Fighting Off The Sniffles

The common cold can afflict any of us at any given time - but usually during the cold and rainy seasons. This is not a life-threatening illness so really, there's no need to panic. Nevertheless, it can be very irritating and uncomfortable so getting rid of it as quickly and as effectively as possible is important.

Stopping a cold is fairly simple and there are plenty of home remedies we can do in order to start feeling better again. Also, before we consider reaching into our medicine cabinets the minute we start to feel the sniffles coming on, we should really check out home and natural solutions first.

HOME REMEDIES FOR THE COMMON COLD

The best way to start is to get plenty of rest. Our bodies may be rendered weak and we could feel tired, sluggish and just out of it, so it is imperative that we give our bodies a much-needed rest.

This will allow our immune system to work on the cold at a much better pace.

Secondly, drinking plenty of liquids, particularly water and juices are a good way also to get rid of our cold. Sipping warm drinks will help ease the effects of the illness and will likewise keep us warm, decreasing the chances of chills. Lemon juice and honey mixed together is a good combination to drink while fighting off the cold as well.

Eating fresh fruits especially those enriched with Vitamin C is another effective step. Vitamin C can enhance our immune systems and likewise help in protecting the body from developing infections brought about by the cold.

Finally, chicken soup really works! Having warm chicken soup does wonders to the body and it is among the best home remedies.

On the other hand, if our cold lasts for more than seven days, this is the time to go to our trusted physician and seek consultation.

DE-CONGESTING STUFFY NOSES

There are over-the-counter nasal decongestants available in any drugstore and these are okay for de-clogging the nose. Taking these, together with our home remedies can help us recover faster.

However, for those who want to opt for home-made decongestants, there are a few home remedies that we can likewise use and these are among the natural remedies that you can use:

Drinking hot liquids especially tea can help relieve a stuffy nose. Avoiding eating too many dairy products while getting better and keeping our heads a little higher than usual when sleeping to avoid increase of mucus will help.

Steam will also help relieve stuffy nose and we can do this by filling a large bowl with hot water and draping a towel over our heads while bending our faces a little over the bowl to breathe in and breathe out the steam. Do this at least three times a day for faster relief.