10 Potent Home Remedies for Cough and Cold Plus 5 Benefits of Seeking Natural Home Remedies over Medicines (2020)

Talking about simple cough and cold is not the same as before nowadays due to the global pandemic COVID-19. Although there are several differences between simple flu and COVID-19 yet there are so many similar symptoms which one should not avoid checking with doctors in the first place. For natural cough and cold which occurs due to seasonal changes needs special care too and with or without medicine you can use some home remedies which are effective in their natural way - and within your budget.

Natural ingredients are mostly safe as they come under the skin like orange or in a sealed pack like cloves. They are also cost-effective as they come easily from the market, they are not medicines and you can mostly get those ingredients in your kitchen.

Natural ingredients have fewer side effects than medicines. They are mild and more or less used regularly in our daily life. So our system is habituated with them normally. They don't generally have harsh chemicals like prescribed drugs and can be taken by anyone. But if you are allergic to some kitchen ingredients then you must think before taking any of them.

Home remedies are easily available anywhere you go, you don't need to worry about that getting spices is quite easy all over the world, where there are Indian groceries. Regular spices that you use in your daily cooking such as cloves, cardamoms etc. are available in various forms all over the world.

The immune system in your body runs on the type of fuel you put in. so if you are suffering from a general cough and cold, boosting your immunity, taking Vitamin C and effective home remedies are equally important with medicines. You must boost your immunity to get rid of cough and cold quickly.

Protein-rich foods like meat, fish and poultry increase your metabolism and keep your hormones balanced. They increase energy level and help you to get well soon from general flu-like symptoms.

There is nothing superstitious or supernatural in using natural remedies during illness. Fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices play a part in recovery from strenuous cough and cold. Until the treatment was replaced by modern theories, old traditional people trusted these home remedies in every illness. They have been used as the earliest form of medicines when there was no over the counter drugs.

Ginger is a native Asian flowering plant it has been used to cook various dishes and also to cure ailments. The roots and stems of ginger add flavour to cooking also it is used to treat different health problems. It can help in treating coughs and colds and high blood pressure. For centuries ginger is used to support healthy immunity, digestion and get relief from cough and cold. It is packed with minerals, vitamin c and amino acids. Drinking ginger tea is one of the easiest, tastiest and healthiest ways to get the benefit of ginger root. This is helpful to reduce cold and minimise cough and you can have ginger tea with a pinch of cinnamon to make it even a bit spicier.

Cinnamon has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties in it. It has powerful anti-oxidants and it lowers cholesterol level. Honey, on the other hand, is multi-beneficiary as it helps to decrease throat problems, treats cough and cold, and many other ailments. Lemon is high in vitamin C and it is a primary antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damaging free radicals. Vitamin c also helps in preventing or limiting the cold and cough in a person. When you combine these three powerful ingredients and use them with warm water it can do a miracle for your health. It will reduce heart disease, boost immunity, treat allergies and infections, control diabetes and bladder infection, and also skin infection.

In the season of cold, flu and sticky germs everywhere, vegetable soup is a medicine as well as a food for health too. A bowl of clear veggie soup is best when you are craving for a healthy warm soup, or trying to cope up from illness, have flu-like symptoms, or throat infection. It helps to build up immunity and also easy to make.

During the flu seasons throughout the year, it is not enough to wear only seasonal clothes, a good dietary supplement is also needed to fight against viral and bacterial infection. Dates are the perfect food that you can add in your supplement list which will keep you warm, cosy and healthy. Dates make a healing companion for flu, cough and cold. It also helps with digestion and diabetes management. Drinking milk and dates also called ‘Khajoor ka Doodh’ in Hindi is extremely helpful during flu season.

