When you’re sick with a cold or the flu, it’s tempting to stay in bed. If you’re not careful, you can feel worse, and your illness may last longer than needed. So get up and take care of yourself. These home remedies are simple and effective ways to treat all your common cold symptoms and get better faster. Check them out.
1. Drink More Water:
Drinking more water can help you stay hydrated throughout the day. Drinking water before, during, and after exercise is also important.
Drinking plenty of cold fluids when you’re sick helps your body fight off infection and keep your throat from getting sore. Mucus-forming foods such as dairy products, eggs, and whole grains should be avoided when you’re sick because they make it harder for the body to get rid of mucus.
When you are hot or exercising outside in hot weather, drinking lots of cool liquids can help prevent dehydration by replacing fluid lost through sweating.
2. Gargle with Salt Water:
You can gargle with salt water to help soothe a sore throat. To make this remedy, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Gargling for up to a minute may help relieve symptoms such as pain and inflammation in the mouth and throat.
Do not swallow the mixture — spit it out after the gargling is complete. Repeat three times daily until you feel better. But don’t exceed ten days of use in 30 days because excessive use could lead to more severe dehydration-related problems. Also, use natural remedy for colds to alleviate cold and flu symptoms such as sore throat and fever.
3. Use Saline Nose Drops:
The next thing to try is nasal saline drops. A saline nasal spray helps clear up congestion and relieve inflammation from your nose. You can purchase saline bottles at the drugstore or use table salt mixed with water (1 teaspoon of salt added per cup). If you don’t have table salt on hand, use a dropper to place drops in each nostril.
Using a bulb syringe will help remove any excess fluid in your nostrils after using the saline solution.
4. Sip Hot Liquids:
You know how you start to feel sick when you’re coming down with a cold? It’s all that stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough. These symptoms can make it hard for your body to warm up, so hot liquids will help.
Hot water with lemon or honey is good for soothing the throat. So are hot chocolate and herbal tea. Just don’t add sugar or milk, as they can dehydrate you. Coffee and tea aren’t bad options either, but be careful not to drink too much since they can dehydrate you if consumed in excess.
5. Eat Chicken Soup:
Chicken soup is a well-known home remedy for helping to relieve cold and flu symptoms. Chicken soup is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, so it’s a great option if you want to boost your immune system.
You can make homemade chicken soup by simmering chicken broth with carrots, onions, garlic, celery, and other fresh veggies. Adding salt or sugar won’t give you any extra health benefits. However, adding herbs such as thyme or rosemary will add flavor without adding calories.
6. Get Steamy:
When you’re congested, a hot shower can be a godsend. The steam helps to loosen the congestion in your nasal passages and throat, allowing you to breathe more easily. If you don’t have time for a shower, use a humidifier instead.
To maximize the effectiveness of this remedy, cover your head with a hand towel and hold it over your face while breathing deeply from beneath it. Don’t do this if you have a fever. Feverish people should never use steam heat because it raises body temperature and could cause heatstroke or dehydration.
When it comes to colds and flu, you can choose from many home remedies, including natural remedy for flu. To find out which remedy suits you, use one at a time until you find the right one that works for you.
