How to get rid of a cold naturally and quickly
2023-10-16
Although there is no immediate cure for a cold, there are steps we can take to reduce symptoms and get better faster. The common cold usually heals on its own in 3-7 days, but if you take good care of yourself and boost your immune system, you may be able to kill it early. Read below for natural remedies to get rid of colds quickly.
Clean the sinuses
Drink plenty of warm water. This ancient cure for colds has proven to be effective. Drinking warm water can relieve the worst symptoms of feeling bad when you have a cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, and even fatigue. It helps dilute sinus secretions, allowing your mucus to flow more freely and you will soon feel better.- A hot cup of tea will be effective. Stick to herbal teas such as chamomile or peppermint to hydrate yourself. Adding some honey or lemon can moisten the throat and make the effect last longer.
- Hot broth is also a good option when you have a cold. Drink plenty of vegetables or chicken broth to nourish your immune system and clear colds.
- If you're a coffee lover, there's no need to quit coffee. Coffee has been shown to increase your alertness to colds. As long as you don't drink excessively; Warm water, tea, and broth should be your main sources of liquid.
Take a hot bath or shower. Steam moisturizes your nasal passages so you won't feel bad, and this relaxing effect can help you reduce cold symptoms. Take a hot bath, soak yourself in water, or take a comfortable shower every other day during a cold, and you'll benefit from plenty of steam.
- For a quick steam treatment, you can heat a pot of water to bring it slightly below boiling temperature. When it starts to produce a lot of steam, remove the pot from the fire. Put a towel behind your head and hold your face to the pot for about 5 minutes and let the steam bathe your face.
- A few drops of essential oil into the water are a great way to further soothe your congested sinuses and get aromatherapy. Try peppermint, tea tree or eucalyptus oil.
With a neti pot. Many people believe in this gadget, which flushes the mucus of the sinuses and relieves cold symptoms for up to several hours after a single nasal cleanse. Saline is poured into one nostril, and it will flow out of the other nostril with mucus. Washi pots are available in most pharmacies and health food stores.
- Prepare a saline solution or buy a bottle from the store.
- Pour the saline solution into the neti pot.
- Stand next to the sink and tilt your head to one side so that the spout of the neti pot is aligned with the upturned nostril.
- Pour the saline solution into one nostril and let it drain from the other side. Repeat the above in the other nostril.
Blow your nose properly. It's important to keep your sinuses open by blowing your nose when you have a cold, but not too hard. The pressure to blow your nose hard can affect your ears and make your ears ache when you have a cold. Be sure to blow your nose gently and only when necessary.
- It is recommended that you blow your nose by holding down one nostril with your finger and gently blowing your nose with the opposite nostril.
- Wash your hands after each blowing your nose. If you don't wash your hands, colds can be worse.
Strengthens the immune system
Zinc supplementation. New research shows that zinc can prevent colds and shorten the duration of colds. It prevents cold viruses from proliferating, and it can also block the virus from reaching cell membranes and causing infection.- Buy zinc-containing foods such as candy or syrup in health food stores or supermarkets.
- Try zinc supplementation during the first few days of a cold for the best results and potentially shorten the duration of the cold.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, pineapples, etc. are good sources of vitamin C.
- The National Institutes of Health recommends that men consume 90 mg of vitamin C per day and women who consume 75 mg per day can get the most benefit.
Echinacea. This is another great way to prevent and shorten the duration of a cold. As long as you feel that you may catch a cold, using echinacea can get rid of the cold faster.
Drink elderberry syrup. It is a very popular cold remedy in parts of Europe and has proven to be effective in relieving cold symptoms. Elderberry is a natural immune booster that you can find in health food stores and most pharmacies.
Eat raw honey. Honey has antiviral properties and can boost the immune system, and raw honey will work better. Raw honey is solid at room temperature and has a stronger taste than sterilized honey. To get the most bang for your buck, you can find some raw honey locally so your body can fight allergens in your area.
Helps the body get better faster
Take a few days off. When you have a cold, don't force yourself to work because of yourself or to help others. To recover faster, your body needs to rest, despite calling in sick. Lie comfortably in bed or on the couch and don't push yourself too hard.- Try to take a nap during the day, because a cold can make you feel tired and you need to maintain energy by taking a nap.
- If you have trouble breathing while sleeping, support your head on a pillow to help unclog your sinuses.
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Doing so will relieve your hoarse throat and help moisturize your sinuses. Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and stir until dissolved. Rinse your mouth with salt water for a minute, then spit it out, do not swallow. Repeat every few hours.
Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, your cold symptoms will be worse and last longer. A humidifier will make the air moist while keeping your sinuses moist and also reducing throat symptoms. Buy a humidifier and use it all the time at night to keep breathing easier.
- Always keep the humidifier clean. Humidifiers moisturize the air while also dispersing viruses and pathogens.
