10 Natural Home Remedies for Colds


10 Natural Home Remedies for Colds
The common symptoms of cold are running nose or blockage in the nasal passage, frequent sneezes, sore throat, headache, mild fever and watery eyes. Some patients may suffer from cough as well. These annoying symptoms usually last for 7 - 10 days; as by this time, the cold germs are destroyed by the natural immunity power of the body. But the patient may need to be relieved from the intensity of these symptoms during this period. Hence, all the patients suffering from colds are seen to be searching for some appropriate medicinal treatment or natural home remedies to get relief to some extent. 
The cold is apparently a common ailment, but it is highly irritating to the patient, as well as contagious for all others around. The viruses of the colds are ejected out of the body through the sneezes of the infected person and spread very fast to the uninfected people. The mucous membranes lining the nose, throat and the lungs are badly affected by these cold-causing viruses, which multiply rapidly and further worsen the situation for the patient. 
Luckily, apart from the mild tablets for cold or flu, there are some effective home remedies, which can improve the patient's physical condition and help him/her feel better.
1. Usage of Salt Water
It is an ancient home remedy for cough and cold, to gargle with salty water, to break down the congested mucus in the throat and bring a soothing effect to the soreness of the throat. Salt water can also be used as the form of a nasal spray, by inhaling some lukewarm water mixed with salt, to clear the blockage of the respiratory passage. This nasal spray can be used 5 - 8 times a day, in the cases of severe cold.
2. Drinking plenty of Fluids
The patient who is suffering from the cold should drink lots of water, fruit juices, and some beneficial broths. The habit of drinking plenty of liquids will help in faster flushing out of the viruses from the body. The infected mucus of the respiratory passage is thinned due to the presence of excess fluids. Ideally, eight ounces of any form of fluids should be taken in a day. Fluids should be taken at an interval of every two hours, for obtaining the best results in curing colds. But any carbonated or alcoholic drink may result in further dehydration of the body cells, thus should be avoided during the illness. Green tea and Chamomile tea are also highly beneficial in curing cold, due to the antioxidant properties of these special beverages.
3. Consumption of Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is full of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates, obtained from the shredded chicken pieces, broth and noodles or vegetables present in the soup. All these nutrients provide energy to the body and make the soup act as a powerful fluid for thinning out the virus inflicted mucus of the respiratory system.
4. Eating hot foods with lots of Pepper
The foods with loads of pepper can effectively loosen the accumulated phlegm of the respiratory passage, mainly in the case of the children. Thus, the intake or inhaling pepper powder can make the virus flow out of the nose, due to the sharp pungent smell of the black or red pepper.
5. Intake of much Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most important nutrient that effectively helps in curing the symptoms of cold, by stopping the multiplication of the virus in the body cells and it also increases the numbers of white blood cells, which in turn enhance the immunity power of the body. Therefore, lots of citrus fruits, like lemons, oranges, strawberries, kiwis, peaches and tomatoes need to be eaten by a patient who is suffering from the cold, along with few beneficial vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli and parsley; as these foods contain an ample amount of Vitamin C.
6. Using a Humidifier or Steam with Essential Oils
A humidifier or vaporizer moistens the total respiratory passage and eases out the symptoms of a cold. The steam evolving from a bowl of boiling water is also effective in clearing the blockage of the sinus areas of the skull. Few drops of Eucalyptus Oil can be added in this boiling water, for providing excellent effects on curing the cold, as this oil has antiseptic and expectorant qualities for killing the germs and release the phlegm from the lungs and throat.
7. Sucking Throat Lozenges containing Menthol
The trouble of sore throat can be eased by sucking some medicated lozenges, which contain menthol and camphor. The menthol or peppermint offers a soothing effect on the sore throat while zinc gluconate present in these lozenges helps in curing the cold faster.
8. Use of honey in making home-made cough syrup
Honey has high expectorant quality and thus it is used in soothing the irritation of the sore throat and it can be mixed with the equal amount of apple cider vinegar, for making an effective home-made cough syrup for the patients, who are enduring the cold symptoms.
9. Using some beneficial daily spices
The usual spices used in the kitchens have high medicinal values, which can reduce the severity of cold symptoms. The most useful spices in this regard are cinnamon, garlic, and ginger. Cinnamon is effective in curing the dryness and soreness of the throat; it works best when used in powdered form, with crushed black pepper and honey. 
Garlic has antiseptic qualities for strengthening the immune system, as well as it helps in driving out the toxic substances from the body, by enhancing the activities of the white blood cells. Hence, cloves of garlic can be boiled in water or crushed and added to soups or other dishes, for fast recovery from the cold. Ginger is another well-known effective remedial substance for cold and cough; thus it can be eaten in raw, crushed form or may be boiled in water; ginger tea is thus a popular home remedy that is used in many families for curing cold.
10. Take adequate amount of rest every day.
As one suffers from a cold, his body system may become weaker. So the patient needs to give enough rest to the body, by staying away from most of the official and household chores. The periodical short naps, apart from the usual 7-8 hours of sleep at night, are helpful in increasing the immunity power of the body. While sleeping, the patient may use thicker pillows, to keep the head at a higher level, so that the sinus cavities may be partly freed from the congestion.
Advice of The Healing Herbs :
 Generally talk to with a doctor before using any herbs , vitamins  and health supplements , women who are pregnant or nursing should not take this or any other herb without first contacting their physician.

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