10 Incredible Home Remedies for Cold You Should Know

10 Incredible Home Remedies for Cold You Should Know

Here you will find the most common home remedies for colds. Even if it is sometimes difficult to find the right home remedy, sometimes it is not that far away. You already have most of the home remedies in your household, as the name suggests.

Every year it's the same: sore throat, runny nose, cough. The cold wreaks havoc in classrooms, at work or at home, persisting and making everyone unhappy.

However, treating a cold can sometimes be confusing. From over-the-counter medications to old home remedies passed down from generation to generation, everyone has a solution that they believe works like magic.

But which treatments are actually successful for a cold? To get to the bottom of it — and find out the trustworthy options — we spoke with family medicine expert Neha Vyas, MD.

Are there home remedies that help with a cold?

It's important to know that there is no magic cure for a cold. There is no medicine or magic potion that can instantly get rid of your cold. Instead, you should focus on treating your symptoms to better manage the cold as it progresses, says Dr. Vyas. “It's about enduring the cold until it goes away.

However, if your symptoms don't improve or get worse after seven to 10 days, Dr. Vyas consult your doctor

Quiet

Your body needs rest to recover and strengthen your immune system. This is why you may sleep more when you are sick. This is not a cause for concern, but rather a sign that your body is fighting the infection.

Dr. Vyas explains, "If you rest and sleep, your immune system can recover. Your immune system can do its work and help you fight the infection naturally."

As far as exercise goes, it depends on your personal situation, says Dr. Vyas. “Whether you continue to exercise depends on the severity of your symptoms, your health and where you exercise.

If your symptoms are mild, you're generally healthy, and you're exercising at home where you won't expose anyone to your germs - for example, while running, walking, or riding an exercise bike - you should be able to continue if you feel well. “Remember that your resilience is not as high as a healthy person, so don’t overdo it,” says Dr. Vyas.

However, people with more severe symptoms or health problems should take it slowly. And if your exercise routine includes classes or workouts at a gym, consider exercising or taking a break at home so you don't spread your cold to your colleagues. You will be there again soon.

Drink enough fluids

Just as important as being rested is drinking plenty of fluids. “The body generally excretes more fluid when you are sick,” says Dr. Vyas. “This is especially true if you have a fever and are sweating.

Many colds occur in winter, when the air is drier and heating contributes to dehydration of the body, especially in the nose. If you drink a lot and ideally use a humidifier, you can counteract the drying out of the mucous membranes.

Make sure you do not drink sugary, caffeinated drinks or alcohol. Water and tea with a squeeze of lemon or honey will keep you hydrated and help soothe a sore throat. And if you're craving something savory, a light, sodium-free broth can also help, says Dr. Vyas.

Use a humidifier

Humidifiers are great for winter colds because they keep moisture in the nasal passages. This, in turn, can help relieve constipation. While there aren't many scientific studies on humidifiers, Dr. Vyas says: "We believe they work because the warm, moist environment they create helps loosen mucus and allows you to breathe better."

Gargle with warm salt water

Salt water gargling can provide temporary relief from a sore throat. Salt water helps draw water from the tissues in the throat and reduce inflammation, explains Dr. Vyas, and at the same time loosens the mucus that has stuck in the throat. Just be sure to spit out the water - don't swallow it.

Try a “Neti-Pot” nasal douche

If your cold is accompanied by a stuffy nose, a nasal douche can help clear you up a bit. The nasal douche allows a warm saline solution to flow through the nasal passage, flushing out the mucus and allergens that are blocking the nose.

There are a variety of neti pots available, but it is not as simple as tilting your head and pouring the water through the nasal canal. When using a nasal douche, you should note the following:

• Verwenden Sie kein Leitungswasser
• Verwenden Sie destilliertes, gefiltertes, abgefülltes oder abgekochtes Wasser, das auf Raumtemperatur abgekühlt ist.

Relief from over-the-counter medications

From syrups to hard drops, there are a variety of cough medicines and cough suppressants. However, it can be difficult to find the right remedy for you, so consultation with your doctor is essential.

Nasal sprays can also help clear the congestion, but again, you should consult your doctor first. Because there are so many options, you should choose a remedy that not only works best for you, but also doesn't cause unnecessary side effects or become less effective over time.

Finally, over-the-counter painkillers are good for relieving the pain associated with a cold. Just make sure you follow the instructions in the package leaflet.

Vitamin C and zinc

You've probably heard that vitamin C and zinc can protect against colds - theories that have been circulating for quite some time. However, scientific evidence has shown that they do little to prevent colds.

Studies have shown that vitamin C can shorten the length of a cold by about 10% in some people. Another study has shown that zinc lozenges can also shorten the length of a cold, but again only in certain people and even then not to any significant extent.

What to avoid when you have a cold

Just as important as the question of what you can take when you have a cold is the question of what you should avoid. Foods and drinks that cause a certain level of dehydration or inflammation that we don't normally notice when we're healthy can make your cold worse.

Some things to avoid:

• Zuckerhaltige Limonaden
• Alkohol
• Zucker
• Salzige Lebensmittel
• Molkereiprodukte

On the subject of caffeine, Dr. Vyas: "If you're used to drinking a certain amount of coffee, it's okay to maintain that amount as sudden caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches. Just make sure you don't drink more caffeine than you normally consume."

How long does a cold last?

Most colds last between seven and 10 days, says Dr. Vyas, but this may vary from person to person. The same applies to the symptoms. Sometimes you may only have mild symptoms, such as mild congestion and a sore throat, throughout the duration of the cold. However, your symptoms may be more severe and last longer than 10 days.

If you use some of the remedies suggested here and avoid the things Dr. Vyas warns, you can at least prevent your cold from becoming irritated and prolonging.

Can you get rid of a cold overnight?

No, says Dr. Vyas, you can't get rid of a cold with just one night's sleep. "Unfortunately, you have to lower your expectations because a cold doesn't go away overnight. It can take a few days, so it's best to treat the symptoms," she says.

While some remedies, especially those you find at the pharmacy, claim to help, nothing works as well as rest and hydration.

And Dr. Vyas reminds us that it is important to keep up to date with vaccinations once the cold is over. “From the flu to COVID-19, there are worse infections that occur in the same season as the common cold.

The following articles may also help you as they look at the same topic from a different light:

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