Nasty coughs that refuse to go away.....

Looks like the season for the dreaded coughs is here with the extreme hot afternoons followed by storms in the evening here in KL.

I like to share some potent home remedies for the coughs that seems to linger on for weeks. These recipes are courtesy of my dear mum.

Numero uno:

Ingredients:
- 1 medium size peeled Onion,
- 5 to 8 pieces of peeled small onions,
- 5 to 8 stalks of Lemon Grass (the root part),
- an inch of Ginger (about the size of an average sized thumb) - crushed, with or without skin is fine (remember to wash thoroughly if with skin),
- dried mandarin peel ('chan pei' in Cantonese, can be purchased from any Chinese Medicine Hall, or home made too, like my mum's),
- 1 lou han kuo (arhat fruit, some call it the magic fruit, a brown and round dried fruit that can be purchased from any Chinese Medicine Halls) - break open the fruit to reveal it's seeds and sweet pulp within, use together with the hard brown shell.
- if you like to, you can also add a 1 to 2 cloves of garlic (but be warned that garlic has potent smell, however it's healing properties for the lungs is great)
- 5 to 6 bowls (average sized rice bowl) of water

Put the above ingredients into a pot and cook till the water boils. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively until you can smell the aroma of the ingredients filling the air. You will ultimately get sweet brown soup much like the mata kuching dessert colour. But with a more potent aroma!

You can drink it hot or cool down to room temperature. If you keep the remainder chilled, for the next day, then do heat it up again. Use gas or electricity heating please, instead of microwave. :)

There is no need to add sugar as the Lou Han Kuo has natural sweetness that also soothes the throat. The ingredients above all have their own healing properties. I shall share the specifics at a later time. Do look out for it.

Should you find that you are feeling a lot of heat, you might like to exclude the ginger. The concoction works just as well.

Numero Due:

This remedy requires the lotus root (1 small section each time) and some small amount of rock sugar to improve the taste if you are particular... (get rock sugar from chinese medicinal halls, as the rock sugar meant for remedies is soothing and has better healing properties)  - not white sugar -

You will need to clean the skin off the lotus root by scrapping with a knife's sharp side lightly to remove the dark layer. Then chop up the lotus root to reveal it's many holes within. Clean them well by running water from one of the hole to drain of any mud that might have been trapped within.

Next, grate the lotus root.

Put the grated lotus root into a bowl or deep plate, top with a little bit of rock sugar, and then steam it. You can steam it together when you cook rice (save power and fuel) or separately. This takes a minimum of 15 to 20 mnutes.

Once steamed the grated lotus root will appear greyish and with consistency much like glue. Don't be disheartened by the appearance. I actually find it quite yummy. Of course if you are particular then you might need some bit of water to consume this with. You can take it while it is warm or leave it to cool slightly.

Many a hard-to-get-rid-of coughs have been banished by a few serving of this. Take it twice a day or three times if necessary. There is no harm in consuming this. Look at it as sweet lotus dessert! :-D

I have taken this and many of my friends and relatives too have tried this with success. This remedy is especially good when the cough is phlegm-y.

Try this and share with us your experience please.

May your coughs be gone! :)

Read full article

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg