Common Cold Home Remedies – How To Cure A Sneezing In One Day? | Common Cold and Flu Symptoms | Root Causes of Cold and Flu | Tips to Prevent Cold and Flu Effectively
What Exactly is Common Cold?
Runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes. Sound familiar? These are all classic symptoms of colds and flu, two common ailments caused by viruses. Unfortunately, there is no cure for either one. Part of the reason is that viruses have a knack for mutating quickly, which is why new strains of colds and flu make the rounds every year. The common cold, also known as “acute coryza,” is an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and is causes due to infection with virus. It occurs more often than all other diseases. A person suffers from this disease three times in a year on an average. A cold usually lasts from three to ten days. The patient feels miserable for the first three days or so. The skin around the nostrils may become sore.
Head Cold and Flu Symptoms
The first signs of a cold are a feeling of soreness of the throat and congestion of the nasal passage. Although the disease normally begins in the nose and throat, it affects all parts of the body. Before you start any remedies confirm with diagnosis if you have a cold or flu. Though they share some symptoms, colds causes by different types of viruses. So, how can you tell which illness you’ve got? An old rule of thumb states that if your symptoms tend to be from the neck up, you’ve probably got a cold. With the flu, you may have a runny nose and sore throat, but on top of that, expect body aches, fever, and fatigue. Its usual symptoms are a running nose, sneezing, a rise in temperature, headache, sore throat, chill, aches and pains in the body and loss of appetite.
Root Causes of Cold and Flu
The common cold results from exposure to a virus. Its intensity however, depends upon the state of health of the person and by environmental factors. Colds tend to last longer, but the flu generally causes more discomfort. Lowered vitality, allergic disorders of the nose and throat, chilling of the body, lack of sleep, depression, fatigue and factors such as sudden changes in temperature, dust and other irritating inhalations are important contributory causes for the development of a cold. Antibiotics are no help they have no effect on viruses. Over-the-counter cold and flu medicines suppress some symptoms but often have undesirable side effects. Home remedies can be a healthier, safer alternative.
How To Cure A Sneezing In One Day?
The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract which causes by any one of up to 200 strains of virus. These are spread either by inhaling droplets coughed or sneezed by others, or, more probably, by direct hand to hand contact with sufferers. When infection occurs, the walls of the respiratory tract swell and produce excess mucus, giving rise to the typical cold symptoms of stuffy or runny nose, throat discomfort, malaise, and occasional coughing. Colds can produce fevers of up to 102°F (39°C) in infants and children, but such fevers in adults indicate that the infection is probably influenza. The incubation period is from 1–3 days, after which symptoms occur, and most colds run their course in 3–10 days. Infants and elderly people are susceptible to complications such as sinusitis, ear inflammations, and pneumonia.
Common Cold Home Remedies
How To Cure A Sneezing In One Day? To treat a cold by means of customary suppressive drugs like aspirin and code line only paves the way for future trouble of a more serious nature. For such a treatment puts a sudden stop to the eliminative process then taking place and forces the toxic matter back into the tissues again. Moreover, drugs have no effect on the duration of the cold. It has been aptly said that a cold can be cured in a week by taking medicines, otherwise it will subside in seven days. The only real treatment for colds is a proper diet. So here are best common cold home remedies for how to cure a sneezing in one day?
- Lemon Balm – Treat Head Colds: Lemon balm is also useful for colds and particularly head colds. Add 1 teaspoon dried lemon balm to 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and leave for 10 minutes to infuse. Drink twice daily.
- Liquids – Stay Hydrate: “Drink plenty of fluids” is the mantra. Water is best, but clear broth, green and herbal teas, ginger ale and diluted juices are also good choices.
- Ginger – Relieve the Congestion: Boil 1 teaspoonful of ginger powder or eucalyptus in one quart of water and inhale the steam. Eucalyptus oil applied to the sides of the nose will help to relieve the congestion.
- Garlic – Ancient Remedy: Garlic soup is an ancient remedy to reduce the severity of cold. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties besides several other medicinal virtues. The volatile oil in garlic flushes out the system of all toxins and thus helps bring down fever. Garlic oil combined with onion juice, diluted with water and drunk several times a day, is extremely effective in the treatment of the common cold. If your cold is accompanied by fevers, then wear string cloves of garlic or small onions around your neck at bedtime.
- Chicken Soup – Time Honored Tested Treatment: Try Chicken Soup It’s a time-honored treatment backed up with modern research. This is the first thing come in the mind when some one asks how to cure a sneezing in one day? Chicken soup, especially recipes rich in garlic and onions, does indeed provide more than comfort. Some ingredients fight inflammation or thin mucous secretions to help relieve congestion.
- Calamus – Reduce Severity of Cold: Calamus root powder is useful as a snuff, inhale a pinch in each nostril.
- Linden Flowers – Induce Perspiration: Linden flowers are well known to induce perspiration and ease muscle aches. Linden flower tea is useful in the treatment of cold and flu. It also helps ease a sore throat and coughs. Apart from that it is often drunk because it tastes great. Add 1 teaspoon dried linden flowers to 1 cup of almost boiling water, cover and leave for 10 minutes to infuse. Drink twice daily.
- Ginger – How To Cure A Sneezing In One Day?: Pour a cup of boiling water over a couple of tablespoons of fresh, shredded Ginger Root. Makes a good hot tea that is effective against the most common cold viruses.
