I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose, watery eyes, with a bit of headache. I might have catch colds from the non-stop rain yesterday. I am full battle-geared for the rain but still, the weather was really uncomfortably cold. It might also be due to “Ber”-months that the air is getting colder as days passed by.
If you catch a cold virus, you may find yourself close to a tissue box for several days. Most of the time, it get better on their own in 10 days or less. Though it goes on its own, many natural remedies can give you short-term relief and a few may help you get better. Here are some on my list:
Bed Rest — Who has time to spend a day or two under the covers? But when you get plenty of rest, your body can direct more energy to fighting off germs. Staying warm is also important, so tuck yourself in and give your immune system a leg up.
Water — Adequate hydration is the key to flushing out the virus from your system. Try to drink at least 8 ounces every 2 hours.
Chicken broth with vegetables —soup may help cold symptoms in more than one way. Inhaling the steam can ease a stuffy nose. Sipping spoonfuls of it can help replace the fluids you lose. The warm, salty broth can alleviate sore throats
Hot Tea —It offers some of the same perks as chicken soup. Breathing in the steam relieves congestion, while swallowing the fluid soothes your throat and keeps you hydrated. Black and green teas have the added bonus of being loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants, which may stave off colds, as well.
Garlic — one of nature’s best antibiotics. One study showed garlic supplements may help prevent colds when taken daily. But more research needs to be done to figure out its real effects. It does have nutrients, and in food form it can also help spice up your meals when a stuffy nose makes everything taste bland.
Vitamin C rich foods — Its cold-fighting powers remain uncertain. Some research suggests it can cut cold symptoms short by about a day, but an analysis of multiple studies showed that only people on daily vitamin C at minimum doses of 200 mg each day who were under extreme physical stress were significantly less likely to get a cold. Taking vitamin C only after the start of symptoms has not been shown to be helpful.
Air Humidifier — Breathing in steam can break up congestion in your nose, offering relief when it’s stuffy or runny. You can get a heavy dose from a room humidifier, fill a bowl with hot water and lean over it with a towel over your head, or simply sit in the bathroom with the door shut and a hot shower running.
Oregano Oil — contains two powerful compounds of carvacrol and thymol that have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Recommended is 500 milligrams of oregano oil four times per day. For worse colds, you can also add few drops of oregano oil to a large bowl of recently boiled water. Being careful not to burn yourself, cover your head with a towel creating a tent to keep the steam in, close your eyes and put your face over the pot (a safe distance from the hot water) and inhale the fragrant steam for a few minutes. This will help to clear the nasal passages and can be repeated several times a day.
Having colds is really stressful especially when it comes with unpleasant symptoms like cough, swollen sinuses, sore throat, headache, fatigue and more. It can affect our daily activities because of the discomfort it brings along but there are so many natural options to choose from that are not just effective, but are also affordable and easy to do in the comfort of your home.
About The Author
Andrea is a full time home maker. When she is not busy taking care of her husband and kids, she goes out giving financial management talks. She is a proud breastfeeding mom for four years running and an avid Oleia Topical Oil user.
