Cold is a common occurrence for most people. Generally, people do not give much importance to the cold. Cold with generally mild and moderate symptoms goes away without any treatment. The cold could be caused by any of the 200 viruses known to be the cause behind cold. The most common virus causing cold is Rhinovirus. Now coming to its cure, there are numerous easy and useful natural home remedies for cold that you should give a try.
Home Remedies for Cold You Must Try
1. Saltwater Gargle
It is among the most common home remedies for cold(1). Gargling helps us to get relief from sore throat. Generally, sore throat causes a lot of trouble and sometimes painful too. Apart from bacteria mucus contains allergens also. Gargling helps to loosen this mucus and even reduces it. It might help to prevent upper respiratory infection.
How to Do?
Take one-fourth to half a teaspoon of salt and dissolve in 8 ounces of warm water. Ensure that the water is not too hot and then use this to gargle. For people who might face difficulty gargling or small kids younger than six years who are not able to gargle correctly, could try ice chips, lozenges, sore throat sprays, hard candy. However, lozenges are hard candies are not suitable for kids younger than three years as there is a fear of choking.
How Much to Do?
You could gargle once or twice a day to get relief from cold symptoms, particularly sore, itchy throat.
[Also Read: Naturopathic Remedies For Cold]
2. Fluids
You have always heard, “keeping yourself hydrated is very important for your health.” But did you know it is one of the home remedies for a cold? Yes, if you drink plenty of fluids, it helps you get relief from the cold by thinning mucus.
How to have?
Sipping warm fluids not only keeps you hydrated but also gives you comfort during cold. Turmeric milk, warm apple juice, orange juice, soups, and herbal tea work excellent for cold. You must drink enough water. You could also prepare an elderberry syrup for cold at home, which is one of the time tested home remedies for cold. You could use a spoon of apple cider vinegar for the cold by adding it to a glass of water.
How much to have?
Drink plenty of water. 1-2 cups of herbal tea would also be beneficial. It is generally recommended to take 1 tablespoon of elderberry syrup for cold four times a day. You could also opt for a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink it a few times in a day.
3. Steam
Inhaling steam(2) is probably one of the most effective of the home remedies for cold. Steam relieves from nasal congestion and soothes the tissues of the throat and nose.
How to Take?
Boil water in a container. Pour it in a bowl and bend over it so that you feel the steam on your face. Cover your head with a towel to stop the steam from escaping. Check the temperature of the water; it should not be boiling hot. You could add different oils beneficial for cold. Oregano oil for cold is quite an effective and strong option.
How Much to Take?
You could inhale the steam for 5-10 minutes for 1-3 times a day. When you add oregano oil for cold, be careful to add only a few drops as it is quite strong.
[Read: Zinc for Cold]
4. Honey Preparations
Honey is nature’s magical gift to us. It can be used in various ways to give relief to different health conditions. It is blessed with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It brings comfort to sore throat and coughing. According to research, honey decreased coughing during the night when it was given to kids during bedtime.
How to Have it?
Honey can be consumed directly as a natural home remedy for cold. It can be even added to various food items like tea for cold. Honey for cold can be taken in numerous combinations with dried ginger, garlic paste, lemon, tulsi, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric milk, and so on.
How Much to Take?
You could give two spoons of honey to kids. Remember, honey is not suitable for kids below 1 year of age because the botulinum spores in it can affect the baby’s digestive system. You could sip 1-2 cups of tea with honey for cold.
5. Saline Spray
One of the home remedies for cold is nasal spray. It not only helps in relieving nasal congestion but also cleans the mucus. If your cold is caused by allergies, then this process might flush out the allergens in your nostrils.
How to use it?
You could use a saline spray or make one for yourself at home. This you could prepare by mixing 3 teaspoons of iodide-free salt and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Store it in an airtight container. When you want to use the saline spray, mix 1 teaspoon of this mix in 8 ounces of distilled water. Now use a neti pot to administer into each nostril one at a time while you bend over a basin. You could use boiled and cooled water in place of distilled water. Kids might not be ready to use a neti pot. So in this situation, you could put a few drops in each nostril. Alternatively, there are many saline sprays available in drug stores.
