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Symptoms That Call for Home Remedies for Cold and Fever
In case you have a runny nose, a sore throat, or some other symptoms mentioned below, you should know that you are suffering from cold and fever. Then, if the symptoms aren't worse, you should make it your first choice to employ some of the home remedies mentioned below. However, if the symptoms have become too advanced and it hurts too much, you should immediately go and visit a doctor for a nice prescription. Now, even though cold isn't too serious, it can cause a lot of irritation.
For instance, you may get a little severe cough, body or muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, tiredness, fever, green or yellow nasal discharge, sneezing, watery eyes, chills, sweats, nausea, poor appetite, malaise, and congestion. Also, while usually these symptoms enhance only very slowly and are usually very mild, these can sometimes develop fast and cause a lot of pain and irritation. Moreover, cold and other viruses like this appear at least two to three days once you are exposed to viruses.
Eight Best Home Remedies for Cold and Fever
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that's essential to the body in several ways. For instance, zinc keeps the immune system healthy, assists heal wounds and promotes normal growth. Various studies have shown that taking zinc supplements help in treating cold and decrease their symptoms as well. Furthermore, it helps in shortening the period of cold. Zinc has even become a very famous and effective treatment for cold.
Scientists believe that zinc prevents the replication of rhinovirus, which is the main cause of the common cold, hence helping you recover from cold. People can either take it as a supplement or nasal spray. Specifically, zinc is available in many products like tablets, syrup, and lozenge. However, taking too much zinc may lead to nausea and stomach aches. Also, using a zinc nasal spray can cause people to lose their sense of smell temporarily. People who use nasal spray may also suffer from the loss of smelling sense.
Honey
Using honey for treating cold has been proven to be a very effective home remedy. This is so, because, various researches have shown that honey has many anti-bacterial properties that prevent cold by fighting against bacteria and viruses. Some also suggest that honey is an efficient cold suppressant, too. This also helps to ensure a nice and undisturbed sleep for children.
Furthermore, honey can help ease sore throat as it is rich in antimicrobials that are effective against infections causing this. Other than this, honey is good for the treatment of cough in infants with an age of fewer than 12 months. Various studies have proven that honey is a better remedy for these health conditions than even placebo. Honey is most effective if used with raw onion, warm water, and lemon tea.
Echinacea
Echinacea has been the first choice for various infections in the whole world for over four hundred years. It is so effective against diseases like influenza, cough, and fever because it contains various flavonoids, which are chemicals that have therapeutic impacts on the body. For instance, this helps enhance the immune system and also reduce inflammation to an extent.
Furthermore, various researches have proven that this herb is extremely effective against not only several types of flues but also against cold and fever. This helps reduce the risk of a cold by over 50 percent. Moreover, this herb increases the number of white blood cells, greatly improving the immune system of the consumer, and shortening the length of cold and fever. You are suggested to take 1 to 2 grams of this herb every day for one week only.
Garlic
As you may know, garlic has a lot of health benefits. For instance, it is an effective home remedy for cold and flu as it helps relieve the symptoms while also helping fight off the viruses. Also, garlic helps lower fever and improve the digestive system.
It can effectively do all these things, because, garlic contains a lot of antiviral and antibacterial properties. Some studies have proven that garlic is even better than a placebo and some antibiotics. Other than all this, garlic also has a warm nature, and hence, promotes sweating.
However, some people do not like garlic as it causes bad breath, smell a little unpleasant, and has some side effects as well. This is especially not good for the people taking blood thinners as these could react with the anticoagulant drugs as well. Some ways that you could use garlic is that you can use garlic in toasts, cook it into meals, make pesto, or even drinks its juice.
Menthol
Just like the other home remedies mentioned here, menthol also has many health benefits. For instance, menthol helps fight the cold by improving the sinuses and also benefiting the congested airways. Other than this, menthol also has pain-relieving as well as antibacterial properties.
Furthermore, menthol helps reduce coughing and also improves sleep in both, children and adults with cold. This has also been used to treat many gastrointestinal diseases like gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, and colic. Additionally, menthol helps relieve bronchitis, headaches, asthma, and respiratory ailments. It can also help in oral hygiene and sunburn.
However, menthol has some side effects as well. For example, menthol can cause stings and also irritate the skin, and this is one of the major reasons why some people do not like taking too much of this substance. The best ways to use this are to add mint leaves to various foods or even add this to hot water for steam inhalation.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a very essential vitamin and antioxidant that helps in the collagen formation process, maintenance of bones, and also assists the body in several other ways. Additionally, it is imperative for keeping your immune system healthy as well as strong. Vitamin C is also a very effective home remedy for the treatment of various types of cough and cold. It is so, because, as many studies have also shown, Vitamin C prevents colds and reduces symptoms of cough and fever by improving your immune system that helps fight these diseases. Furthermore, it has proven to lessen the frequency of colds, making it even more beneficial.
