15 Home Remedies For Cold That Actually Work
It is that time of the year when the common cold becomes truly common. The winter months, which are sometimes accompanied by rain and some water logging, are also when all kinds of viruses and infections thrive. One of the most notorious viruses is cold. It is easy to catch one, but very hard to get rid of.
Cold is a virus, 200 viruses to be precise, that attacks your upper respiratory tract. Nose, throat, the sinuses and the voice box are the main body parts that get affected. The combination of chills, body aches, nose blocks, sore throats and dehydration is enough to make anyone miserable. There is no cure for cold. While pills and supplements treat only some symptoms of cold, all we can do is wait for our immune system to fight it out completely. However, there are home remedies, some which have come down over generations, which help your body to fight back. We dare say, some of these may work better than pills, or at least that is what most mothers or grandmothers say.
Here are 15 easy home remedies for treating the common cold:
1. Fried garlic
When it comes to fighting cold, garlic is one of the all-time favourites. Known for its anti- bacterial and anti-viral properties, it helps in relieving stubborn coughs and clearing mucus that blocks the nose and lungs. The best way to consume garlic as therapy is by sautéing a few cloves in ghee. If you find it too pungent to pop it in your mouth as is, you can add it to your soup or have it with plain rice. However, if you are feeling brave, hold half a clove of garlic in your mouth and breathe it into your lungs. The viruses don’t like garlic. In the south of India, garlic rasam is almost always served to people suffering from a cold.
2. Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a hot favourite in most households to provide relief from cold. Due to its anti-bacterial properties, ginger limits the growth of bacteria in your body. Add four inches of ginger to a cup of boiling water with cinnamon, two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey for a hot, warming ginger tea that soothes your sore throat. Ginger is also known to help improve your appetite during a cold.
3. Milk with turmeric
Besides ginger tea, milk with turmeric or haldi doodh is also a popular home remedy to fight cold. Turmeric is a really powerful spice. It is known as the holy grail of good health as it treats cold, cough and chest congestions. The easiest way to use turmeric as an antidote for cold is in the form of haldi doodh. Take a tablespoon of haldi, add it to milk and bring it to a boil. Drink it at least two times a day for a week.
4. Pepper as inhaler
Pepper has been used as a remedy for centuries and is said to have properties that kill pathogens. Pepper treats various symptoms of cold. For ear aches, spread out some cotton, put some pepper, ball them together and place it in your ears. For a runny nose, add a lot of pepper in your food or even gargle with hot water which has pepper in it. Try the pepper rasam. It will surely free up your clogged sinuses. If you don’t like pepper in your food, you can even just use crushed pepper wrapped in soft cloth as an inhaler.
5. Jaggery syrup
Jaggery is a natural blood purifier and immunity builder. Boil water with black pepper, add cumin and jaggery to it. It gives you relief from chest congestion. You can substitute jaggery with sugar or sugar candy, but jaggery is more powerful as it is less processed. Jaggery also gives instant energy, which is much needed when you have cold. Another way to consume jaggery would be to crush it with black pepper and dried ginger. Eat it after every meal for effective results.
6. Lemon squeeze
Vitamin C is a known reliever of cold and the best place to find natural vitamin C is in citrus fruits. It helps in reducing the duration of a cold. Make yourself a lemon squeeze with honey and pepper in warm water. Lemon also helps in clearing out your respiratory system and improves digestion. Orange and apple juices also help in fighting cold.
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