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Eight ways to treat a cold naturally
8 Tips to treat a cold naturally
Below are the eight ways to treat a cold naturally:
- Adequate hydration: Drinking plenty of fluids helps reduce nasal congestion and keeps the throat and mucus moist, making it easier for the mucus to clear out. Fluids can include water, juices, herbal teas, and soups.
- Rest, staying warm, and good nutrition: Get plenty of rest, have a nutritious diet, and keep yourself warm to enable the body to recover faster.
- Using steam: Inhaling steam can help clear out mucus from the nose and sinuses and reduce congestion. Steaming can be done by holding the head over a bowl of boiling water or a facial steamer for around 10-15 minutes and gently blowing out the nose after. Using a humidifier in your bedroom can also help keep the nose, throat, and mucus moist. A humidifier can also provide relief from the cough that is dry and painful.
- Saltwater gargling: Gargling with warm salt water reduces throat pain and dryness of the throat. Half a teaspoon of salt can be dissolved in a cup of warm water and gargled up to four times a day.
- Drinking hot liquids: Hot liquids, such as soups, hot milk, and teas, can reduce nasal congestion, soothe the throat, and reduce inflammation in the nose and throat.
- Using mentholated salve: Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor all have mild numbing and decongestant ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw. A small dab may be applied under the nose and over the chest.
- Adding extra pillows: Adding extra pillows under the head can help drain the nose and sinuses while sleeping.
- Over the counter (OTC) medication: OTC medications can provide quick symptomatic relief and help recover faster. Saline nasal drops may be used four to five times a day to moisten the nose and mucus, helping to clear mucus. Nasal decongestant drops containing oxymetazoline or xylometazoline may be used three to four times a day for up to a week to reduce inflammation in the nose, remove congestion, and clear mucus. Saline nasal drops and/or nasal decongestant drops may both be used after steam inhalation. OTC antihistamine medication containing levocetirizine or fexofenadine may be taken, which can help reduce nasal discharge, congestion, and cough. Acetaminophen may be taken in case of fever and body pain every 4-6 hours. Antiseptic gargles containing iodine may be diluted with water (one spoon in half cup of warm water) and gargled thrice a day to soothe the throat.