[toc]Common cold is a simple disease. But you will find that your body works really hard to get rid of this virus. If you want to keep the misery of cold to bare minimum then you will have to provide all the things that your body requires. When you do this you also protect yourself away from a chronic infection. The first sign of cold will be a blocked nose or runny nose, sore throat, fatigue and indigestion.
If you find these symptoms early on then relieving yourself early can reverse the disease within a day or two. Catching a cold can be annoying and it leaves you exhausted and irritated at whatever you do. If you do not want the condition to deteriorate and become serious then follow the steps given below and keep yourself from a chronic infection. Get well soon!
16 Cures For Cold
Eat Hard Candy
You can keep a hard candy in your mouth for clearing a sore throat. When you keep the throat moist, it helps in lessening the scratchiness and soreness that is common with the cold.
Cold Compress
You can take the help of cold compress. Apply this on your forehead and sinusitis. The cold cloth that you apply will relieve the dull headache that usually happens during cold.
Blow Your Nose
Blowing your nose will help relieving you off the feeling of stuffiness. A blocked nose can lead to headache and irritation. It can also worsen the soreness in your throat as you try and breathe through the mucus. To blow your nose often, use soft tissues that contain lotion as this will prevent further redness on your nose.
Prevention.
If you want to stay away from cold then you must follow a healthy diet, keep yourself clean, eat probiotics and lots of vitamin C. Probiotics is good bacteria that help in proper digestion of food.
You can easily get probiotics at a nearby food store. But never buy probiotics that are not kept refrigerated. A good source of probiotics at home is the good old yoghurt.
Zinc
Taking zinc can actually shorten the lifespan of a cold. There have been a lot of study on this subject and many health experts also vouch for this medicine. If zinc is taken in the form of a gel like Zicam, works well than any hard candy that you will eat. Therefore, take zinc at the first symptom of the cold.
Water
Water is a solution for most of the problems that occur in the human body. Drink lukewarm water in large quantity throughout the day. If you get dehydrated then the matters will become worse.
Humidifier
When you sleep, switch on a humidifier so that the sinus glands are kept hydrated. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your humidifier for a better effect. If you want a cool mist humidifier then add a cup of hydrogen peroxide.
Tomato Soup
This is the best remedy for clearing the sinuses at home instantly. Take a cup of tomato juice, 2 cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of lemon juice, pepper or horse radish or Tabasco sauce. Heat the tomato juice till cooked and add the condiments according to your personal taste. The hotness of the pepper will clear the sinus glands.
Vitamin C
You can always take vitamin C supplements but if you could source it from natural food it will be better for your body. The food that has an abundance of vitamin C is broccoli, bell peppers, cabbage, pineapple, orange, limes, tomatoes, zucchini, raspberry, grapefruit, lemon, spinach, papaya etc.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is a tried and tested home remedy of curing the cold at home. According to the health experts, chicken soup aids in clearing the nasal passages. Therefore, a homemade chicken soup is highly recommended during cold.
Sore Throat
To give proper rest to your sore throat, you can also gargle 3-4 times in a day. Gargle with salt water, lemon water, salt and turmeric water, or eat an onion or garlic.
Take Rest
Take a break from your usual activities and give your body much needed rest. If you do this during the first symptoms of cold then you will surely recover faster. Rest is very important as your body is busy fighting the virus.
Therefore take a sick leave even if there are minor symptoms. If you do not heed and keep on working then the body will not be able to respond to the virus quickly and will prevent it from being a short recovery.
Drink Lots Of Broths
During this period you must drink lots of soup and broths, herbal tea and fruit juice. Avoid caffeine as it will cause stress on the body. Bed rest is advised if you feel fatigue, feverish or are experiencing pain. Keep solid food intake to bare minimum. This is because, your body will not have to pay more attention to digestion, and it will be able to fight the cold in a better manner.
Hot Lemonade
Mix honey and lemon in a glass of hot water two times a day. You could also make a hot lemonade cocktail by mixing brandy to this concoction. This concoction must only be taken during night time, as it will induce sleep and allow the body to fight the disease in better manner.
This concoction is amazing for the sore throat. You can heat 2 cups of water; add a juice of 2 lemons, honey and a teaspoon of brandy. Drink it when it is warm.
Garlic
You must eat garlic everyday whether you are sick or hale and hearty. Garlic can prevent a lot of illness; it protects you from cancer and heart diseases. Eating fresh garlic has a lot of benefits for your health.
Ginger
Add ginger to your favourite tea and then drink this concoction. Ginger has healing properties and is best for cold and sore throat. You will feel the difference immediately. You can also keep a piece of fresh ginger in your mouth as a hard candy.
