11 Home Remedies for Colds-image

11 Home Remedies for Colds

By Wellness Author

  • Posted On 2021-06-12

Common cold and flu are regular seasonal change ailments. Here we have 11 home remedies for the common cold and flu to help you with.

HOW TO CURE COLD

During the ongoing pandemic, words like ‘cold’ and ‘flu’ have become nightmarish for people. But you need not panic because most colds and coughs are not untreatable diseases or essentially symptoms of a graver illness. All of us experience cold and cough at some point in the year.

There are several ways to cure a simple cold. You can even visit the doctor. But several home remedies can help give you instant relief from the agony of fever, nasal congestion, body aches, or chills. Our grandmothers and mothers have for ages been using these simple home remedies for colds. A kadha or a simple concoction made of ginger, honey, and black pepper has worked like a magic spell.

A simple cough and cold can be treated using home remedies. The following home remedies for cough and cold can work wonders!

11 HOME REMEDIES FOR COLD AND FLU

Know When to Treat Symptoms

A simple cold or flu generally goes away on its own. But you need to know when to treat the symptoms. The common symptoms of a cold or flu are high temperature, chills, body ache, no taste for food, burning sensation in the eyes, and nasal congestion. When you know that these are symptoms of a cold or flu, you can search for home remedies online. Several homemade concoction recipes available online can relieve you of the symptoms of cold and flu. You can also try warm baths or saltwater gargles as home remedies for cough.

1. Ginger:

Ginger is an age-old home remedy popular in all households as a cure or relief for cough and cold. You can add a few slices of raw ginger in boiling water to soothe a sore throat. You can even keep a piece of raw ginger in your mouth to prevent persistent coughing. There is also evidence that ginger can prevent nausea associated with cough and cold. Ginger ale is also excellent to cure symptoms of a simple cold. Ginger is a great natural decongestant and can help in drying excess mucus in the chest. 

If you aren’t comfortable drinking ginger water or putting a slice of ginger in your mouth, you can go for a better solution – ginger tea. Put a generous amount of ginger while preparing your tea; let it boil with the tea. Ginger tea is beneficial for your throat and delicious to your palate.

2. Honey:

Honey is quite famous among natural remedies for cough and cold. Honey is known for its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties since time immemorial. You can drink tea with honey and lemon, which is magical for a sore throat. Honey is also a natural cough suppressant and can be even given to children suffering from cough and cold. But remember not to give honey to children below 1 year because it might cause infant botulism.  You can also add honey to lukewarm water to relieve the symptoms of a persistent cough. Honey mixed with ginger and tulsi is one of the favourite home remedies for cold.

3. Black pepper:

You can add freshly ground black pepper to your daily diet to ward off cough and cold symptoms. You can also add black pepper to your cup of green tea with a dash of lemon and ginger to cure your cold. Black pepper is known as the “king of spices” and has several health benefits. Black pepper has a chemical called piperine which is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Therefore, black pepper is popular among the home remedies for cold and is added to the concoction along with ginger, honey, tulsi, cloves and cinnamon to relieve the symptoms associated with cough and cold.

4. Garlic: 

Apart from protecting your heart from diseases, garlic works wonders as a home remedy for cold and flu. Garlic contains compounds that are beneficial for the immune system. A strong immune system is essential to ward off symptoms of cold and flu. Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which is instrumental in fighting the viruses that cause the common cold and flu. You can add garlic to your food after crushing it or consume it raw. You can also add garlic to chicken stew or chicken soup to get relief from the common cold and flu.

5. Apply essential oil:

Essential oils are also a favourite among home remedies for cold and cough. Essential oils are a good decongestant and cure your cold and cough faster and more efficiently. Essential oils are also helpful for inducing sleep, which helps relieve the symptoms of cold and cough. Users can apply essential oils such as lavender, bergamot, sandalwood, and chamomile to cure cold and flu symptoms. Another essential oil for the cold and has antiviral properties is tea-tree oil; you can inhale it by mixing it in water. Eucalyptus oil is also effective in curing nasal congestion.You can add some in steaming hot water, inhale or pour a few drops on a  clean handkerchief, and sniff directly to relieve the nasal passage.

6. Take a steamy shower:

Steam baths are beneficial in relieving the symptoms of cough and cold. It can even reduce fever in children and adults. If you take a warm bath during your common cold and flu, it can help release extra mucus and also reduce body pain. You can add Epsom salt or essential oils to your warm bath for a soothing effect. You can have a few drops of your favourite essential oil like lavender or eucalyptus, and it works as one of the best natural remedies to cure a cold and cough. It is essential to stay hydrated during a cold. Therefore a steamy shower or hot bath is beneficial. 

7. Vitamin C:

 

Natural sources of Vitamin C such as limes, lemons, oranges and grapefruits are excellent home remedies to prevent cough and cold symptoms. Vitamin c has innumerable health benefits for the body. You can add lemon and honey to warm tea to reduce mucus and congestion during the common cold and flu. You can also drink lemon juice mixed in hot or normal water to reduce symptoms of cold and cough. Vitamin C is essential for strengthening your immune system and preventing further cold and cough

8. Chicken soup:

Chicken soup cannot cure a cold and cough for sure. But a bowl of piping hot chicken soup will surely make you feel better during your sickness. Cold and flu can make you sick and weak. You may be unable to even leave your bed. Chicken soup is a rich source of protein that will give you strength and boost your immune system. Chicken soup can also reduce the symptoms of cold in the upper respiratory system. It has a great nutritional value which is essential to make you fit and strong again. Because of its great health value, it is one of the best home remedies for cold.

9. Vapour rub:

Probiotics found in abundance in your body, some foods and also in yoghurt can be one of the several home remedies for cold and flu. Probiotics are good bacteria that keep the immune system strong. Probiotics are also helpful in reducing upper respiratory tract infections. Yoghurt is the best form of probiotics that you can prepare at home also. It is not only delicious but healthy as well. You can also make a smoothie with yoghurt to make it tasty. Yoghurt also provides a lot of protein and calcium to the body. Fresh yoghurt on a bowl of fruit salad is an immunity booster and a delicious breakfast at the same time. Vapour rub is also effective in treating cold and cough symptoms in children above two years and adults. You can apply vapour rub before bedtime, and it can relieve you from chest congestion, nasal blockage and coughing. Applying a vapour rub helps you sleep better, which is very important when you have cold and flu symptoms. Even doctors who suggest refraining from over the counter medication recommend the use of vapour rub. Vapour rubs do not have any side effects and can also be given to children.

10. Probiotics:

Probiotics found in abundance in your body, some foods and also in yoghurt can be one of the several home remedies for cold and flu. Probiotics are good bacteria that keep the immune system strong. Probiotics are also helpful in reducing upper respiratory tract infections. Yoghurt is the best form of probiotics that you can prepare at home also. It is not only delicious but healthy as well. You can also make a smoothie with yoghurt to make it tasty. Yoghurt also provides a lot of protein and calcium to the body. Fresh yoghurt on a bowl of fruit salad is an immunity booster and a delicious breakfast at the same time. Cough and cold are common diseases that can go away on their own with simple home remedies. But if you experience symptoms like trouble in breathing, or coughing fits that are persistent, or worsening, seek immediate medical advice.