Sneezing, runny nose, and that heaviness in the head—the ‘common’ cold can cause a lot of discomforts! People might say ‘It’s just a cold!’ But you know the suffering only when you experience it yourself.
It may seem like a mundane nuisance when in reality it can cause severe discomfort and make you feel really ill. As common as a cold is, it is one of the easiest ailments to treat with home remedies. This article shall discuss these in detail. Keep reading to know more!
Let us first examine the causes, signs and symptoms, and even the stages of a cold. It is important to understand how exactly a cold can be caused so that the best remedies can be devised and used for it. Here are the symptoms of a common cold.
Common Cold Signs And Symptoms
You may experience a combination of these symptoms –
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Scratchy throat
- Cough
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Postnasal drip
- Decreased appetite
- Sore throat
- Watery eyes
Fever may or may not be present. Usually, children experience the feverish feeling with temperature ranging between 100oF to 102oF. Read on to know how exactly a cold is caused.
Common Causes Of Cold
When you come in contact with the cold virus, it can easily infect you and cause the various symptoms mentioned above. Different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold of which the rhinovirus is the most common one.
An individual with a weak immune system as seen in infants and children is more prone to getting affected by the common cold. For a majority of people, the OTC (over the counter) medications for cold and cough are the most sought after methods to battle the condition.
However, most of these medications just suppress cold instead of giving long-term relief. You can opt for various homemade and natural remedies to get relief from cold and cough.
Below listed are the top natural and home remedies for the common cold, which you can try for quick relief. In most instances, a cold does not persist for very long. Some people may get relief in a few days, though a cold lasting for a week or more is not very uncommon. Find below the stages of a cold.
Stages Of A Cold
When you first contract the virus, the first day or two remain symptom-free. At this juncture, the viruses that escape the body’s immune response start to incubate and replicate within the body. From day three, you start to experience mild symptoms of nasal irritation and congestion.
This soon progresses to other symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and muscle aches as the virus keep replicating and invade the cells.
After day six or seven, you start to feel better because by then the body’s immune response has been successful in beginning the elimination process of the virus by producing the right antibodies. On average, after 7-8 days, the cold symptoms start to go away by themselves.
For a majority of people, the OTC (over the counter) medications for cold and cough are the most sought after methods to battle the condition. However, most of these medications just suppress cold instead of giving long-term relief.
You can opt for various homemade and natural remedies to get relief from cold and cough.
Below listed are the top natural and home remedies for the common cold, which you can try for quick relief.
Home Remedies For Common Cold
1. Apple Cider Vinegar For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- A glass of warm water
What You Have To Do
Add the vinegar to the warm water and drink it. You can add some local raw honey to the mixture to make it more palatable.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink 2-3 glasses of this in the day.
Why This Works
ACV re-balances the pH levels of the body and makes the environment unsuitable for the virus to survive.
2. Epsom Salt Bath For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- A bathtub
- Warm water
What You Have To Do
- Fill the bathtub with warm water. Keep the water as hot as you can bear.
- Add Epsom salt and mix it in the water.
- Soak in this for 20 minutes or so.
If you do not have a bathtub at home, soak your feet in a bucket of warm water with 1/4 cup of Epsom salt in it.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every alternate day until you get relief from the cold symptoms.
Why This Works
To decongest the nasal passage and get relief from body fatigue caused by cold, it is ideal to take a steam bath. By adding the Epsom salt, you will help your body to detox and also relax your aching muscles.
3. Essential Oils For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 4-5 drops peppermint oil OR eucalyptus oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix the two oils together and apply on the chest, neck, and forehead.
- Leave it for as long as possible.
Another way to use essential oils is to opt for a steam bath with water infused with essential oils. Fill a bathtub or bucket with warm water.
Then add a few drops of essential oils in it. Bathe in the water and obtain the benefits. You may also use a diffuser to spread the aroma of essential oils all over the room and house. This will offer relief to your nose and help kill bacteria or virus in the air.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply the essential oil blend twice a day.
4. Garlic For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon honey
What You Have To Do
Crush the garlic and ingest it along with the honey.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day.
5. Ginger For Common Cold
You Will Need
- An inch-long ginger piece
- A cup of hot water
- 1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do
- Crush the ginger piece and let it soak in hot water for a few minutes.
- Strain the water, add honey, and mix well.
- Drink this freshly prepared ginger tea.
Ginger paste or shredded ginger can also be mixed with hot soups and stews to enhance the flavor and boost its cold-fighting effect.
How Often You Should Do This
Have 2-3 cups of ginger tea in a day.
6. Green Tea For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 green tea bag
- A cup of hot water
- Honey
- Lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Brew some green tea by steeping the tea bag for 3-5 minutes.
- Add honey and/or lemon juice for taste and sip on this healthy herbal tea.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink 2-3 cups in the day.
. Honey For Common Cold
You Will Need
1 tablespoon raw honey
What You Have To Do
Simply ingest the honey. Honey can also be added to a glass of warm milk and had before going to bed.
How Often You Should Do This
Eat honey twice a day.
8. Best Juices For Common Cold
Drinking cranberry juice and orange juice during infections such as cold and cough is often recommended by doctors.
These juices supply essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants to the body. These nutrients strengthen the immune system and help the body to fight the viral infection better and faster.
Lemon juice can also be included in the daily diet as it can supply the body with vitamin C which is essential for an efficient immune response against the cold virus. Simple ways to include lemon juice would be adding it to salads and herbal teas.
9. Kombucha For Common Cold
This version of black tea contains a wide range of biologically active compounds and organic acids. It possesses antimicrobial and pH-balancing properties that can enhance immune health as well as cardiovascular health.
