Cold Remedies
The Best Natural Common Cold Remedies
People have been using cold remedies for centuries. As one of the most annoying sicknesses, the common cold affects millions of people every year. Most people will admit that they will simply have no idea what to do when they have a cold. If you are serious about being able to cure the cold, you will need to understand that there are some remedies that can really help get rid of the cold. However, most of the home remedies for cold are unknown to a lot of people and so you need to become familiar with them so that you you can utilize them the next time you start to feel a cold coming on. Here are some of the basic and easy to utilize common cold remedies that you can try that have been proven to work.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
The first of these cold remedies is arguably something that every parent has told their child and they certainly are right. Drinking a lot of fluids is a great way to get rid of the cold and a glass of water or juice will help prevent dehydration. The liquids will also help prevent congestion and moist the throat for less pain. With about 8 glasses of 10 ounces of water will be perfect and if you are able to add liquids like sports drinks, teas and ginger ale, they would work as well. Liquids from a bowl of soup would certainly help as well but beware of liquids like cola, coffee, and other caffeinated drinks.
Inhale Steam
This cold remedy is a great way to get rid of the congestion and also the drippy nose. The one problem that a cold can bring is the sinus congestion and inhaling steam will certainly fix this problem. If you hold your head above a pot of boiling water and inhale through your nose, you will be able to get rid of the congestion. However, you will need to be careful when you do this because you surely do not want to burn yourself. A better alternative is to inhale moisture from a hot shower or from a saline nasal spray. A room humidifier would work as well and will be a great way to get rid of a cold.
Blow Your Nose Often
Most people who have a cold will forget to actually blow their nose and this is what causes a lot of problems. You will however need to learn how to blow your nose properly because you simply can’t just blow as hard as you can. The technique for blowing your nose is to press any finger over one of your nostrils and to blow gently to clear the other nostril. Blowing your nose is very important because you will be able to release all the germs instead of sniffing them back into your head. Make sure you do not blow too hard because it can carry the germs back into your ears and causing more problems like earache.
Irrigate Your Nose
This can be done in a number of ways and one of the most common things to do is to use a saline nasal spray or your own salt water mix. Salt water surprisingly helps break down the congestion and also help remove the virus particles from your nose. A simple recipe would be to mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt and another 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda into 8 ounces of warm water. You will then use a bulb syringe to put the mixture into your nose. Repeat this process about 3 times and then repeat with the other nostril.
Get Some Rest
The one thing that a lot of people forget is that they need to rest. When you stay warm and rested, you are telling your body that it needs to recover and rest. This will allow your body to focus on fighting virus and avoid using energy towards anything else. Fighting off a cold can be very tiring for your body and so lying down and resting is a great way to fight your cold. Rest is something is very important and can actually be the reason why you got the cold in the first place. When you are lacking rest, you are more open to getting a cold and so it is important that you are always fully rested.
Gargle Salt Water
This is one of the cold remedies that can do wonders. When you gargle salt water, you will be able to moisten your sore throat and give some relief. This is a great way to feel better almost instantly and can really allow you to feel better. Half a teaspoon of salt should be enough inside of an 8 ounce cup of warm water. Do this about 4 times a day and you will be able to reduce that irritating feeling that you get in your throat. You can gargle with tea as well to help reduce the pain. Another option is to use a mixture of honey as this is also a cold remedy. Make sure that the mixture is about room temperature before you start to gargle.
Over The Counter Medicines
When you buy medication, it has to be the very last option. Some medicines can be bad for children under 2 and so you will need to consult your doctor beforehand. These decongestants can give some relief but it is not a good idea to rely on them. They will not prevent the cold and it won’t shorten the duration as it will merely just lessen the pain. If you use the medicine for more than a few days, it can actually cause more problems. Make sure that these medicines are your very last choice.
Closing Thoughts on Common Cold Remedies
Overall, the process of being able to get rid of your cold is not that hard but you need to experiment to see which ones work best for you. The cold is the most annoying sickness out there today and so you should take action once you start to feel the symptoms. If you are serious about getting rid of your cold, make sure you try these simple cold remedies so that you can get rid of it soon.
Ebooks related to Cold Remedies
The Natural Remedy Handbook
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