Many citrus fruits like oranges, avocados, and grapefruits are a rich source of Vitamin C. Taking Vitamin C supplements directly is also very effective against coughs, colds, and fever. Other ways like drinking orange juice, or taking vitamin C chewable tablets or Vitamin C pills are also, efficient for preventing and treating cold symptoms.
Probiotics
Another great home remedy for cold as well as fever is the use of various types of probiotics. These are a type of live bacteria that improve gut health and also help prevent a cold or even flu. Now, while there are several different types, the most common probiotics are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
These are very helpful for our health as probiotics enhance our immune system, helping us fight various types of viruses. Furthermore, various researches have found out that probiotics greatly reduces the chance of cold occurring.
To make it even better, there are many various ways that you can eat this type of substance. For instance, you can increase your daily intake of probiotics by increasing your intake of cheddar cheese, kefir, traditional buttermilk, yogurt, gouda cheese, fresh, sour-dill pickles, kimchi, kombucha, miso, natto, sauerkraut, tempeh, brined-cured olives, or mozzarella cheese.
You can also take probiotic supplements for this purpose. However, if you are pregnant, have immune problems, or have to eat a special diet because of a medical condition, you are strongly advised to consult a doctor before eating more probiotics.
Chicken Soup
In case you want a home remedy that is very easy and also tasty, there probably isn't a better choice than chicken soup. Various researches have shown that one bowl of chicken and vegetable soup can slow down the movement of neutrophils in a person's body. These are a type of WBC and help protect one's body from infections, and by moving slowly, they are more concentrated where they are required the most.
Furthermore, chicken soup also helps relieve some upper respiratory infection, and low-sodium soup has a lot of nutrients, with their benefits as well. Chicken soup is especially beneficial in the monsoon weather as it prevents some diseases caused by changing weather, like cold and fever, among others.
In addition to all that, chicken soup also helps fight asthmatic conditions, respiratory tract disorders, and even facial pain. Also, it speeds up the removal of pathogens from the nose and helps control blood pressure while strengthening your bones and muscles, and also helping you lose fat.
And, because the chicken soup has no side effects, you can increase your soup intake to as much as you want. However, it may not be a very good choice in the summers or if you have any allergies or something.
Other Conventional Home Remedies to Combat Cold and Fever
Gargling
The most well-known and among the best home remedies for both cold and fever is gargling regularly. As you might know, gargling does not have any side effects whatsoever and can be utilized every day and as many times as you want, without any worry, making it the best choice. Gargling is also a great choice even if you are not suffering from any disease or infection at all.
This is best if you want to relieve your sore throat, the most common type of symptom of a cold, and often-times the very first as well. It cleans up your throat and makes you feel better instantly. Now, you have many different choices available for the many gargle recipes, and almost all of them work equally well.
For instance, you may add one or one full and one quarter-filled teaspoon of salt into a lukewarm cup of water and gargle with it. Or, you can also and half a teaspoon of honey and an equal amount of lemon juice into one cup of warm water and gargle.
However, you need to make sure that the water is only lukewarm and not too hot or it can cause burns and irritation, which can do more harm than properly gargling would do good. Other than that, you are suggested not to try other types of gargling, because, if you do not add the proper substances to the water, it may damage your throat.
Steam
Another great home remedy is breathing steam into your body. This great solution can reduce nasal congestion while also decreasing sinus pressure. In addition to this, steam also relieves the tissues of the throat and the nose off of pain, hence helping soothe cold. Steam also helps with irritation and swollen blood vessels and thinners the mucus.
Steam especially helps with the common cold, influenza, infectious sinusitis, bronchitis, and even some nasal allergies. Moreover, it can help relieve headaches, congested nose, throat irritation, cough, and breathing problems as well.
The best way to inhale steam is through a hot shower or a pot full of boiling water with a towel on your head to prevent any steam from escaping. You may also consider making the process more effective by adding essential oil, eucalyptus.
Various researches suggest that you put in three to about seven drops of this efficient oil to boiling water and inhale steam through it for the best results. If you do decide to add this oil, you should close your eyes or they could irritate.
However, steam can also cause some damage. For instance, you could come into contact with the hot water and damage your skin instantly, and this could take a little time to soothe properly. Or, you can accidentally knock the bowl into your lap, and burn a huge part of your body. It can also irritate your eyes, and if the children breathe in the steam, their nose could get burned as well.
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Some Precautions to Avoid Spreading the Infection!
When someone does have a cold, they must take a few precautions to avoid spreading the infection. These steps include:
• staying home from work or school to avoid exposing other people to the virus
• moving away from other people when sneezing
• coughing or sneezing into a tissue
• throwing away any used tissues so others can’t handle them