This fermented tea is mostly available in organic stores and can be had on a daily basis. Its components can bring about the effective elimination of the cold virus from the body while detoxifying the body of the harmful substances that have accumulated due to the sickness.
10. Kadha Recipe For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 2 cups of water
- 1-1.5 inch piece ginger
- 2 black peppercorns
- 5-6 holy basil leaves
- 4 cloves
- 1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do
- Crush the ginger, peppercorns, basil leaves, and cloves.
- Add water to this and boil the water until the volume reduces to half.
- Strain the decoction, add honey, and drink this.
The strained herbs and spices can be used to prepare ‘kadhai’ for one more time.
How Often You Should Do This
Have a cup or two of this in the day.
11. Onion For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 red onion
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Peel the onion and cut slices.
- Pour enough honey to cover the slices.
- Leave this overnight in an air-tight container in a cool place.
- Eat 1-2 honey-soaked onion slices in the morning.
How Often You Should Do This
Have 1-2 slices twice a day. You can also consume the leftover honey once the slices get over.
12. Vitamins For Common Cold
You Will Need
Vitamin C and vitamin D supplements
What You Have To Do
Take them as directed on the package for your age.
How Often You Should Do This
Have these supplements daily and also continue them after the cold is gone to aid in the full recovery of the body.
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13. Yogurt For Common Cold
You Will Need
Plain yogurt
What You Have To Do
Have a cup with meals or in between meals.
How Often You Should Do This
Eat 1-2 cups of yogurt in a day.
14. Turmeric Milk For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- A glass of hot milk (almond, rice, cashew, or coconut milk)
What You Have To Do
- Add the turmeric to the milk and mix well.
- Drink this before going to bed.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night until the cold goes away.
15. Soup
Apart from tea, you can also have hot soup, broth, and stew to get rid of cold symptoms quickly. You may opt for homemade vegetable soup and chicken soups, for example. Chicken soup has long been used as a home remedy for cold.
Remember how your mom used to give you chicken soup when you had a cold as a child? Well, she did understand the benefits of this home remedy.
Studies have shown that chicken soup consumption can limit the generation of white blood cells that aggravate cold symptoms. Also, the fumes from the soup will thin the mucus and help it flow out of your nose, and the nutrients present will boost your energy levels.
16. Elderberry For Common Cold
You Will Need
Elderberry syrup
What You Have To Do
Drink one to two teaspoons of this syrup.
How Often You Should Do This
Have this once every day.
Caution
For safety reasons, pregnant women and children should not be given elderberry without medical advice.
17. Humidifier
A dry indoor environment can make you feel uncomfortable when you are suffering from a cold. You will find your nasal passage getting dry, and this can cause irritation. Also, dry nasal passages provide an ideal environment for the virus to proliferate and make your cold worse.
Run a humidifier in the room to supply moisture to the air inside and this will keep your nose and nasal tissue moist.
18. Baking Soda For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- A glass of cool water
What You Have To Do
Mix the baking soda in the water and drink it immediately.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this six times on day one at two-hour intervals. On day two, drink this four times throughout the day at equal intervals. On day three, take two doses one in the morning and one in the evening.
From day four onwards, drink this baking soda water once every morning until the cold is gone.
19. Black Pepper For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- A glass of lukewarm water
What You Have To Do
- Mix the pepper powder in the water. Stir well.
- Drink this concoction.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat it after a few hours if required.
20. Cinnamon For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 tablespoon organic honey
What You Have To Do
- Add the cinnamon to the honey and mix them together.
- Eat this.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day.
21. Grapefruit Seed Extract For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 10-15 drops grapefruit seed extract
- 5 oz. water
What You Have To Do
- Add the extract to the water and mix well.
- Drink this.
For children, add 3-5 drops of the extract in the same quantity of water.
How Often You Should Do This
You can drink this up to three times a day.
22. Olive Leaf Extract For Common Cold
You Will Need
1 teaspoon olive leaf extract
What You Have To Do
Take the extract with food.
How Often You Should Do This
Ingest this three times a day, along with your meals.
23. Fish Oil For Common Cold
Fish oil supplements are recommended by doctors for various inflammatory issues. This is because this oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which possess anti-inflammatory properties.
When it comes to the treatment of cold, this supplement is beneficial as it opens up the respiratory passages and reduces the swelling in the nasal linings. This improves the flow of air and eases various symptoms of viral respiratory infections such as cold.
24. Gargling With Hot Water
You Will Need
- A glass of hot water
- 1 teaspoon salt
What You Have To Do
Mix the salt with water and gargle with this.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a day.
25. Chamomile For Cold
You Will Need
- 1 chamomile tea bag
- A cup of boiling water
What You Have To Do
- Steep the tea bag in hot water for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and drink the tea.
You may also use steam inhalation using chamomile leaves in warm water. Fill a pot with hot water and then drop some dried or fresh chamomile leaves in it. Now, lean over the pot and inhale the steam vapor. Try this twice a day for expediting relief from cold.
How Often You Should Do This
Have two cups of chamomile tea every day until the cold goes away.
26. Fenugreek For Common Cold
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
- A glass of water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Boil the fenugreek seeds in water for a few minutes.
- Let this cooldown, add honey, and mix well.
- Drink this water while it is still warm.
How Often You Should Do This
This decoction can be had up to two times in a day.
While using home-based remedies and natural products to get relief from cold is useful, you need to keep certain things in mind before using them.
Using certain foods and herbs may not be suited for all. For example, giving honey to kids younger than one year for treating a cold is not recommended. Similarly, some people may be allergic to certain ingredients like the essential oils.
Women who are lactating and pregnant need to be even more careful about these aspects.
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