Common Cold and Home Remedies

Common Cold

When we say we have a cough and cold, most of us are describing a whole lot of symptoms  that  are  making  us  feel miserable — a scratchy throat, runny nose,   coughing,   sneezing   and   also probably  muscle  aches,  fatigue,  and headache. This group of symptoms called the common cold is caused by a large number of viruses, though the most common culprits are the rhinovirus, the corona viruses and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Common cold is different from flu, which is caused by either Influenza A or B viruses.  Flu  is  marked  by  high  fever,  and  headache,  muscle  aches, fatigue and weakness can be much worse. Cough and Cold are caused by allergies, viral infections, sinusitis.

Common cold can occur any time in a year. The viruses are seen as invisible droplets in the air we breathe or things we touch. It is most contagious during first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear and may be contagious up to 3 weeks. It spreads through person to person contact or by breathing in virus particles spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching the skin or another surface contaminated with the virus also spread a cold.

Home Remedies for Common Cold

Symptoms of common cold can be alleviated with some home remedies. Easily available vegetables and spices such as lemon, ginger, pepper, and bitter gourd can be used to get relief from symptoms of common cold.

Home made cough syrup 

You can try this very simple and effective homemade cough syrup made from onion juice, lemon juice and honey. Mix 1-2 teaspoon of onion juice with 1-2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour little amount of water and allow it to boil, later add 1-2 teaspoon of honey into it. Keep this cough syrup aside for 5-6 hours and give a teaspoon of it to the patient at least two times in a day. 

Ginger and ginger tea 

Ginger is another excellent remedy for colds and coughs. ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, prepared by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding the tea leaves, is also an effective remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. It may be taken twice daily. 

Bitter Gourd Roots 

The roots of the bitter gourd plant are used to cure a cold. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal quantity of honey  given once every night for a month  acts as an excellent medicine for colds. 

Vitamin C

Regular intake of vitamin C-75 mg for adults and 35 mg for children-will prevent the common cold. Large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. It is wise is to swallow one 500mg tablet of vitamin C at the appearance of the first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking one500 mg tablets daily. 

Lemon 

Lemon is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. .Vitamin C-rich lemon juice increases body resistance and reduces the duration of the illness. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoon of honey should be added to it. This should be taken once or twice daily. 

Lady's Fingers 

Lady's fingers are highly valuable in treating irritation of the throat and a persistent dry cough. This vegetable is rich in mucilage and acts as a drug to allay irritation, swelling, and pain. Lady’ fingers should be cut into pieces, and boiled down in water to make a decoction. The steam issuing from this decoction may also be inhaled once or twice a day to relieve throat irritation and a dry cough. 

Tamarind and Pepper 

Tamarind-pepper rasam is also considered an effective home remedy for  cold . Dilute 50 mg tamarind in 250 ml of water. Boil the diluted tamarind water for a few minutes with a teaspoon of hot clarified butter and half a teaspoon of black pepper powder. This steaming hot rasam has a flushing effect, and should be taken three times a day. 

Home Remedies for dry cough 

a. Take a tea spoon of honey and sprinkle 2-3 drops of ginger with the honey. After taking this do not have water for almost30-60 minutes. 

b. Half a lemon chopped roughly, one large clove garlic chopped, one teaspoon honey half cup boiling water. Drink as hot as can stand it, try to swallow some pieces of garlic . 

c. Mix 1/4 tsp turmeric powder with 1/4 cup of warm milk  and drink 3 times a day 

d. Eat a piece of 1-2 ounce of high quality dark chocolate will help. 

Home Remedies for Stuffy Nose 

Prepare a solution using 4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and Pine Essential Oil, 3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and 7 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Inhale vapors of this solution by putting it on a cotton ball or an aromatherapy diffuser. 

Home remedies for sore throat and homemade cough syrup 

In case of sore throat a clove or two cardamoms can be chewed. Gargling with warm salty water two to three times a day is also beneficial. Onion is very effective in the treatment of cough. The juice extracted from onion helps in loosening the cough, and clears chest-congestion. Take 1-2 teaspoon of onion juice and add 1-2 teaspoon of honey into it. Keep this mixture aside for 5-6 hours, and then give a teaspoon of it to the patient at least two times in a day.