oil.
According to Johannes Gottfried Mayer and his colleagues from the research center in Würzburg for the study of monastic medicine, onions are considered the most effective remedy for the common cold - thanks to the "anti-inflammatory" sulfides it contains.
Finely chopped onions are best sprinkled on your socks, put on, and go to bed. And before that, it's good to drink tea with honey. Moreover, as studies in Germany have shown, it is best with buckwheat.
Movement (sports, walking, hiking) strengthens health - both adherents of "school" medicine and supporters of "natural" treatment are sure of this. Foot baths, contrast showers and douches and walks also strengthen the immune system, which allows it to successfully fight off viral attacks.
A healthy body needs vitamins, minerals, and so on - in other words, proper nutrition. For example, zinc is very important, which is necessary, in particular, for the metabolism of vitamin E.
Oysters contain the most zinc, but pumpkin seeds, whole grains, or beef liver can replace them.
“It is often said that for colds and flu infections it is better to fast. But contrary to popular belief, these products will perfectly support your body, "says Ulrike Procer. Of course, you can take zinc preparations from the pharmacy, but not everyone tolerates them well.
If we talk about food for severe colds, then in Germany (as, probably, in many other countries) the list of "healing" dishes is headed by chicken broth. Spices are added to the broth: peppercorns, bay leaves, parsley roots, onions, cloves, if desired - a small piece of ginger. The favorite German soup with chicken broth - with thin homemade noodles.
In the category of especially useful "medicinal" vegetables, in particular, beets are included: scientists have recognized them as an excellent fighter against viruses and bacteria. It is recommended to eat beets in any form, but it is better to bake in the oven.
It is better not to eat too much at night. You can take a bath, eat chicken soup, put on "onion socks" - and rest. Whether a person gets enough sleep determines the stability of his immune system. Seven to eight hours of sleep, during which the body diligently regenerates, works wonders, experts say.
