Even though you could come down with something worse, having a cold is no laughing matter. It can make you feel miserable and really put a damper on your day. Doing your normal daily activities can become more of a burden, especially when all you want to do it curl back up into your bed, but your symptoms might prevent you from falling asleep. Luckily, there are natural cold remedies available that can help shorten the duration of the cold, and ease some of the pain.
While there is no cure for the common cold, you can use natural cold remedies to help treat your symptoms while you wait for your cold to go away. The next time you come down with a cold, see if any of these natural cold remedies help.
Rest– If you want your body to fight off the dreaded cold virus, you need to give it the rest it needs so it can naturally heal itself. While getting a good night’s sleep and taking naps when you feel tired is a good way to get some rest, you can also rest in other ways. Meditating, watching a movie, or reading a book is also an excellent way to give your body a rest.
Ward Off Inflammation With Some Spice– Inflammation typically occurs when a cold virus strikes, which can make feelings of stuffiness even worse. A great way to fight inflammation is by using spices on your food. Not only can this help enhance the flavor of your food, but it can also help temporarily clear a stuffy nose and help you breathe again. If you want to help reduce inflammation and loosen your stuffy nose, add some ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, garlic, clove, or cinnamon to your food or tea.
Fight Congestion– While congestion from a cold will eventually clear up, you can speed up the process and reduce feelings of stuffiness. Taking a hot, steamy shower is an excellent way to loosen the mucus and help clear congestion, especially if you add some peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil to the shower. You can also use this steam inhalation method with a bowl and a towel over your head. Rinsing your sinuses, using a cool-mist vaporizer, and propping up your pillows on your bed can also help alleviate your cold symptoms.
Soothe That Throat– When you have a cold, a sore throat often accompanies it, unfortunately. Sore throats are highly uncomfortable, can be painful, and can make it difficult to communicate verbally with others. Ease your sore throat by drinking some warm and clear broth, gargle with warm salt water, or sip some tea with lemon and honey to soothe your sore throat. Of course, don’t forget about the cough drops, which can also help ease your sore throat.
Stay Hydrated– Drinking broth or infused tea can help with your sore throat by soothing it and by keeping you hydrated. Staying hydrated is a great way to flush your body, and can help your body fight off an infection so you can feel better, quicker. Having plenty of soup and drinking water, broth, and decaffeinated tea can help you stay hydrated. Having a water bottle nearby can help you stay hydrated by reminding you to drink. Just make sure to stay away from coffee, soda, and alcohol, which can dehydrate you more.