Isn’t it ironic that there is no cure for the common cold? The best thing you can do to combat a bout of cold is to look for remedies to lessen the discomfort and keep symptoms at bay. But with the abundance of remedies recommended by every mom, friend, and self-proclaimed health fanatic out there, how do you distinguish the ones that work, and which to avoid? Here’s what you need to know next time you have the sniffles.
Effective cold remedies
If you find yourself catching a cold, it is likely that you’ll suffer for about a week. But during this time, you don’t need to be miserable. Aside from getting more sleep and resting as much as you can, these are some of the proven cold remedies that work.
- Sipping on warm liquid. They say that a bowl of soup can cure any malady, and this may be true if you are looking for relief from cold symptoms. Sipping on a warm beverage like a cup of tea, broth, or water can reduce nasal congestion. Some even recommend drinking a cup of turmeric or ginger tea. Drinking turmeric for colds is not exactly a proven remedy, but combining turmeric with ginger, honey, and lemon, can prove to be very soothing.
- Relief for stuffiness. If you are having a hard time with stuffy nasal cavities, you can also try nasal drops you can buy over the counter at drugstores.
- Use a humidifier. Another remedy for nasal congestion is added moisture in the air. You can put an air humidifier beside your bed or anywhere in your home where you spend the most time while resting.
- Over-the-counter cold medicine. Cold medicine can help reduce the symptoms but not necessarily cure a cold. Many medical professionals agree that cold medication should not be administered to children younger than five years old, to avoid side effects. Nevertheless, it is always best to consult a physician before buying any over-the-counter medicine.
- Rest and stay hydrated. The best way to shorten the duration of a cold is to allow your body to heal naturally by resting. You also need to drink lots of fluids to prevent getting dehydrated. You also need to avoid caffeinated drinks while waiting for your body to heal.
If you take care of yourself and follow the recommendations of your doctor, a bout of cold won’t be as painful or inconvenient.
What to avoid
There are a few things you need to avoid if you want to heal quickly from a cold. While some of these may not necessarily be harmful to you, there is no proven evidence that these will cure a cold. One example is antibiotics. What an antibiotic does is to kill bacteria attacking your body. Unfortunately, antibiotics will not do anything to heal you from a cold.
Another example is cold medicine given to young children. Some cold medication may cause side effects that are more detrimental than helpful. Before taking any cold medicine, ask your doctor about it.
