Home Remedies for Common Cold

Common cold (also called acute coryza, catarrh or nasopharyngitis) is a viral infection of upper respiratory tract. The common symptoms are.

Symptoms

1. Stuffy or blocked nose
2. Continuous sneezing is the most common symptom.
3. Cough
4. Sore or itchy throat
5. Running nose
6. Watery eyes
7. Nasal Congestion
8. Mild headache
9. Watery eyes
10. Mild fatigue
11. Low-grade fever

Common cold may also lead to various serious diseases like tonsillitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and laryngitis. It can become a very worse condition if it degenerates into catarrh of the alimentary system.

Common Cold Remedies

 Here are some natural home remedies to prevent and treat common cold and flu.

Honey

Honey is a fantastic soothing and healing agent that helps in boosting immunity. It has antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral nutrients and has great additional benefits in treating cold. The enzymes in honey help in killing viruses and bacteria that cause cold.

How to Use

• The easiest way to use this remedy is to consume half a tbsp. of it directly early in the morning.
• You can also make syrup of 1/4th cup of apple cider vinegar and 1/4th cup of honey. Store it in a tight sealed container. Consume 1tbsp of this syrup once for every four hours.
• You can also consume 1/4th tbsp. of honey, 1/4tbsp of lemon in a glass of warm water to get rid of this irritating common cold.

Peppers

Hot and spicy pepper will make your nose run and this is due to capsaicin, the compound in it, which is similar to GUAIFENESIN (an expectorant that is found in counter cough syrups). It helps in clearing up your mucus and eases your running nose.

How to Use

Include this food in your diet. You can prepare several kinds of recipes using this fantastic food.

Special Spice Tea

Special spice tea prepared using black pepper, ginger and basil leaves is helpful in treating common cold. You can also prepare spice tea using coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds as well as fennel seeds.

Or

How to Use

• Dry roast all these seeds and make a fine powder of it. Add the spice mixture while preparing your tea. Simmer it for few minutes and strain the solution. Add little honey and drink it warm.
• You can also add ginger paste, basil leaves and black pepper powder in milk and allow it to boil. Strain it and drink this herbal tea after sweetening it with honey.

Mullein tea

Drinking several fluids will help keep common cold at bay. Try drinking mullein tea, which is effective in treating common cold. The expectorant properties in mullein tea can help in relieving congestion in chest, which is a symptom of common cold.

How to Use

• Add dried mullein herb in a pan containing a cup of hot water.
• Allow it to boil for few minutes and strain it.
• For add-on benefits, sweeten it with honey.
• Drink it twice a day at least for few days till you sense relief from common cold.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is effective in treating infections that cause common cold. It helps in easing pain of sore or dry throat.

How to Use

• Mix 1/4tbsp of cinnamon powder in honey and add it in a glass of warm water. Stir it well and consume it every day till you see better results.
• You can also add powdered cinnamon and few cloves in water and allow it to boil for few minutes. Strain the solution. Add little honey and drink it when warm. You can consume it thrice a day.
• Cinnamon oil can also be added to little honey and can be consumed till you see better results.

Turmeric Milk

Milk, fully loaded with proteins is also helpful in treating common cold. You must drink at least a glass of milk daily because of the available proteins and nutrients in it.

How to Use

• Add little turmeric and ginger paste or you may even add black pepper to it and boil it for few minutes.
• Drink it warm. Have it at least twice a day till you see best results.

Echinacea

This is a wonderful herb, which has been in use since 400 years particularly by Native Americans. This herb helps in healing several infections including common cold. Studies have mentioned that Echinacea is effective in reducing the duration of flu and common cold. This herb in loaded with flavonoids and essential chemicals that has therapeutic effects on body including the ability to reduce inflammation and boost immunity levels.

How to Use

This herb can be used to prepare herbal tea.

• Add around 1 or 2 grams of Echinacea root to water and allow it for boiling.
• Strain it and add little honey.
• Drink it thrice a day but not more than a week.

Asafetida (HING)

Asafetida (Hing) has antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties and antibiotic effects. It helps in curing respiratory disorders such as bronchitis and infections such as common cold as well. It acts as respiratory stimulant that is helpful in releasing phlegm and relieving chest congestion.

How to Use

• Make a fine paste of 1/4tbsp. of asafetida, 1/4tbsp of ginger extract and little honey.
• Add this paste to a glass of warm water.
• Consume it thrice a day to get rid of phlegm and common cold within few days.

Raw Guava & its leaves

Guava is a fruit loaded with vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, copper, folic acid, fiber, copper and many other phyto-chemicals.

How to Use

The leaves of guava are helpful in treating common cold. Guava leaves juice is helpful in reducing mucus formation, lung congestion and makes the respiratory tract free from any infections due to abundant availability of iron and vitamin C.  The juice of immature and raw guavas or guava leaves decoction when consumed daily can treat common cold.

Note

However, you need to AVOID RIPE GUAVA when you are suffering from cold as it might exacerbate this problem. You should also not drink water immediately after having guavas as it might lead to sore throat.

Chicken soup with peppercorns

Your grandma’s recipe chicken soup was a fantastic remedy to cure common cold. Research studies have mentioned that a bowl of steamy vegetables and chicken soup is helpful in relieving chest congestion. The ingredients in chicken soup have good amounts of antioxidants that are helpful in treating common cold symptoms. CYSTEINES in chicken soup help in thinning mucus.

How to Use

Have a cup of hot chicken soup once a day till you feel much better. For additional benefits, add lot of vegetables while preparing your soup. The fumes of this wonderful nutritious chicken soup will help release mucus from nose and helps your body fight against viral invaders. This soup provides nutrients that can be easily absorbed.