It’s no surprise how some people can still feel under the weather even if they are home. This happens to the best of us, and preparing for it is easier when we discover the best home remedies for colds.
Chills, body aches, nasal congestion and fever – a combination of all these are your usual symptoms for flu. Common colds aren’t exactly “curable.” However, you can alleviate these early signs and heal them faster with a few effective home remedies that are not hard to make.
There are various viruses that can cause colds. Hence, symptoms may vary from one person to the next. In this article, Cognitive Health and Wellness Institute talks about how to treat colds and avoid feeling so sick from its symptoms.
Why Choose Home Remedies for Colds?
Home remedies for colds are more convenient as, oftentimes, the antidote for its symptoms is just to rest. What better way to allow your body to rest than to do it at the comforts of your own home, right?
Catching a cold can be worrisome because it often takes more than a week before the early warnings subside. That said, doing home remedies for colds, especially during the first 3 days, is crucial.
You don’t necessarily need to go to the doctor’s clinic right away. You don’t want to spend too much on medicine that you don’t need. For instance, antibiotics and aspirin aren’t needed for common colds to go away. Needless to say, don’t self-medicate. There’s no harm in natural healing especially when your body can still take it.
Sometimes, all you really need is to rest at home with these home remedies to recuperate faster. However, if symptoms persist for more than a week, you should definitely call your doctor and health insurance provider to render you the best medical treatment.
All-Natural Remedies for Colds
Water
Who says treating colds should be expensive each time? The cure can be simple that it’s available in your kitchen. How many times have we been told about the importance of drinking water? It is, especially when you have colds. Whether you’re experiencing respiratory or stomach flu, you’ll feel much better with enough hydration.
Water moisturizes the lining of your throat, mouth, and nose. Eventually, your body will have the opportunity to get rid of the phlegm and mucus that are building up in your system. Make a conscious effort to drink more fluids than you’d normally use to. Stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as well. They shouldn’t be your source of hydration.
Honey
The demulcent effect honey has makes it one of the best home remedies for colds. This syrup relieves irritation as it forms a cooling firm around the throat. As a matter of fact, most over-the-counter cough medicines mimic the same effect with added sugar only to stimulate salivation and mucus secretion.
Mix your honey with tea or warm lemon water to soothe your sore throat! If you prefer to drink the syrup alone, that should work as a suppressant too! A study revealed that children whose ages were 1 to 5 with a case of upper respiratory tract infection reduced their coughing after taking two teaspoons of honey.
Ginger
How effective is ginger for sore throat? This pungent, spicy herb is not only the best for cooking, but for healing too. As a matter of fact, there are strong scientific studies and traditions that support its medical use. Grating some ginger in a boiling water could reduce inflammation and soothe the sore throat that causes rough coughs.
There are many ways ginger helps colds. First, it provides pain relief which serves as an anti-inflammatory, another is it boosts a person’s immune system which is a big help in fighting infections which could be the primary trigger of sore throats. Try combining this herb with lemon and honey and create a natural and delicious drink to cure your flu!
Garlic
Garlic has the cold-fighting compound, allicin, that demonstrates antifungal and antibacterial properties. This is responsible for its distinctive hot flavor which reduces the possibility of catching a cold by more than a half. There is also a study that suggests how this vegetable reduces the time in recovering from colds.
There are a few ways to optimize the health benefits garlic has to offer. Crush or slice a glove for it increases its allicin content which is good for the body. If you’re cooking with crushed garlic, don’t overdo it. Allow it to stand for around ten minutes. And if you can use as much garlic as you can for every meal, that would speed up the process!
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is a go-to dish for many, so it’s addition in this list should be a win-win! This remedy is the best when you are already feeling the appearance of the cold. No wonder it’s common to see mothers or grandmothers serve chicken soup whenever their loved ones don’t feel well.
A study published implies that chicken soup comes with anti-inflammatory effects which ease the manifestations of infections in the respiratory tract. Some researchers connect the heat, spices, and aroma of the chicken soup in clearing sinuses and improving cold health problem symptoms. Including this bowl of nutrients in your diet may be a good idea whether you’re feeling under the weather or not.
Menthol Ointment
With common colds, your airways are congested and sinuses blocked. Hence, menthol ointments can help decongest these airways. Its predecessor, mint plant, is rich in antibacterial benefits that aid in alleviating pain and unclog sinuses. This is a natural cooling ingredient found in vapor rubs which you can use in steam vaporizers, for example.
Menthol is one of the effective home remedies for colds as they interact with the cold receptors in your throat and nose. Using menthol can reduce coughing and cold symptoms simply by inhaling the mist from this cooling ingredient.
It was previously believed to be a herbal medicine but now it extends to drug therapy use. Other similar cooling remedies for colds are eucalyptus and camphor. But, don’t overuse it as menthol can be irritable to the skin and sometimes sting.
Echinacea
Echinacea came from the daisy family of flowering plants in North America. Also commonly known as coneflowers, these plants are considered supplements with health benefits. It’s worth noting here that there’s still a few who don’t believe it is beneficial to health. However, there are also some who have seen benefits which include reducing cold symptoms and other infections.
This traditional medicine is rich with antimicrobial and antiviral properties making it one of the best home remedies for colds. These days, many people globally use supplements with Echinacea to treat not only colds but also coughs and influenza. Other illnesses it can target are bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and other inflammatory conditions.
Probiotics
In a previous article, Cognitive Health and Wellness Institute talks in detail about the benefits of probiotics (and prebiotics) in your body. Probiotics serve as the “police” in your gut; hence, they help sustain order and stop any harmful microorganisms to compromise your immune system.
Probiotic foods such as yogurt, picked vegetables, and sauerkraut are great home remedies for colds. With a healthy and balanced diet, they can help protect you against flu viruses. A study showed that people who eat probiotic foods have lower risks of catching colds.
Home Remedies for Colds Work
It’s important that you monitor your symptoms when you catch a cold. These home remedies for colds can help you recover easily so you can go back to your healthy self. Many of these natural remedies are effective and widely known to ease common colds.
These days, when having colds get people paranoid due to the covid-19 scare, it’s good to know home remedies that actually work. The bottom line is that you take care of yourself and listen to your body. Rest up, sleep well, and drink lots of fluids and vitamins to help combat common colds.
It’s not fun and, sometimes, you might feel miserable when colds don’t go away. But, with these home remedies, hopefully, you can get back on your feet stronger than ever.
Since there are home remedies for colds, grab any of the listed recommendations above the moment you experience the first sign of colds.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324607#seeing-a-doctor
https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/9-natural-cold-and-flu-remedies
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/12-tips-prevent-colds-flu-1
https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/home-remedies#probiotics
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403