Home Cold Remedies

While there is no cure for common cold, certain home cold remedies will help you avoid catching cold, or fight it off with lighter symptoms when you actually have it. 

Common cold is a contagious – infectious disease of the upper respiratory system and always starts with an exposure to a cold virus.

Common symptoms are sore throat, headache, body ache, mild fever, runny or blocked nose, diminished sense of smell and taste, loss of appetite, coughing and sneezing.

The intensity of these symptoms depends on how healthy you are in general, how strong your immunity is and other external factors- stress, depression, lack of sleep and being around sick people.

Best Home Cold Remedies:

• Garlic with its antibacterial and antiviral properties, includes compounds that can help prevent or fight off cold and flu if taken daily. Symptoms also become lighter in case of a cold. It comes with side effects in higher doses, such as bloating, upset tummy, fatigue and may interfere with certain medications- blood thinners and protease inhibitors. Odorless garlic tablets are your best bet to avoid bad breath or body odour.

• Drink plenty of water and herbal teas, keep away from coffee, alcohol or soft drinks. If you are on medication, please note that alcohol may interact with over-the-counter medications. Water and caffeine-free teas rehydrate your body and help get rid of the bad stuff, while the latter dehydrate it and make the symptoms worse.

• Drink orange or citrus juices and eat fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin C, as vitamin C is well known to be a great immunity boosting vitamin.

• Peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus or chamomile tea with honey may also help ease your cold symptoms.

• You will more than likely have fatigue and won’t have a lot of energy to do stuff, so get plenty of rest and don’t push your body. Resting will help your body recover earlier than normal.

• Steam room or your own bathroom full of steam is great for blocked nose or temporary relief from cold symptoms.

• Zinc lozenges taken within 1 day of the start of the cold symptoms may be effective in providing relief.

• Warm and comforting chicken soup with its anti-inflammatory properties and protein has been one of the best home cold remedies for centuries. Chicken soup will certainly help you feel better overall and ease the cold symptoms.

• Gargle with lots of table salt diluted in warm water a few times a day to relieve your sore throat. This is even more effective than throat lozenges purchased at health stores.

• Spicy foods contain plenty of powerful antioxidants, so eat foods that include chili, garlic and onion to help fight off the cold symptoms.

• Keep away from solid foods when your cold symptoms are intense and have fever; stick to soups, fruit juices and teas instead. When the symptoms are over, you can start eating your usual healthy foods.

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