There are many ways to boost your immunity, and the nuts and seeds play a vital role. This food group in your diet boosts the immune system which helps to fight cold and cough for the whole year. Flax seeds and chia seeds are a good source of iron and almonds are the source of selenium. Both help in boosting immunity and transporting oxygen around the body. Consuming dates, apricots, groundnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, helps to maintain a regular healthy life. They are rich in Omega 3, magnesium and zinc and enable absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, K, D and E. chia seeds have vegetable protein and it is often used in making pudding. You can also use seeds to sprinkle over yogurt or smoothie.

Bromelain is a type of enzyme that contains anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties. It helps in reducing respiratory problems, symptoms of asthma as well as cough and cold. Pineapple contains Bromelain, so the juice of pineapple has many healing benefits. It has a wide range of therapeutic benefits and it can be used as a health supplement to prevent flu-like illness.

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, and warm-mist or cool-mist humidifiers, both are equally effective in humidifying the air. It prevents mineral build-ups and growth of mould and bacteria. Humidifiers help to ease coughing and congestion, especially the cool-mist humidifiers. Air purifiers also play a good role in purifying the indoor air which can help in soothing the cold and cough during flu seasons.

Three or four meals a day is essential to be healthy and treat illness. As we get the flu or cold along with the regular meals some other home remedies are also needed to take to get rid of the ailment. The age-old Indian herb turmeric is a versatile herb which belongs to the ginger family. It has some significant curative and culinary properties which are extremely effective for our health. It is a staple product of most Indian households and its phenomenon of usefulness has made this ingredient famous globally. It contains some potent anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. If you have a cough, cold or congestion problem then turmeric helps to clear your chest from the microbes that block the respiratory tract. On the other hand, coconut water has the hydrating property which is a cold-fighting remedy. It is full of antioxidants, vitamin c, zinc and calcium which is perfect for combating illness like cough and cold.

Spicy food is not a cup of tea for everyone, especially kids and non-Asians. But it has a special effect as a remedy for cold and cough or any simple flu-like symptom. The food that contains chilly peppers has spicy ingredients that break up the mucus and clear up sinus passages. Spicy food can improve the symptom of cough, you can take chicken soup which contains minerals, vitamins, and proteins which plays a vital role during illness.

Grandma’s Kadha is an age-old home remedy which acts as antibiotic medicine prescribed at home by mothers and grandmothers during cough and cold of family members. Today you can get it in a readymade form from the shop easily. It prevents cough, cold, headaches and infections, boosts immunity, gives relief from a runny nose, itchy throat, body aches and weakness. It is organic, plant-based, gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free. It has a perfect balance of adaptogenic herbs like echinacea, mulethi, coriander, kulinjan, amla, tulsi, black pepper, turmeric, dry ginger, kalmegh leaf and many other ingredients. Each ingredient has its unique role to play in the kadha which makes it a powerhouse of ayurvedic medicine which can be consumed during cold and cough.

Treating cough and cold through home remedies is an age-old process and it has very fewer side effects. Hence, it is used for any age, but still, you have to be specific about some ingredients. If an elderly person has any medical problem few of the ingredients from the kitchen can not be given to him. Same way if you have an infant who is suffering from cough and cold it is not recommended to give everything to him during the illness.

A good home remedy is safe and cheap to use for anyone. They can be found in every home and kitchen. Caring for a sick infant brings extra stress and worry in the family, especially for parents. For infants giving anything solid as a home remedy is not recommended. You should consult a physician before serving anything to your infant.

Colds and flu are very common in toddlers. They generally get five to six times flu in a year and it is nothing to worry about. Until they become teenagers and settle down to adult levels of cold infections they tend to get sick like almost four times a year on average. As they are not infants you can try various home remedies for them to get relief from cough and cold from the things suggested before. These will keep them hydrated, relaxed and give them good sleep when they are sick.

Elderly people have various kinds of problems like diabetes or thyroid or some other ailment so it is recommended to ask a doctor before giving any home remedies to them. As most of them take medicines and they have separate diet plans too, advice from a professional is preferable before starting anything new during flu-like illness.