Online Reporter
THERE is no cure for a cold or the flu, but a bowl of chicken soup or a cup of hot ginger tea with honey can help manage the symptoms. Some home remedies, such as vitamin C, may slightly reduce the length of time you are sick.
Body aches, fever, chills and nasal congestion can make you feel miserable. While home remedies cannot cure a cold or the flu, they can help relieve symptoms such as body aches, fever, chills, nasal congestion during your recovery.
But, if symptoms do not improve or you have trouble breathing, faintness or any severe symptoms, it’s best to seek medical help.
Ginger has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its uses include reducing muscle pain and managing nausea. Make tea by simmering a few slices of raw ginger root in boiling water.
As well as providing hydration, it may soothe muscle pain, ease a sore throat and reduce nausea if present.
Honey has a variety of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking honey in tea with lemon can ease sore throat pain. Research suggests it may also act as a cough suppressant.
Garlic contains the compound allicin, which has antimicrobial and possibly antiviral properties.
Adding garlic to your diet might reduce the severity of cold symptoms. According to some research, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place.
More research is needed into the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic, but adding more garlic to your diet probably won’t hurt.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that plays many important roles in your body, including supporting the immune system.
Good dietary sources of vitamin C include:
• Citrus fruits
• Red peppers
• Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli
Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may reduce phlegm when you are sick.
Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help.
Vitamin C in the diet or as supplements is unlikely to prevent a cold, but some evidence suggests it may improve symptoms and may slightly shorten the time a cold lasts.
Gargling with salt water may help prevent upper respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms, for instance, by easing sore throat pain and nasal congestion.
A salt water gargle can reduce and loosen mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens.
To try this remedy at home:
• Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water.
• Swish it around your mouth and throat.
• Spit it out.
Some essential oils can help manage the symptoms of a cold, flu, and other respiratory conditions.
This is due to their microbial, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory properties.
Examples include eucalyptus, peppermint (menthol), Frankincense, thyme and tea tree. Use a
diffuser or add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath.
How can essential oils help when you have the flu?
While research suggests there are health benefits, it is important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.
Increased humidity may help reduce dryness and inflammation in the nose and throat. A humidifier in your bedroom or elsewhere in your home may help you feel more comfortable. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also help relieve congestion.
For the same effect without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom.
Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be changed daily to stop molud and other fungi from growing. Also, when it comes to children, it is safer to use a cool mist humidifier.
