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The harmattan season is here again; the cold and dry season is known to be associated with an increase in a lot of infections, including the common cold. Common cold, also known as ‘cold’ is an infection that affects the nose and throat. Sneezing, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose and fever, are among the symptoms that you will have when infected with the common cold. It can be caused by several different viruses, nevertheless, it is generally harmless and resolves within two weeks with or without treatment.
Fasten your seatbelts and journey with me as I share with you a list of natural remedies for cold.
Should You Always Treat a Cold?
The big answer here is NO! you need not take antibiotics for colds like many people wrongly do. Medical doctors refer to the common cold as a self-limiting disease, meaning, it will resolve on its own whether you treat it or not. It will amaze you to know that some of the symptoms that you experience when you have a cold are actually an indication that your body is actively fighting the infection; shocking, right? Yes, I know.
Coughing, for example, helps to clear your airway of thick mucus that is blocking the passage of air as well as transferring the infection to your lungs. Fever is sometimes protective too; your body raises the temperature higher than normal, to make the environment uncomfortable for the germs that are causing you trouble.
How Do You Treat a Cold?
While it is true that the common cold does not require treatment, the symptoms that accompany it can be very uncomfortable and can even affect your daily productivity. This will require you to take some active steps of getting relief.
The good news is that there are several natural remedies for cold that you can try at home all by yourself.
Natural Remedies to Common Cold
1. You Need to Rest
This sounds simple yet it is very important. Your body is always busy with a lot of activities, some of which you know and some you do not.
By giving your body some rest, it will be able to focus its energy towards fighting the infection.
2. Take Enough Fluids
Regular drinking of warm water, tea or even juice will prevent you from getting dehydrated and can help to loosen the congestion too. Avoid anything that can worsen dehydration; this includes caffeinated soda, coffee and alcoholic drinks.
It is also important to avoid cold drinks whenever you have a cold. According to research, drinking cold water can make the mucus in your nose thicker and more difficult to pass through your airways. So, it will be best to stay away from it.
Also Read: 10 Surprising Foods That Are Bad for Your Breath (No. 5 Will Shock You)
3. Take a Hot Shower
Whether you are down with common cold or not, a hot, steamy shower on a cold day can be so refreshing. It generally makes you relax and can also help to moisturize your airways, leading to some level of decongestion.
4. Blow your Runny Nose
When you have a runny nose, try as much as possible to frequently blow it instead of swallowing – yes, people swallow! – blow it gently by pressing your finger on the other nostril.
This way, you reduce the possibility of the mucus accumulating again to cause blockage, or for mucus containing germs to infect other parts of your body.
5. Gargle
A saltwater gargle helps to temporarily soothe a sore throat. This is done by mixing half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, then pouring the solution into the mouth, gargling and spitting it out. You can repeat this up to four times daily.
If you are still not sure how to do it, here is a simple guide on how to gargle.
6. Take Some Honey
Honey has been used in the treatment of diseases for many centuries now. According to research by some University of Oxford scientists, honey may be superior as well as less harmful than usual care for treating upper respiratory tract infections, especially coughs.
Honey also has antibacterial, antioxidant and antifungal properties, making it a suitable candidate in the treatment of a lot of disease conditions. You can drink it directly, add it to your drinks, or even to your water solution before gargling.
7. Add Ginger to Your Diet
Adding some ginger to your tea, recipes, smoothies and even cooking, in general, can help to relieve and even prevent the common cold.
Ginger has antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make it not just one of the natural remedies for cold, but for several other diseases as well.
8. Use an Extra Pillow to Sleep
Appropriate elevation of your head while lying down will help to relieve congested airways. This can easily be achieved by making use of an extra pillow to sleep.
9. Eat Healthy Food
Eating healthy food, especially those with some documented evidence of fighting infection can help relieve you of the symptoms faster than usual.
This includes onions, garlic, chilli peppers, carrots, oranges and other Vitamin-C rich fruits, blueberries, etc.
10. Over the Counter (OTC) Medications
Over the counter medications are those that you can legally buy from drug stores even without a doctor’s prescription. I choose to add it last to the list because misusing this can cause you more harm than good. There are several pharmaceutical drugs available for the treatment of the common cold, and some of them with side effects including drowsiness, dizziness and headache.
I strongly recommend that you seek the opinion of a qualified medical professional before going ahead to purchase medications for yourself or your loved ones.
FAQs
Q: What causes common cold?
A: Common cold is caused by viruses, but it is generally harmless, so you need not worry.
Q: How long does common cold lasts?
A: It usually doesn’t go beyond two weeks whether you treat it or not
Q: Should I be worried if my cold goes beyond two weeks?
A: If it goes beyond two weeks and there is no sign of improvement, see your doctor for proper evaluation and treatment.
Q: Must I always take antibiotics for common cold?
A: No. For common cold, you only take drugs that will reduce the symptoms. There are several natural methods you can try at home too.
Conclusion
If after trying all these, the common cold still goes beyond two weeks, please meet your doctor for appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Have you ever used any of the natural remedies for cold mentioned above or any not mentioned here? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments section below.
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