8 Effective Common Cold Treatments and Prevention Tips

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A runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing characterise Common Cold. Viruses like Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, Respiratory syncytial virus, etc cause it. There is no effective cure for Common Cold, even though it is one of the big reasons to visit a doctor. If you know the symptoms well, the treatment may be effective at home.

The role of alternative medicine in the remedial measure of the common cold is commendable. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), like Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, diet, etc., has enough potential to cure the Common Cold. Home remedies, prevention, and precautions are essential for treating Colds.

Symptoms of common cold

Running nose
Sneezing
Nasal Congestion and stuffiness
Mild Fever
Muscle ache
Cough
Shivering
Body aches and Headache
Fatigue
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Sore and scratchy throat
Redness of eye
Watery eyes
Postnasal drip

Causes of Common Cold

Overheated or chilled
Rhinoviruses
Coronaviruses
Respiratory syncytial virus
Transmission of the virus through saliva, air, cough, surfaces, blood, needles, etc.
Adenovirus
Parainfluenza
Sneezing
Coughing
Kissing

Complications of cold

Viral infection leads to heavy pain
Acute ear infection
Rhinovirus leads asthma to chronic
More secretion of mucus from sinuses-Sinusitis
Increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection
Tonsillitis
Wheezing
Secondary bacterial infections
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Aggravate the chronic respiratory conditions
Laryngitis
Pyrexia

Common cold risk factors

Company with a person who has a cold
Women and Children are more prone
Risk increases with stress people
Unhygienic condition
Exposed to smoke and smoggy air
Person with less immunity
Kissing
Sharing utensils with the diseased person

Diagnosis of the common cold

A throat culture or blood test to know whether other diseases are involved

Top 10 Yoga for the common cold

Yoga, due to its holistic healing, can prevent the common cold and provide cold comfort. Yoga postures strengthen the immune system and help in avoiding germs infection, thereby keeping the body away from colds and coughs. The different Yoga poses and techniques for joint cold relief are described here.

Jal neti cleanses the nasal passages and removes excess mucus from the sinuses, thereby being helpful for normal breathing.
Sutra Neti: It is an excellent method of preventing cold inflammation of the nose, rendering it more resistant to attack by germs or viruses.
Kapalbhati is one of the practical breathing exercises to ease a cold, and its regular practice helps one to keep away from coughing and out for good.
Downward-Facing Dog- eases congestion as the pose stimulates blood flow to sinuses.
Setubandha asana facilitates restorative breathing.
Sarvangasana helps to eliminate and prevent throat and nose ailments, thus a good measure for the common cold.
Ushtrasana expands the chest and results in deep breathing.
Bhastrika pranayama opens up the air cells of the lungs.
Anuloma-viloma eases nasal and chest congestion.
Bhramari Pranayama helps to open the sinuses and relieves pressure.

Seven excellent tips to prevent the common cold

The various naturopathic remedy for the common cold is given here. Fasting is advisable as it releases toxins from the body and is helpful in the common cold.

Give more weight to vegetable soup.
Keep your body warm.
Sweating is helpful, so use your blanket to cover for 30 minutes.
Hot spice tea is preferred.
Put olive oil into your nostril to release excess phlegm.
Take a mixture of jaggery + black pepper + boiling water to get relief fast from the condition.
Water + lemon assuage the nasal congestion.

Ayurveda medicine for the common cold

More or less, all people suffered from the common cold at certain stages of life. Ayurveda, being a holistic alternative medicine, has effective remedies for it. Ayurveda cure the common cold and cough through herbs, foods, and spices. Ayurvedic herbs and foods are well-known home remedies. Prevention of the condition through Ayurveda is an old tradition prevalent in society.

Decoction of equal part of raisin, black pepper, leaf of vasaka, cinnamon bark, and root of glycyrrhiza-14 to 28 ml is to be taken with 5 to 10 grams of raw sugar thrice a day. These are natural, herbal, and safe treatments.
1 to 2 vati to be taken with honey sufficient to make a paste or with 7 to 14 ml. of ginger twice daily.
1 to 2 vati to be taken with 7 to 14 ml. juice of sacred basil leaf and 60 to 120 mg bark of box myrtle twice a day.
Prepare Nasya of dried ginger (600 mg.) and milk ( 5 to 10 ml). It’s 2 to 4 drops to be instilled in the nose. It is helpful for a stuffy nose.
Bishop weed quickly opens up blocked nasal passages.
Inhaling of Bishop weed seeds clears nasal congestion.
Brunt roots smoke of cassia eases the clogged sinuses.
Boil the cinnamon + pepper + honey mixture to lessen sore throat.
Cumin seeds are beneficial for cold.
Drinking ginger tea is a good remedy.
To prevent sore throat, chew leaves of Tulsi.
Onion helps to remove sticky mucus from nasal passage.
Ayurvedic medicines and herbs like Bhringasava, Anutaila, Vyoshaadi vati, and Tribhuvan Keerti are prescribed by doctors for a common cold remedy.
Boil the mix of Tulsi (1 tsp) + water (1 litre). Drink it after filtration helps to alleviate the condition.
The mix of fennel seeds and clove powder can be taken after boiling it with water.
The mix of milk and turmeric helps to recover from cold early.
Eating some raw garlic is good for the condition.
Fasting followed by vegetable soup is good for it.
Sitopladi churna or Yashtimadhu churna, along with honey, helps to prevent cough.
Panchakarma is also beneficial for the common cold.

Homeopathy for cold and cough

The common cold has solutions and remedies in Homeopathy. Homeopathy remedies can relieve symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion & stuffiness, watery eyes, etc. Some essential homoeopathic treatments and cures for colds are described here. Before taking homoeopathic medicine, it is suggested that one should consult a physician.

