How to Cure the Common Cold

People have tried for years to cure the common cold. Drug stores have enter aisles lined with dozens of medicines boasting relief from the miserable stuffy, achy, sneezy feeling that comes with a cold. Do those medicines ever really work? Is there a cure for the common cold?

While there is no miracle cure that will offer instant full recovery, there are several natural remedies that will ease your cold symptoms and reduce the length of your sickness.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Juice
• Humidifier
• Vitamin C
• Cayenne Pepper
• Chicken Noodle Soup

1. 
    

   Drink plenty of fluid. Drown that cold with water, juice, or anything you can keep down. Fluids flush out the toxins in your body and also prevent dehydration. This is important with any ailment, but especially when you catch the common cold.

2. Gargle with a salt water solution. Mix a tablespoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Gargle with the solution a few times to alleviate pain from a sore throat. Salt is a natural healing agent, so this is one of the easiest ways to deal with a cold.

3. 
    

   Run a humidier as much as possible. This keeps the air moist and helps you breathe easier. Asthma doctors swear by humidifiers, so when a cold settles into your chest, you should immediately grab a humidifer.

4. Try to add more Vitamin C to your diet. You can chew some vitamin C if you want, but it seems to be much more effective to take it in its natural form. Drink lots of orange juice or eat fresh citrus fruit to get the most benefits from Vitamin C.

5. You've probably heard your grandma say that chicken soup cures a cold. While soup doesn't technically constitute a "cure", it is a great healing agent. Add a generous pinch of cayenne pepper to a steamy bowl of chicken soup and you will feel some immediate relief from your cold. This "kickin' chicken" soup as been clinically proven to reduce inflammation and clear the sinuses.

6. One of the best ways to nurse a cold is with lots of rest. You need to sleep as much as possible so your body can fight the virus that is making you sick. By getting adequate rest, you can shorten the length of your cold.

7. When all else fails, try sitting in a steamy room to loosen congestion. A steamy shower has the same effect as a humidifier, but in a much deeper concentration. This is a great solution for small children who cannot breathe through thick congestion. Sitting in the steam for a few moments can often open up the sinuses and lungs.

8. If your cold persists for more than seven days, you should call your doctor. You may have more than just the common cold. Cold viruses can trigger sinus infections, ear infections, and even bronchitis. So if you run a high fever or just can't shake the cold symptoms, see your doctor to be sure you haven't developed an antibiotic-requiring infection.

Resources

• The 3 Day Cold Sore Remedy

[yourmamasaidwha]

on 3/3/2009 this sounds very complete! thanks for all the useful information!