How Much to use?
If you are using a neti pot for cold, you can do this once every day. When your symptoms are too strong, you could stretch it to two times a day. When your cold decreases, you could do it thrice a week. For kids, you could administer a few drops in each nostril.
6. Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is made by drying spices, herbs(3), and fruits. They keep you hydrated and have curative properties. Few types of tea for cold are peppermint tea, chamomile tea, eucalyptus tea, clove tea, ginger tea, etc.
How to Take it?
You could drink herbal tea, one of the best home remedies for cold. This is so because it has a distinct flavor which works on your senses. It is best taken with honey for cold. Honey is a natural sweetener that has its own set of health benefits. You also could add lemon to it.
How Much to Take?
Herbal tea though beneficial is quite strong so you must not consume too much of it in a day.
[Also Read: Herbs That Fight Cold]
7. Ginger
The world is fast developing the medicinal value of ginger. It is very useful home remedies for cold. Ginger brings relief in nasal, chest congestion and helps your body to fight viral infection. This speeds up your recovery from cold and flu and also enables you to get rid of nausea.
How to use?
You could put a few slices of ginger roots in boiling water, strain and sip. The best way to have it is as ginger tea. A lot of people advocate the use of honey lemon ginger tea as the super effective natural home remedy for cold. It has a great flavor which when you sip is not only beneficial but makes you feel comfortable when you are suffering from cold.
How Much To Use?
You could drink around 3 cups of ginger tea. Consult a doctor before opting for this as sometimes ginger could cause heartburn.
[Also Read: Ginger Tea for Cold]
8. Warm Baths
In addition to normalizing your body temperature, warm baths are an excellent home remedy for cold. It helps you by reducing the symptoms and relaxing your body. A warm bath to a particular extent work on body aches too, especially by adding Epsom salt and baking soda.
There are various beneficial essential oils available like eucalyptus, tea tree, juniper, rosemary, and oregano oil for cold. These have a calming effect on you when you are suffering from cold. Oregano essential oil has antiviral and antibiotic properties. A detox bath gives a lot of relief.
[Read: Eucalyptus Oil for Cold]
How To Take it?
Sometimes we give a hot sponge bath to our kids as advised by the doctor to bring the temperature down. For adults, warm baths would benefit more if you add essential oils, Epsom salt or baking soda.
How Much to Take?
You can use a few drops of any essential oil like oregano oil for cold in warm water in your bathtub for a detox bath. You could enjoy it for 12 minutes to an hour, depending on your comfort level. It is best if you start with 12-20 minutes of warm baths initially.
There are many home remedies for cold, which are easy, inexpensive, and effective. But you should never substitute it with medical care. You should consult a doctor for a complete assessment of your cold and flu. The natural home remedies have known to benefit not only cold but a range of health issues. Just be sure what is perfect for you and use it in the required amount and the correct process. Only then would you benefit from these home remedies for cold.
FAQs
1. What Are the Symptoms of a Cold?
The common symptoms of cold are sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, body aches. How to get rid of cold overnight home remedies? Yes, there are a lot of home remedies for cold, which will help you get some relief from cold and its symptoms.
2. What Can You Do to Prevent a Cold?
You can prevent a cold by washing your hands regularly. Also maintain a healthy lifestyle with enough sleep, exercise, and eating a well-balanced diet. Do not smoke and avoid stress. When you catch cold try not to spread it by taking a few precautions like staying indoors, etc. It is also important what to consider when you have a cold.
3. What are the home remedies that help to cure a cold?
There are several natural and effective home remedies for cold:
- Tea for cold
- Orange juice for cold
- Honey and lemon for cold
- Honey and cinnamon for cold
- Epsom salt bath for cold
- Turmeric milk for cold
- Hot bath for cold
- Lemon tea for cold
- Honey for colds
