Exposure to a cold atmosphere along with persistent and regular bouts of common cold and cough are the

primary factors responsible for chest congestion. Chest congestion and chest aches are merely symptoms and to gain relief from them it i s critical that the ailments responsible for them be treated first. One of the home remedies that have been known to be beneficial in the treatment of a cough is fresh onion juice. Have a tablespoon of the juice every morning un til the congestion clears completely. Another alternative is to take fresh onion juice and honey in equal measures and keep the mixture aside for about 5 hours. Consuming a teaspoonful of this mixture, twice daily, is believed to be effecti ve in the treatment of cough and in eliminating the phlegm from the chest. It is quite simple to prepare an effective cough tonic at home, for the treatment and prevention of cough. Take 2 teaspoons each of freshly extracted onion juice alo ng with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Boil this mixture with some water and add 2 teaspoons of honey to it after the concoction has cooled. A teaspoon of this t onic taken twice daily is very beneficial. The healing properties of ginger are also very effective in providing relief fro m chest congestion and cough. It is beneficial to drink a teaspoon of freshly ex tracted ginger juice twice daily. Adding some honey to the ginger will help in e nhancing its taste. Drinking hot ginger tea can also work as an effective cough remedy as it helps in eliminating the buildup of phlegm in the chest. Moreover t he hot tea is also beneficial in soothing the tautness and unpleasantness in the chest caused by the congestion. Another tried and tested home remedy to treat c ough and colds, is to consume herbal tea. Prepare a brew by adding some grated g inger root, a couple of garlic pods and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon jui ce to boiling water. Strain it and add some honey to the mixture. Drinking this tea is considered beneficial as the ginger, garlic and honey helps in treating t he infection whilst the lemon juice relieves the cough and aids easy respiration .

Begin treating your trio of problems with congestion, which usually leads to cou ghing. In all probability, it is what is leading to your chest ache as well. To take care of congestion, take a facial and head steam for about 20 minutes with water that has Vicks Vaporub added to it. This will make you perspire and your n ose run - flush it often and well, and you will see your congestion gradually di sappearing. This method is always a good one to use as it will also open up your pores and sinuses, thus making it easier to breathe better. Onions and garlic a re particularly good products to consume for a cold. Both have tendencies to act as expectorants, which will loosen mucus, and they also have healing properties which will help you to heal faster. Make a mixture of onion and garlic juice in any proportion and have a teaspoon of this every alternate hour. The difference will be dramatic. If you want, you can also add a bit of honey to this mixture.

If you live in a place where the climate is dry and cold, try to use a humidifie r. This will make a tremendous difference in easing your general stuffiness. Sta y away from air conditioners for the duration, as they serve to solidify phlegm more. If possible, try to have a teaspoon of ginger juice mixed with an equal am ount of honey at night before going to bed. This will help to loosen mucus and w ill ease your chest pain greatly as well. To ease chest ache, you can keep a war m compress on your chest. This will make you feel better as it will soothe the m uscles that have probably been overworked and are weakened trying to fight the g eneral congestion and coughing. Have a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of turm eric powder added to it every night before going to bed. This will help to heal you from within.

Natural Bronchitis Relief You can use inhalations and liniments containing essential oils to reduce the ur ge to cough and drink cough-remedy teas to dissolve mucus. Chest compresses and appropriate homeopathic agents can also be helpful. Perhaps the most important t hing you can do is to avoid cigarette smoke, as it irritates the bronchial tubes . Allow your body to rest: In order to fight bronchitis, your body needs to be rested. Eliminate solid food for 1 or 2 days so your body can focus on fighting the infection instead of dig estion. Also avoid dairy products, as they promote mucus formation. Humidify inside air: To relieve chronic bronchitis, bring moisture into the dry indoors with a humidi fier. If you don't have a humidifier use a vaporizer. Only put water in your vap orizer and a pinch of sea salt, never use products advertised to relieve cough, they only clog and put a sticky substance on the fine hairs of your bronchial tu bes. You can also simply put a pot of water on the stove with a pinch of sea sal t or hang wet cloths near your heat source during the winter months. During warm er months, you can open the windows. For inhalation: Combine equal parts of fir, pine, sage and peppermint essential oils. Add three to five drops of the blend to a glass or stainless-steel bowl of hot water. Lean over the bowl with a towel over your head, making a sort of tent, and inhale. D on't breathe too deeply at first; the scent is stronger than you may imagine. Wh en you are finished place a bowl near your bed to allow the vapors to continue h elping you through the night.

CAUTION! Never use salves containing menthol or oil mixtures, such as tiger balm, on chil dren who are under 1 year of age. Menthol is too strong for a child's body and c an even cause respiratory spasms. There is no such risk for adults.

Radish Juice Cut black radish into thin slices, mix with 2-3 tablespoons of honey and allow t o stand for about 4 hours. This will produce a juice, 1 tablespoon of which shou ld be taken 4-5 times daily. The mustard glycosides contained in the radish will kill germs. Mustard Plaster Combine 1/3 pound of freshly ground mustard with warm water to form a paste. Pla ce a thin wool cloth on the chest, brush the paste on the cloth and wrap in a to wel. Remover in 10-15 minutes. The paste promotes circulation in the chest and r educes throat irritation and the urge to cough. Caution: This remedy may cause s kin irritation. Horseradish Necklace Cut horseradish into pieces, thread the pieces onto a string and wear as a neckl ace overnight. While sleeping, you will breathe in the strong essential oils of the horseradish, which includes mustard oil. Onion Syrup Cook 1 pound of chopped onion and 2 cups of honey until it forms a think syrup. Take up to 1 tablespoon every hour. Cough-Remedy Tea Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of the following herb mixture and s teep for 15 minutes: * 2/3 ounce of marshmallow root * 2/3 ounce coltsfoot leaves * 1/2 ounce linden flowers

* 1/3 ounce licorice * 1/2 ounce Iceland moss * 2/3 ounce fennel seed Drink 3-4 cups daily and sweeten with honey if desired. This herbal tea dissolve s mucus and relieves the urge to cough.