How to Use Home Remedies for Colds
The common cold has many causes, but there is no cure. However, there are a few things that you can do at home, which can calm your symptoms and shorten the length of your cold. Read on to learn how to use home remedies to treat your cold and avoid the harsh side effects of many over-the-counter cold remedies.
Things You'll Need
- Vitamin C
- Garlic or garlic supplements
- Chicken soup
- Table salt
- Menthol or thyme leaves
Instructions
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Take Vitamin C, a proven remedy for the common cold that can ease symptoms and significantly shorten the length of your cold. Vitamin C works to boost your immune system; a dosage of 1.5 to 2 g a the onset of a cold is recommended. Eat citrus, like oranges and grapefruits, as they are high in Vitamin C.
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Consume garlic. Simply put it in your mouth and chew to relieve your cold symptoms. If the garlic is too strong, you can also take garlic supplements and avoid the harsh taste and bad breath.
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Eat chicken soup. This traditional home remedy is now getting attention in the medical community as a great treatment for colds. You can buy pre-made soup or make your own. The steam from the soup can help with congestion and chicken broth is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which will help to alleviate your symptoms.
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Use salt. Make your own nasal drops for a dry and stuffy nose by adding 1/4 tsp. of table salt to about 5 ml of lukewarm water. Use one to two drops, three to four times daily. For a sore throat, gargle several times a day with 1 tsp. of salt dissolved into a glass of warm water .
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Clear a blocked nose by mixing menthol or thyme leaves in a bowl of hot water. Place your nose over the bowl and cover your head with a towel, breathing deeply. A hot bath with a few drops of cinnamon can also help relieve a stuffy nose.
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