How to Lessen Cold Symptoms
Once you have been infected with a cold virus, expect to experience symptoms within one to four days. Common symptoms are a sore throat, runny nose and a fever. The strength and duration depend on the severity of the virus. Typically, symptoms last from three days to one week.
Things You'll Need
- Garlic bulbs
- Cold medicine
- Ibuprofen (optional)
- Astragalus capsules
- Echinacea capsules
- Lavender oil
Instructions
-
-
1
Ingest fresh garlic. Add one bulb of garlic to chicken soup to lessen cold symptoms. Add the garlic to the broth while cooking the soup.
-
2
Take cold medicine. It is sold without a prescription at drugstores and grocery stores. Cold medicine reduces pain and fever and clears a stuffy nose. If you need only pain and fever relief, choose an anti-inflammatory that contains ibuprofen.
-
-
3
Take one 500 mg. astragalus capsule daily. This herb has been used in China for more than 200 years to treat cold symptoms. Take at the first sign of symptoms to reduce the length of your cold.
-
4
Take echinacea daily with a large glass of water. Take at the first sign of symptoms and continue for the duration of the cold. Echinacea stimulates the nervous system, which lessens cold symptoms. Follow the instructions on the bottle for dosing directions.
-
5
Take a warm bath. Add two cap-fulls of lavender oil to the bath water and allow the steam to clear your nasal passages.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do not take echinacea or astragalus if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Consult a health care professional before taking herbal supplements.
