Natural Ways to Help Prevent and Reduce Symptoms of the Common Cold
Having a cold is no fun, we've all been there.
However, when a cold strikes there are a number of natural remedies that can help to alleviate the symptoms and get you back on the road to recovery.
There are also things you can do to try and keep from catching a cold in the first place.
What is the common cold? The common cold can be caused by any number of different viruses.
Symptoms of a cold can be a sore throat, running nose, congestion, coughing, a headache, fever and watery eyes.
Most colds last about 7-10 days.
Colds are considered to be highly contagious and can be spread by shaking someones hand or being around someone who is coughing or sneezing.
Here are several ways to naturally treat the common cold: 1) Vitamin C - Take it help your body fight off the infection by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
Good sources of vitamin C would oranges.
2) Gargle with salt water - Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1/2 cup of water.
Gargle in your bathroom so that you confine those germs to the bathroom.
You should gargle several times a day as needed.
3) Eat chicken soup - Chicken soup full of vitamins is very healing to the digestive system and it is very easy to digest.
4) Echinacea - It's thought to help boost the immune system, but should not be taken on a regular basis, but only at the beginning of a cold.
5) Ginger - This is considered another antiviral herbs.
It contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds.
Ginger is considered a pain reliever, antiseptic and antioxidant.
It is great for preventing and treating colds and sore throats.
Ginger reduces pain and fever and has a mild sedative effect that will encourage you to get some rest.
6) Get plenty of sleep - Sleep as much as you possibly can giving your body a chance to naturally fight off the cold and heal itself.
A good nights sleep will help you feel rested and make dealing with the cold easier.
7) Humidity - Keep your sinuses moist by running a humidifier at night while you sleep in your bedroom.
You can add a few drops of eucalyptus to a warm mist humidifier.
For a cool mist humidifier, try adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide.
8) Take detox baths - Taking a nice hot bath with Epsom salts and baking soda is said to help draw toxins out of the body.
Do this before you go to bed at night to help relax you so you'll sleep better through the night.
However, when a cold strikes there are a number of natural remedies that can help to alleviate the symptoms and get you back on the road to recovery.
There are also things you can do to try and keep from catching a cold in the first place.
What is the common cold? The common cold can be caused by any number of different viruses.
Symptoms of a cold can be a sore throat, running nose, congestion, coughing, a headache, fever and watery eyes.
Most colds last about 7-10 days.
Colds are considered to be highly contagious and can be spread by shaking someones hand or being around someone who is coughing or sneezing.
Here are several ways to naturally treat the common cold: 1) Vitamin C - Take it help your body fight off the infection by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
Good sources of vitamin C would oranges.
2) Gargle with salt water - Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1/2 cup of water.
Gargle in your bathroom so that you confine those germs to the bathroom.
You should gargle several times a day as needed.
3) Eat chicken soup - Chicken soup full of vitamins is very healing to the digestive system and it is very easy to digest.
4) Echinacea - It's thought to help boost the immune system, but should not be taken on a regular basis, but only at the beginning of a cold.
5) Ginger - This is considered another antiviral herbs.
It contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds.
Ginger is considered a pain reliever, antiseptic and antioxidant.
It is great for preventing and treating colds and sore throats.
Ginger reduces pain and fever and has a mild sedative effect that will encourage you to get some rest.
6) Get plenty of sleep - Sleep as much as you possibly can giving your body a chance to naturally fight off the cold and heal itself.
A good nights sleep will help you feel rested and make dealing with the cold easier.
7) Humidity - Keep your sinuses moist by running a humidifier at night while you sleep in your bedroom.
You can add a few drops of eucalyptus to a warm mist humidifier.
For a cool mist humidifier, try adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide.
8) Take detox baths - Taking a nice hot bath with Epsom salts and baking soda is said to help draw toxins out of the body.
Do this before you go to bed at night to help relax you so you'll sleep better through the night.