Home Remedies for Treating a Cold

A cold is an incurable viral infection. While you can take over-the-counter medications to alleviate the symptoms of a cold, most cold medications leave you feeling like a ghost of a person. Typically, to get over a cold you have to simply wait it out. However, there are many home remedies available to treat the symptoms of a cold without the groggy feeling that medications give you.

Home Remedies for Treating a Cold

Soup

It has been said for decades, hot chicken noodle soup can cure a cold like nothing else. Now it has been proven that there is a degree of truth in the statement. Hot broth-based soups like chicken noodle soup work to relieve several cold symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, the salt in the broth helps to dry up some of the mucus in the system and aids in clearing the breathing passages for a period of time. The heat can also help kill bacteria aiding in a faster recovery. Additionally, the combination of salt and heat can diminish a sore throat for hours.

Neti Pot

A neti pot is a cold treatment device used to clear a stuffed nose. This pot looks like a small teapot or genie lamp. Add a little warm water to the pot with a small amount of salt and mix together. Now, lean over a sink with your head titled so that one nostril is towards the sink and the other is towards the ceiling. Open your mouth slightly and begin to pour some of the water into the top nostril. As the airways open, the water will begin to fall out of the other nostril. Once finished, dry you nose and enjoy some fresh air.

Salt Water

As mentioned before, salt aids in easing a sore throat. If you are not hungry for soup there is always the option to gargle salt water. Salt water helps in clearing the inflammation that causes a sore throat. Gargling a salt water solution every time the throat flares up and directly before bed will help you to feel healthier in no time.

Ginger

Although uncommon, a cold is sometimes accompanied by nausea. To combat this feeling chew on a little fresh ginger or eat a couple of ginger snaps to ease the stomach and avoid vomiting. Ginger is also perfect for clearing the nasal passages. It is a fairly strong spice that bites the tongue. This bite will make a clogged nose run allowing you to blow your nose thoroughly.

Alternative Medicine

The U.S. Department of Medicine suggests that taking echinacea in the early stages of a cold may help to limit the length of the cold and diminish the severity. Studies also show some promising hope for zinc. Taking zinc lozenges in the early stages of a cold has been shown to be helpful in reducing the severity of a cold. However, due to a potentially permanent loss of smell, zinc nasal sprays are discouraged.

Tackle a Cold With Supplements

There's no surefire method to prevent catching a cold, and there's no miracle cure for the common cold. However, according to the Doctors Book of Home Remedies, vitamin C and zinc supplements are effective remedies for colds. A viral infection caused your cold, so improving your immune system will help you fight the infection and bring quick relief. Vitamin C is a proven immune system booster, and taking supplements or drinking vitamin C-rich beverages such as orange juice and cranberry juice can strengthen your immunities. Zinc lozenges reduce common cold symptoms such as coughing and sore throat and can cut down the duration of your cold. It's important to take supplements as directed, so read labels carefully.

Congestion and Scratchy Throat

Along with a runny nose and cough, congestion and a sore throat are common symptoms of a cold. You can fight these symptoms with home remedies.

Congestion refers to the accumulation of mucus or fluids in the chest or nasal passage. This symptom can trigger other complications, such as coughing and breathing problems. Home remedies for congestion including increasing your water intake and drinking hot liquids to break up mucus and ease breathing.

Hot liquids such as tea and chicken soup can also soothe your sore throat and ease chronic coughs. You can also use a humidifier or steam from a shower to remedy congestion.

Importance of Rest

Without proper rest, your body can't heal or recover. And if you're looking to overcome a common cold fast, it's imperative to rest your body as much as possible during the day and get at least eight hours of sleep a night.

A weakened immune system means your body is unable to fight infection, and this often results in fatigue or low energy. Colds are rarely serious and don't normally call for total bed rest. Still, it's best to alter or slow down your daily routine. Conserving your energy will help you heal sooner.

If your cold symptoms worsen or don't improve within a few days, take a day or two and stay home from school or work and rest your body. During this time, limit your movement and don't engage in strenuous activities such as exercise.