Common Cold Remedies

Common cold is normally experienced by an individual at least twice each year, depending of course on one's health conditions. However, as much as the common cold is a typical condition, it can be debilitating at times and if left untreated could lead to coughing and increased lethargy. The common cold is typically experienced during freezing weather, although you could easily catch cold too during the summertime. Eating too many sweets, inhaling dust, or getting caught in the rain without an umbrella can cause simple colds, and it will be best if you have simple remedies ready and waiting right at home. Most people probably know that there is no cure for the common cold, but that doesn't mean there aren't treatments for cold symptoms. Cold treatments just have slightly different purposes; although they can't fight the cold themselves, they can help your body fight the virus and make you feel better in the process.

Treatment:

1.    While there is no specific treatment for the virus that causes a common cold, there are treatments to help relieve some of your cold symptoms. Tylenol can alleviate the discomfort of aches and pains associated with a fever. Although people don't often think of this, gargling with salt water is one of the best ways to soothe a sore throat.

2.    Vitamin C - Although many scientists believe they have proven that vitamin C does not really prevent colds, if you have a vitamin C deficiency, then taking this supplement will most certainly help your body through this illness.

3.    Fruit juices have long been considered home cures for the common cold. Both lemon and orange juice are excellent sources of vitamin C, one of the best known anti-oxidants. There have been hundreds more studies about vitamin C and the common cold than there have about green tea and the common cold. Numerous books have been written on the subject.

4.    Eat well balanced meals. Your body draws essential nutrients and energy necessary in fully fighting the infection. Chicken soup is an old favorite, due to a couple factors. The hot broth helps sooth your throat and ease a queasy stomach. And the chicken contains proteins and other helpful nutrients you need.

5.    Most of the required herbs such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), Onion (Allium cepa), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) are commonly available at home. In addition, Jaggery, Black pepper and Lemon are also effectively used. Home remedies work best when applied on the prodome (tingling) stage of the disease.

6.    Lime is one of the most common and effective herbal treatments for the common cold. Patients should take lime juice diluted in a glass of warm water. Lime has germ-fighting actions and hastens cell repair and recovery. It also helps a lot in minimize mucus secretions so patients can breathe easier. Lime juice is recommended to be taken 2 to 4 times everyday.

7.    Ginger tea, arranged by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiling water before adding the tea leaves, is also an efficient remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. It may be taken 2 times a day.

8.    Standard medical treatment for the common cold is getting bed rest for two to three days and taking 0.6 grams of soluble aspirin every 6 hours. Occasionally the doctor might prescribe a decongestant to ease the cough.