Aconite napellus is used for sore throat and choking cough. It is a proper homoeopathic remedy for colds.
Allium cepa is a beneficial natural remedy for running nose and sneezing.
Arsenicum album treats periodic colds.
Belladonna is a good treatment for dry nose and acute headache.
Bryonia helps to overcome irritation and dry cough.
Dulcamara is beneficial for body aches and clogged noses.
Euphrasia reduces the formation of phlegm.
Ferrum Phosphoricum is helpful at the beginning of a cold.
Gelsemium deals with drowsiness, lethargy, and body aches with body sensation.
Calcarea carb is a good remedy for children who face frequent colds.
Kali Bichromicum is beneficial for thick mucous, sinus headache, and pain at the root of the nose.
Oscillococcinum is advantageous for severe cold.

Naturopathy for the common cold

The various naturopathic remedies for the common cold are given here:

Fasting is advisable as it releases toxins from the body and is helpful in the common cold.
Give more weightage on vegetable soup.
Keep your body warm.
Sweating is helpful, so use your blanket to cover for 30 minutes.
Hot spice tea is preferred.
Put olive oil into your nostril to release excess phlegm.
Take a mixture of jaggery + black pepper + boil water to relieve fast.
Water + lemon assuage the nasal congestion.

25 Top home remedies for the common cold

Home remedy is safe, balanced, and cost-effective in curing the common cold. Several home remedy is available that is beneficial for different types of cold. Natural cures for the condition through home remedies are without any side effects. Home remedy is effective for a cold virus.

1 tsp each lemon + honey with a glass of warm water, if taken thrice daily, is an excellent homemade remedy for the common cold.
Gargling with salt + lukewarm water is useful.
Take ten drops of betel leaf juice daily as a natural remedy.
Onion + honey prevent chronic conditions.
Use hot liquid in the form of herbal tea and veg. Soup.
Rub the mixture of salt + mustard oil on ENT parts to get relief.
Applied the mix of nutmeg + opium + cow’s milk on the forehead and nasal area to open the congested nasal zone.
1 tsp each of gooseberry juice + ginger generally checks the recurrence of it.
Eucalyptus oil is beneficial when applied to the affected region.
A ventilated room is preferred to see the outside optimum temperature.
Steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil is effective.
Vitamin C reduces the severity of cold.
1 tsp of salt +10 ml of warm water may be used as a nasal drop.
Zinc is beneficial for dry and inflamed throats.
Bathing with cinnamon helps to relieve congestion.
A mix of garlic + onion + water enables us to overcome it.
Ginger juice and honey are fruitful for the disease.
Garlic is preventive due to its antiseptic properties, so one should go for garlic soup.
Bath with warm water eases nasal and chest congestion
Warm milk with a small quantity of asafetida is quite beneficial.
To cure it, inhale the ingredients of coriander seeds + jaggery + water.
To help to alleviate the symptoms, use a mix of black pepper + curd + sugar.
To cure nasal blockage, take the mixture of Tulsi seeds and ginger
Inhalation of vapour of ladies’ fingers + water helps to remove throat infection and dry cough.
Taking vapour of ajwain twice a day relieves nasal blockage.

10 Unani medicines for cold

The different Unani medicines and products are here for the treatment and cure of the common cold:

6 grams of wheat husk, black peppers 5 in number, and 1 gram of salt. Boil the entire ingredient in 120 ml. of water and strain it. This mix of Unani medicine is given twice daily for instant relief.
Take 12 grams of fresh leaves of almond and 1 gram of salt. Boil both the components in 180 ml. of water and strain the product appropriately. It is given once or twice daily on an empty stomach.
Take 5 grams of Banafsha flower, boil 120 ml. of water, and strain. It is given twice daily on an empty stomach.
3 grams of Behidana + 5 pieces of Unnab + 9 almond. Boil the mixture. Boil Unnab and almond in 120 ml. of water and strain. Soak behind in 60 ml. of water, extract the mucilage, mix with decoction and sweeten with honey. The product is taken twice a day.
Boil 3 grams of Darchini in 120 ml. of water, strain, and sweeten with sugar. The dose is given twice a day.
Dissolve 10 grams of the lauq Sipistan in 120 ml. water and take it at bedtime.
Dissolve 10 grams of the Lauq Motadil in 120 ml. of hot water and take at bedtime.
25 ml. of Sharbat Sadar mixed with 60 ml. of lukewarm water at bedtime.
25 ml. of Sharbat Banafsha mixed with 60 ml. of lukewarm water at bedtime.
Seven grams of Tiryaq Nazala in the morning is good.

20 prevention tips for cold

Cold foods, Cold drinks, ice cream, fried foods, etc. should be avoided
Eat freshly cooked food
Keep yourself away from the infected person
Use a scarf or tissues while sneezing
Avoid cold showers, cold winds, and air conditioners
Avoid tomatoes and bananas
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
Wash your hands frequently after bathing and before eating because the most significant carrier of germs is your hand
Wash your hands with plain water
Use liquid iodine to remove the virus
Avoid excessive stress or tiredness
More precautions should be taken for young children and seniors as they are easily susceptible
Keep your kitchen and bathroom neat and clean
Sharing of water-glass and utensil should be avoided
Keep fingers out of the eyes and nose
Take vitamins, especially Vitamin C, as it makes your immune system stronger
If you have a fever, put moist clothes on your head to have a sound sleep
Sweet fruit juices are not suitable to take
Good to take boiled or steamed vegetables
Clean the surface with disinfectant