Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract due to viral infection is known as the common cold. It is quite a common occurrence. It lasts for about 5-10 days, varying, of course, from one individual to another individual. The nose generally gets affected, but so do the ears. Sinuses and bronchial tubes are also affected. Generally, school-going children are badly affected by it.
Home Remedies for Common Cold
- Lemon juice – It is rich in Vitamin C and increases body resistance. Toxicity is reduced and duration of the illness is also lessened. Take one lemon and dilute in a glass consisting of warm water. Add a teaspoon of honey to it. Take it once or perhaps twice in a day
- Ginger – Cut 10 gms of ginger in small pieces and boil it in a cup of water. Strain it and add half teaspoonful of sugar to it. Drink the decoction when it is hot. Add ginger while preparing the tea as it a good remedy for colds and fever. One can take it twice daily
- Garlic – Prepare soup of 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic. It contains antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. The oil in this vegetable opens upon the respiratory passages. By taking it in the form of soup, all toxins get flushed out and the fever comes down. Mix five drops of garlic oil with a teaspoonful of onion juice and drink it 2 to 3 times a day
- Lady’s fingers – These are useful in cure of throat pain and persisting dry cough. This vegetable contains a lot of mucilage and reduces irritation, pain, and swelling. Cut 100 gm of lady’s fingers into small pieces and then boil them in water (half a litre) and prepare a decoction. Steam from this can be inhaled 1 or 2 times a day to reduce throat irritation which then could also help in curing dry cough
- Turmeric – Mix half teaspoonful of fresh powdered turmeric in 30 ml of warm water to be taken once or twice in a day. Inhale burning turmeric smoke. For getting relief from a cold
- Bitter Gourd Roots – Take a teaspoonful of the paste of the root, mix it with the same amount of honey, if not available you could also mix the juice of basil leaves. Take it once each night for about a month
- Tamarind and Pepper – This is taken in the form of rasam. Take about 50 mg tamarind and dilute it 250 ml of water. Boil it for a few minutes and add hot butter and about half teaspoonful of pepper. The steaming rasam has a great effect and needs to be taken three times a day. As one sips it, the nose, nasal blockages, and eyes get cleared
- Vitamin C – Regular consumption of Vitamin-C is good for cold. Large doses of it will provide relief from symptoms
- Yoga – Bhujangasana, dharunasna, and salabhansana are good for treating common cold
- Powder some black pepper and mix it in curds. Add some jaggery. One can have it twice in a day, during morning hours as well as in the evening
- Place 10 gm of Sprague in cloth that is clean and ties up all ends. Heat up the cloth in vessel and sniff. It clears up nasal blockages
Remedies for Cold in Infants
The harsh medicines for cold might be harmful for the sensitive babies. If your child is suffering from running nose then some of the top remedies which are very easy could be tried out at home. Doing some simple things can greatly soothe the little one. These natural cures are easy to use and are relatively safe. However, consult your child’s doctor before using them for a long time.
Steam: If the baby is uncomfortable then sit with it in a steamy bathroom for about 15 minutes. Just run a hot shower in the bath and let the steam occupy the room. Placing the steamer a little away from the baby and them giving it the steam is also a good idea. Take care of the safety of your child when you are doing this. The hot water should be placed away from the infant.
Essential oils: To help your young one breathe easily, try some essential oils like peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil. Take care not to use the oils directly on the baby’s skin. Dilute them and use them in the bathing water. Boiling a pot of water and adding a few drops of essential oils to it will also be helpful. The baby will breathe the steam produced by this solution. Vicks VapoRub to contains the essential oils. It can also be used but make sure you use the one made for the little babies.
Elevation: Placing the baby’s chest and head a little elevated will assist in draining the congestion and easing the cough. When the child is awake make him sit up a little inclined. During his sleep, place a small pillow under the crib mattress. Placing the pillow on the mattress might cause suffocation. So, avoid doing so. Also, too much elevation might make the infant slide down.
Fluids: The baby needs lots of fluids to recover from the cold. Avoid the dairy products as it might aggravate the condition. If you are breastfeeding the baby, continue doing so. Breast milk makes the immune system stronger to fight the cold.
Rest: Take care that the baby gets enough rest. This will ensure that the infant has ample energy to fight the infection. Let the child sleep till he wants to. Do not wake him up. It is one of the best natural cures for cold.
Natural Remedies for Chest Congestion
Chest congestion can be caused due to various reasons. It is important to know the reason behind the chest congestion. However, the most common reason for chest congestion is due to phlegm resulting from cold.
- Hot water: Hot water is effective in melting the solid phlegm present in the lungs, sinuses. If you unable to drink plain hot water, you can add little honey or sugar to it. After drinking the hot water, you will be able to get rid of the phlegm freely from your nose and mouth
- Turmeric: Turmeric is effective in resolving the cough the chest congestion. Add some turmeric powder to hot milk and drink it before bedtime. You can also add turmeric to hot water and drink it
- Ginger: Ginger helps in resolving chest congestion by melting the solid phlegm. Add about half teaspoon of ginger to a teaspoon of honey and swallow this. This will help you to expel the phlegm from the mouth and nose
- Steam: Steaming is helpful in relieving cold, chest congestion. Boil water and pour it in a bowl. Place a towel over your head (to stop the steam from escaping) and breathe the steam from the bowl for about 15 minutes. However, be careful as you can spill or touch the hot water
The remedies work by loosening the phlegm. Hence, make sure you spit out the phlegm and do not swallow it. Also, while sleeping make sure you use more pillows to sleep a bit upright.
Causes of Common Cold
- Exposed to virus
- Cold exposure
- Dust
- Changes in temperature
- Low vitality
Symptoms of Common Cold
- Soreness of throat
- Congestion of nasal passages
- Headache
- Running nose
- Sneezing
- Chill
- Body aches
- Loss of appetite