An Orange County chiropractor provides an alternative approach to traditional medical care. Among other duties, they also give advice to their patients concerning natural remedies to common medical problems, including colds. Most people suffer from a cold from time to time and experience the unpleasant symptoms associated with it, including sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose, among others. A cold can also be very uncomfortable and disruptive.
If you are suffering from a cold, you can visit your doctor in order to get treated, or you can opt to buy OTC medications. Alternatively, you can try one of the natural cold remedies that are commonly used today. Here below are seven natural remedies for a cold that are the most popular.
1. Drinking hot liquids
Hot liquids are known to help relieve nasal congestion and also soothe the inflamed lining of the throat and nose. For example, if your nose is so congested such that you are finding it difficult for you to sleep at night, you can prepare a hot toddy, which has been used for a long time to as a natural treatment for colds. Prepare the drink as follows:
-Prepare a cup of hot herbal tea.
-Add a teaspoon of honey and about an ounce of whiskey.
Take one cup of this drink in order to relieve your nasal congestion and soothe the inflamed lining of your throat and nose effectively. Don’t drink too much hot toddy as the large alcohol content in the drink will cause the membranes in your throat and nose to become inflamed, thus worsening your cold symptoms.
2. Get enough rest and stay warm
Once you catch a cold, it is important to get enough rest and stay warm. This is because your body will direct its energy to fighting off the infection when it is allowed to rest. In addition, fighting infection actually taxes your body and for this reason, you need to rest and stay warm, preferably under a blanket.
3. Gargling with warm salt water
Gargling with warm salt water can help moisten your sore throat, leading to temporary relief. Ideally, dissolve a half teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and use the salty water to gargle four times a day.
In addition, you can try to calm the tickle in your throat by trying a gargle made from tea or using one that contains honey as one of the ingredients.
4. Nasal rinsing
Nasal rinsing has been used as a natural remedy for colds for a long time. Daily rinsing using a saline nasal wash is known to be an effective way of fending off cold symptoms. However, it is important to use boiled, distilled, or sterile water in order to avoid any infection. If you choose to use boiled water, let it boil for 3 to 5 minutes and then allow it to cool.
5. Taking vitamin C
This is the most popular natural remedies for colds. Vitamin C is known to reduce the severity or duration of cold symptoms.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C for adult women is 75 milligrams and 90 milligrams for adult men, respectively. This dosage is meant to help prevent colds. However, if you are suffering from a cold, it is recommended that you take about one gram of vitamin C a number of times a day. This should however depend on whether you have other medical conditions which may prevent you from taking a high dose of vitamin C on a daily basis. For this reason, if you are not sure whether or not your medical condition can prevent you from taking high doses of vitamin C, consult your doctor first before attempting to do it.
6. Taking Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea is one of the most popular herbs for cold treatment and is also widely available. However, its effectiveness depends on how it is prepared.
The best and most effective way to prepare Echinacea purpurea is to mix 15 to 20 drops of an echinacea tincture with some warm water and taking the mixture 4 to 5 times a day.
7. Taking Ginseng
Ginseng is an Asian herb that is popularly used to help boost stamina, energy as well as overall health. However, researchers have found out that Ginseng can help fight colds efficiently. A particular study conducted by researchers in Canada found out that taking Ginseng on a daily basis helps reduce the severity as well as duration of cold symptoms. In addition, this herb can also help prevent colds.