Who Said Cough Medicine Can't Be Tasty? Of course, treatment with pills and potions is more familiar to us, but many people prefer to use folk remedies. Moreover, they are equally useful not only for adults, but also for children. Most often, you can find such popular ingredients as honey, aloe and lemon in the recipe. But did you know that when used correctly, a regular banana for a cough is no less effective, albeit an unusual medicine ?!
Beneficial features
Recently, doctors and nutritionists have turned their attention to the banana. Its use began to be recommended to athletes, pregnant women, weakened people after illness or long-term treatment, and those who are struggling with extra pounds. But it turned out that under certain conditions, it may well replace the traditional drug. For example, it can treat a severe, unproductive cough.
This treatment is possible due to the fact that the banana contains:
- simple sugars that are quickly absorbed, giving strength for recovery;
- antioxidants - substances that neutralize free radicals and accelerate treatment;
- dietary fiber, which helps in the elimination of toxins formed during the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms;
- a lot of potassium, which directly stimulates the work of the heart and the immune system;
- serotonin - a hormone that improves mood and accelerates recovery;
- ephedrine - gently stimulating the nervous system, activating blood circulation and relieving broncho-pulmonary spasms.
Plus, banana has mild sedative properties and excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Getting on the back wall of the larynx, the banana has an enveloping effect and thus very quickly soothes the cough.
Choosing a fruit
It is necessary to choose the right bananas - to prepare the medicine, you need ripe, but not overripe fruits. Unripe banana pulp is astringent and can irritate a sore throat. The peel of the ripe fruit is uniformly yellow and pleasantly matte. If separate dark spots are not present, the banana is already slightly overripe, but still good. When the spots are extensive, then there will be darkened areas on the pulp - such a banana is no longer worth buying.
Greenish bananas can ripen at home. To do this, you need to wrap them in thick paper and put them in a dark place, preferably cool - with a temperature of 13-15 degrees. They cannot be stored in the refrigerator - there the banana freezes and spoils quickly.
A banana peeled from its peel quickly loses its healing properties due to contact with air and it can no longer effectively treat a cough. Therefore, you need to clean it right before use, and if you need a half, cut it off along with the peel.
The best recipes
How can you make a cough medicine from ordinary bananas? Here are some healthy and really tasty recipes that kids will especially like, but adults will also help to recover:
Banana drink recipe. The simplest cough remedy. To make a healing drink, you will need one very ripe fruit and two teaspoons of regular sugar. Peel the banana and grind with sugar until smooth. Then pour boiling water over it, mix well, put on the stove and bring to a boil. Switch off immediately! When the product has cooled down to a comfortable temperature, consume the third part. And then every two hours, drink another third warm.- Mint and lemon tincture recipe. It treats any cough well. Peel and beat a ripe banana in a blender with lime or buckwheat honey heated in a water bath to body temperature (2 tablespoons), gradually add one tablespoon of mint tincture (syrup for children) and fresh lemon juice. The consistency is an airy puree that can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Take a cocktail for 2 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day after meals, after rinsing the throat.
- Banana milk recipe. Banana milk with honey is an excellent remedy that can quickly relieve even a very dry and strong cough. Mash the peeled, ripe banana well. Add honey preheated in a water bath to the puree (1 tablespoon). Mix everything well and pour in warm milk (1 glass). Put on fire, stirring constantly, bring to a boil and remove immediately. Cool to a comfortable temperature and drink in small sips. Adults can add a teaspoon of brandy or herbal balm. Such a hot cocktail at night is especially useful - the treatment will be effective.
Banana-wine cocktail recipe with cinnamon and ginger. It perfectly warms up the entire body, improves blood circulation, relieves coughs and is especially good for colds. To make a cocktail, the recipe prescribes: a glass of quality Cahors, a piece of fresh ginger, half a stick (or 1/2 teaspoon of ground) cinnamon. Pour Cahors into an enamel container, add spices there and bring to a temperature close to boiling (small bubbles will appear in the wine, but they should not actively come out to the surface). Beat the peeled banana with a blender, strain the hot wine, pour in mashed potatoes and beat again. Drink a cocktail in small sips, lying in bed before going to bed. Of course, this medicine is for adults only!
Banana drink recipe. The simplest cough remedy. To make a healing drink, you will need one very ripe fruit and two teaspoons of regular sugar. Peel the banana and grind with sugar until smooth. Then pour boiling water over it, mix well, put on the stove and bring to a boil. Switch off immediately! When the product has cooled down to a comfortable temperature, consume the third part. And then every two hours, drink another third warm.
Banana-wine cocktail recipe with cinnamon and ginger. It perfectly warms up the entire body, improves blood circulation, relieves coughs and is especially good for colds. To make a cocktail, the recipe prescribes: a glass of quality Cahors, a piece of fresh ginger, half a stick (or 1/2 teaspoon of ground) cinnamon. Pour Cahors into an enamel container, add spices there and bring to a temperature close to boiling (small bubbles will appear in the wine, but they should not actively come out to the surface). Beat the peeled banana with a blender, strain the hot wine, pour in mashed potatoes and beat again. Drink a cocktail in small sips, lying in bed before going to bed. Of course, this medicine is for adults only!If you wish, you can find any other interesting recipe on the Internet. But, in principle, even a banana eaten after a meal will already relieve a sore throat and will have an anti-inflammatory effect. But for those who are going to start treatment with bananas for coughs, you must first familiarize yourself with the contraindications.
Contraindications
Not everyone can use bananas for coughs, even as a medicine. They are contraindicated for those who suffer from diabetes - this fruit contains too much sugar.
You should not treat a cough with bananas for such diseases:
- gastritis with high acidity;
- tendency to increased gas formation, flatulence;
- dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
- thrombophlebitis, varicose veins;
- serious cardiovascular disease;
- increased blood viscosity.
It is advisable not to get too carried away with bananas during pregnancy. When consumed in large quantities, you can gain weight very quickly. But for everyone else, banana cough medicine can be an excellent alternative to pharmacy drugs.
