Home remedies for the common cold

Posted on 21/01/16 4:30 PM

Unfortunately, the season to be jolly is also the season for the viruses to spread. Studies show that certain viruses, such as influenza, thrive during the Winter. This is why it helps to nip the common cold in the bud. Here are 7 home remedies that will get you back on track and in the pink of health:

Drink plenty of fluids:

Fluids help in breaking down congestion and in keeping the throat moist. Drink enough water to ensure you are hydrated. Drinking warm fluids such as green tea or soup will soothe the inflamed lining of the throat and nose. The antioxidants in green tea increase immunity.

Steam the stuffiness away:

Breathing in some steam can relieve a stuffy nose. Simply hold your head over a vessel of steaming water and inhale. You can also add a few drops of peppermint oil or menthol to enhance the effects.

Keep yourself warm and rest:

If you take a cold lightly, chances are your illness will escalate from a common cold to a full-fledged flu. Resting enables your body to direct all its energy towards warding off the infection. This takes a toll on your body, which is why it’s important to make sure you do not exert yourself.

Take a salt-water gargle every few hours:

This ancient remedy is backed with solid science. The act of gargling creates a barrier between the throat and the virus, and the salt functions as a magnet for the water. Hence, by gargling you wash the virus out.

Sniff a dab of menthol:

Menthol opens up your breathing passages which provide great relief to a stuffy nose. What’s more is that menthol also has mild numbing ingredients which help to reduce soreness within the nose.

Place a heat pad on your sinuses:

Is your common cold usually accompanied by a mild headache? If so, treat your sinuses to some heat. You can use an electric heat pad or warm towels. This helps to melt the mucus present in the nasal passage.

Place an extra pillow under your head before sleeping:

By positioning your neck in this angle, you can naturally relieve congested nasal passages.

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