- Herbs for Upper Respiratory Conditions: Andrographis and echinacea are two herbs that top the list of cold and flu treatments. Research supports Andrographis paniculata’s effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of colds, flu, and some other upper respiratory conditions. Preparations of the dried herb are available in many health food stores and online. Follow package directions. Echinacea is a popular herbal treatment for respiratory ailments for centuries. It is a plant from the plains of North America, and consider powerful to stimulate the body’s ability to resist infection and counter toxicity. Echinacea tinctures (also available at health food stores), used as directed, tend to be more effective than teas for treating the symptoms of colds and flu.
- Thyme – Remedy That Works: Once upon a time thyme was the herb used to treat most ailments but particularly anything related to colds and flu. Coughs were treated with steam inhalations and rubbing hot infusions directly onto the chest. Sore throats demanded the gargling of thyme tea and as an early form of aromatherapy thyme was simmered in a pot on the stove during flu season as a preventative measure, adding the many healing properties of this herb to the air. Add 1-2 teaspoons of thyme to 1 cup of almost boiling water, cover and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 3 – 4 cups a day.
- Herbal Healing Tea: Combine 1 teaspoonful of ginger and cinnamon with 2 teaspoonful of lemongrass. Steep 1 teaspoon of this formula for about 10 minutes in 1 cup of hot water; strain it, and add honey for sweetness if you like. If you drink this delicious tea several times a day, it will help to take care of cold, congestion, and flu.
- Turmeric – Fight Infection for Quick Relief: Turmeric, with its antiseptic properties, is an effective remedy for cold and throat irritations. Half a teaspoonful of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 grams of warm milk is a useful prescription for these conditions. Put turmeric powder into a hot ladle. Then pour milk in it and boil over a slow fire. In case of a running cold, inhale smoke from the burning turmeric. It will increase the discharge from the nose and will bring quicker relief.
- Nasal Irrigation: Nasal irrigation can help relieve congestion caused by colds and flu. Even just spritzing your nasal passages with saline nasal drops several times a day can make a difference.
- Steam – Relieves Congestion: Boil 1 teaspoon ginger, or a few eucalyptus leaves, in a pint of water. Turn on the stove, put a towel over your head, and inhale the steam. This will relieve congestion and help you feel much better. Just steam alone, with no herbs added at all, will also be beneficial.
- Cinnamon – Indian Folk Remedy: For a cold with cough and congestion, mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey. Eat this mixture 2 or 3 times a day.
- Safe Cough Syrup for Children: Plantain (ribwort) eases coughs and acts as an expectorant. Mild but effective enough to be great for children in the form of a syrup. To make plantain tea add 1 teaspoon of dried plantain to 1 cup of almost boiling water, cover and leave ot for 10 minutes to infuse. Sip 3 cups of the sweetened tea throughout the day.
- Fennel – Traditional Treatment to Loosen Phlegm: Fennel is great for kids. It loosens phlegm and eases cramping. A tea made from fennel seeds is a traditional remedy to ease chesty colds, coughs and tummy troubles in children. Make the tea with 1 teaspoon of freshly crushed fennel seeds and 1 cup of almost boiling water, cover and leave to steep for 5 minutes. Sip tea throughout the day. It’s also popular with children to warm the seeds in milk instead of water. OR Try 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed powder mixed with 1 teaspoon natural sugar, 2 or 3 times a day.
- Vitamin C – Increase Disease Resistance: Lime is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. It is highly beneficial in all types of cold and fevers. Dilute it well before using. Vitamin C-rich lime juice increases resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. Dilute lime juice in a glass of warm water, and add a teaspoonful of honey to it. It forms an ideal remedy for a cold and dry cough.
- Natural Cure with Indian Herbs: Combine sitopaladi and maha sudarshan churna in equal proportions and take 1/4 teaspoon with 1 teaspoon honey 2 or 3 times a day after eating. Ayurvedically speaking, colds are a kapha-vata disorder. The body builds up an excess of cool and moist kapha qualities, resulting in congestion and a runny nose, and at the same time it may suffer from excess vata, which reduces agni (gastric fire), leading to chills, loss of appetite, and/or poor digestion. Individuals often get colds and u during the winter and spring seasons. The symptoms are all too familiar: runny nose, cough, congestion, headache, an achy body, and sometimes fever. You can prevent becoming victim to the next circulating bug by boosting your immune system with healthy foods.
8 Easy Tips to Prevent Cold and Flu Effectively
Apart from common cold home remedies and guide for how to cure a sneezing in one day?, here are few tips to prevent cold and flu effectively.
- If you or your child is prone to colds, consider consuming fermented foods, such as yogurt, or supplementing with probiotics. Probiotics, live microorganisms with health benefits, have been shown to prevent upper respiratory tract infections, such as colds.
- Taking some Vitamin C will be beneficial. Vitamin C also has plenty of other health benefits, such as being an antioxidant, so keep eating foods that contain it just don’t expect it to be a miracle cure.
- Put some liquid ghee (3 to 5 drops) in each nostril in the morning and evening. This will lubricate the nasal passages and relieve the irritation and sneezing of a cold.
- Drinking hot water several times a day is an effective way to remove toxins from the system and hasten recovery from a cold.
- Cold and flu prevention requires maintaining a healthy immune system to ward off infection. Beta carotene plays a role in the function of skin and mucus membranes that line the nose and lungs. This is your body’s first defense against invading germs that could cause a cold or the flu. Beta carotene increases the presence of T cells, which attack invaders that can cause you to get sick. In addition, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc all play a role in a healthy immune system.
- Strictly avoid dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and milk, and all cold drinks.
- Rest is very important for healing. As much as possible, rest, read, and relax.
- There are over 200 viruses that can cause the common cold. They are shared by coughing, sneezing and by hand. Therefore, the first treatment is prevention! Wash hands often and well, using a good anti-bacterial soap.