It's no wonder these kinds of treatments are popular. we
still have no cure for colds or the flu. While the flu vaccine may prevent the
flu, and some prescription medications may shorten its symptoms, most
conventional medications just ease symptoms. Many natural remedies can give you
short-term relief as well, and a few may help you get better. See which ones
show the most promise.
Echinacea
This herbal supplement may boost your immune system and help
fight infections. But it’s unclear whether that helps you fight off colds. Most
evidence shows echinacea doesn’t help prevent a cold, but some research found
it shortens symptoms by a day or two. Other studies say it has no effect. To
try it, take it when you start to feel bad and continue for 7 to 10 days.
Zinc
Some studies show it helps fight viruses, like the cold.
They say the mineral stops certain proteins from forming before cold viruses
can use them to reproduce. While zinc doesn’t appear to prevent colds, it may
help shorten their length and lessen the severity if you take it within 24
hours of the first symptoms. You should continue to take zinc for five days.
The FDA says not to use zinc nasal products for colds -- some people say they
had a permanent loss of smell.
Vitamin C
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.
Chicken
Soup
Grandma was onto something. Chicken 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.
Hot Toddy
This adult drink is an age-old nighttime cold remedy. Since
you won't want to drink black tea and all that caffeine before bed, make a cup
of hot herbal tea. Add a teaspoon of honey, a small shot of whiskey or bourbon,
and a squeeze of lemon. This mixture may ease congestion, soothe your throat,
alleviate your cough, and help you sleep. Limit yourself to one -- too much
alcohol can keep you awake.
Garlic
It's long been known as a germ fighter. And 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.
Steam/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.
Saline
Irrigation
Dripping or spraying saltwater into your nose can thin out
the gunk and help you get rid of it. That makes you less stuffy. You can try
over-the-counter nasal saline washes, or make your own. If you make your own,
use water that's contaminant-free. It could be distilled, sterile, previously
boiled and cooled, or filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1
micron or less. Mix 8 ounces of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4
teaspoon baking soda. Use a bulb syringe to squirt the liquid into one nostril
while you hold the other one closed. Repeat 2-3 times and then do the other
side. After you're done, be sure to rinse the irrigation device after each use
with contaminant-free water, and let it air-dry.
Menthol
Ointment
Days of wiping and blowing your nose can leave the skin
around your nostrils sore and irritated. A simple remedy is to dab a
menthol-infused ointment under (but not in) your nose, or on your chest or
throat. The menthol vapors relieve a cough and open clogged passages, which
eases your congestion. But don’t use it on raw skin and don’t give it to
children under age 2.
Saltwater
Gargle
This may help your sore throat by decreasing throat swelling
and rinsing out irritants and germs. Gargle warm water with a teaspoon of salt
four times daily to keep a scratchy throat moist.
Nasal
Strips
You wear these strips of tape on the bridge of your nose to
open the nasal passages. While they can't get rid of the stuffiness, they do create
more space for airflow. That can help relieve nighttime congestion.
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.
