Amid the present rainy season and the propensity to contract cold, cough and catarrh, it is pertinent to learn home remedies to prevent these mundane infections that everyone experiences at such times.
While these illnesses are mild and not as severe as the flu caused by influenza virus, as common cold is part of living, they can happen frequently in all seasons except summer/ hot season.
A person can contract a common cold when one makes contact with airborne droplets of an infected person, or when one constantly gulps cold fluids or is exposed to dust. Cold, cough, and catarrh attack the respiratory parts as nose, throat and lungs because the rhinovirus responsible for the common cold causes the inflammation of these parts of body.
Cleanliness is the key to reduce the frequent occurrence of common cold. The rhinovirus thrives when people stay together and as such more hugging; touching and creating droplets on desks and tables are bound to happen. As well, humid areas and sharing of towels, napkins and other personal items hike common cold.
Symptoms of common cold include; building of mucus in the nose, expelling of phlegm, more boogers in the nose, mild fever, fatigue, headache, sneezing, sore throat etc. Common cold should not be confused with flu virus which share similar symptoms but require critical medical attention, drugs and vaccines. Common cold is an indication that your body white cells are active and trying to fight the cold infection.
Having a common cold should not make your heart race because just as the name common cold there are common home remedies to help relieve the situation because it does not have a cure, you have to wait it out.
The over the counter medications do not cure the common cold but help abate the symptoms. Give or take, a period of 14 days (2weeks) is enough to clear all clogged throats and nose caused by common cold.
While waiting for the cold to vanish, there are home remedies which not only help alleviate the cold but also improve your general health.
A hot bowl of protein soup
A bowl of steaming hot protein soup can help clear the nose tracts. Whatever is your choice of protein; chicken beef, lamb or fish; make it watery and peppery to cool off the cold. Do not forget to decorate with leafy vegetables such as; gongronema latifolium (Utazi) leaves, scent leaves, broccoli, celery to give a zest of fragrance and add more nutritive value.
Ginger and garlic
This common twin brother cooking recipe is unmatched in soothing hurts during the common cold. Be it bits of ginger and garlic swallowed with water or blended to make ginger and garlic smoothie or even strained to make a juice of it. Ginger and garlic is a cheap source to manage cold. Ginger contains phenolic and garlic allicin which is antibacterial or antimicrobial.
Citrus family
Lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, leafy vegetables and any rich vitamin C nutrient fruit is helpful. A hot brewed fresh lemon can make a whole difference than relying on over the counter vitamin C tablets. If you loathe lemon you can beckon on any other citrus family, there are other sweet varieties.
Hot liquids and warm baths
It would pay off to swap chilled drinkable water to warm water. Instead of sipping the fresh watermelon juice straight from the refrigerator, warm it up. Drink more hot tea, warm juices, warm flavoured drinks and warm milk to warm up the tract stuffed with cold. Also, it’s gainful to have warm baths only during this phase.
Probiotics foods
Probiotic foods are immune boosters and at a time when battling with common cold infections it’s wise to boost your immune system with such foods. Probiotic foods are enriched with calcium, protein and bacteria which hastens digestion. Yoghurt, banana, watermelon, apple, flax seeds, kefir, kombucha, pickles, soybeans, etc. Yoghurt is the most popular probiotic food in the western diet and taking it can help heal sore throat and runny nose. For maximum effect, go for unsweetened yoghurt dressed with fruits.
Mentholated balm
Besides eating right, applying mentholated balm or inhaling it; is also a cold relief. Applying to the chest, nostrils, massage the feet and hands with some significant portion depending on the intensity of the balm and enduring ability. Do not fail to wear the right garments as sweaters, socks and gloves to keep warm until the cold goes away.