11 Effective Home Remedies for Common Cold

Read this article to know the best Home Remedies for Common Cold. First of all let me tell you what is Common Cold?

Common Cold is the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract which is caused by viral infection. This is a very general problem which affects people mostly during monsoons. Common cold viruses cause inflammation of the upper respiratory area, which results in the variety of symptoms.

Common cold infections are so prevalent that there can be very few people who break out the infection each year. More than 200 diverse viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold.

Common Cold Symptoms

The main symptoms of common cold are Runny nose, Sneezing, Tearing, Blocked nose, Sore throat, Cough and Headache.

Here is a list of some useful Home Remedies for Common Cold:

Home Remedies for Common Cold:

1) Dilute lime juice with honey to drink is the top application in cases of common cold attacks and this remedy is also fine Home Remedy for Common Cold.

2) Normal intake of Gooseberry in the winter season helps to boost body immunity against attack of common cold and cough.

3) Peppermint tea may also benefit during the common cold.

4) Ginger: (Zingiber officinale) Ginger extracts taken numerous times a day is a superb Home remedy for Common Cold and to treat coughs that accompany common colds.

5) The roots of the bitter gourd plant are used in folk medicine to treat a cold. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an identical amount of honey or tulsi leaf juice, given once every night for a month, acts as an excellent medicine for colds. This is another effective Home Remedy for Common Cold.

6) In a cup of milk boil 1 tbsp of pepper powder with a pinch of turmeric. You can add some sugar for better taste. Drink this mixture once a day for three days.

7) Garlic soup is an old Home Remedy for Common Cold to reduce the harshness of a cold, and should be taken once daily. The soup can be made by boiling three or four cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Five drops of garlic oil mixed with a teaspoon of onion juice, and diluted in a cup of water, should be taken two to three times in a day. This has also been found to be very useful in the common cold treatment.

8) For dry and stuffy nose, try usual saline or salt water nasal drops made by adding 1/4 teaspoon of table salt to about 4 ml lukewarm water. Make a fresh solution each few days keeping it in fridge. Use a clean dropper to fill 1 to 2 drops in each nostril about 3 to 4 times daily for common cold .

9) Lemon can be used successfully to treat common cold, as it raises the body resistance. Take one glass of warm water and pour some limejuice and a tsp of honey in it and take this once or twice daily. This is a good Home Remedy for Common Cold.

10) A tablespoon of carom seeds (ajwain) crushed and coupled in a muslin cloth and can be inhaled whenever nose is blocked.

11) 3-4 tsp onion juice with 3-4 tsp honey taken daily avoids cold. By: Tom Alter

Garlic - The Miracle Cure?

Garlic's powerful curative properties have been known and used for eons. Many cultures have used garlic over the centuries to ward off everything from minor illnesses to evil spirits and for extra protection they add a heavy dose to most meals! Anyone who has ever seen a Dracula movie can surely remember the villagers running around with garlic wrapped around their necks to fight off those evil vampires.
Garlic was even used during major Plague outbreaks, and with some reported success! They just saw that garlic prevented more illnesses, and they were sure it was because the evil spirits were frightened away and not able to inhabit the sick person's body to cause more trouble.
Some writings that have survived from the thirteenth century suggest that victims of the Plague who had been fed and covered with garlic either lived longer or survived altogether. It's too bad the people didn't quite realize why the garlic was working - it could have perhaps saved even more lives.
Its incredible success in healing is the sole reason that we still use garlic today.
Modern medicine, however, has finally pinpointed the exact reasons why garlic works and its curative powers can all be attributed to one tiny ingredient called allicin. This is the same chemical that gives garlic its distinctive aroma, and its antibacterial abilities. It is because of allicin that many professional health care providers have added garlic to their practice.
The scientific community can't quite agree whether garlic is an herb, vegetable, or flower - but when it comes to healing, no one really cares. Garlic actually is a member of the lily family and it is closely related to the onion.

Garlic is one of the most potent "miracle cures" known to man. It:
o Is a powerful antibiotic.
o Is also kills some fungi and viruses including Athlete's Foot and even Herpes.
o Can help reduce blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels which in turn helps to reduce tissue swelling.
o Reduces blood sugar levels by increasing insulin production.
o Fortifies the body's immune system.
o Reduces the cancer causing effects in nitrates.
Garlic can be eaten alone, added to other foods raw or cooked, taken in tablet form, or applied topically. Baked garlic is actually a tasty and healthy side dish which has a bit of a nutty flavor. Simply put an entire unpeeled head of garlic in a shallow pan, brush liberally with olive oil, and bake for about half hour at 350 degrees F. The garlic will be soft and can be easily removed clove by clove.
If you are going to buy garlic tablets, make certain you are buying pure unadulterated garlic. Do not purchase tablets that have been "deodorized". These tablets have had their allicin removed to prevent any residual odor, but it is the allicin that provides the majority of the healing. When the allicin content is changed, there is little point in even taking the tablets.
Be aware that garlic is very strong. Some people complain of stomach or digestive upsets after even one tablet. Others report minor to serious skin irritation when garlic and/or its juice is used topically. So before deciding on your new garlic regimen, start slowly. Don't take tablets and add it to every meal on a particular day. You could be sorry.
So, what can you do with garlic?
o Take one 800 mg capsule daily to strengthen your immune system and fight off minor illnesses including colds, various infections, and allergy symptoms.
o Apply the juice to skin irritation such as poison ivy, eczema, hives
o In the rare instance that you find a case of measles or chicken pox, garlic juice soothes the skin and can prevent some scarring. The juice also kills the germs that are live on the skin, decreasing any chance of cross contamination.
o Garlic has shown remarkable results in recurrent yeast and urinary track infections. For a yeast infection, a tampon completely soaked in garlic juice can be inserted and left overnight. For a UTI, take up to three 800 mg capsules each day either instead of or along with your prescription antibiotic.
o Ingrown nails that have become infected, swollen and painful can be easily treated with a cotton ball soaked in pure garlic juice or fill a small bowl and let your finger or toe soak for ten minutes or so. Two or three treatments in one day can provide dramatic results.
o Garlic works wonders for hemorrhoid sufferers! Make a compress of crushed garlic by putting about a tablespoon on a gauze square, and place over the affected area for about 10 - 15 minutes. It will help to sooth the inflame tissues, reduce swelling, and kill any bacteria present.
o Post-partum: New moms with stitches have found great relief with some warm sitz baths with added garlic juice. It helps the tender skin heal, reduces swelling, and helps prevent infection.
Note: If you don't like chopping or pressing garlic, it is perfectly acceptable to buy a jar of real garlic that has been previously minced or chopped. This is actually an ideal alternative if you plan on using the garlic juice in some of the remedies such as a sitz bath because the garlic is packed in plenty of the juice. Having ready to use garlic is also a boon when it comes to cooking. You can add a spoonful to anything at the last minute without needing to plan ahead.

By Marie Duffoo

Home Remedies For Cold and Cough

There are very many reasons for cold and cough. Intake of cold food, cold drinks and fried stuff etc causes cough. Seasonal changes is also one of the reasons for cough. Improper digestion of food transforms into a mucus toxin and this circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system, where it causes colds and coughs.

The main signs that indicate the presence of cold & cough are running or blocked nose sneezing, sore throat, congestion, headache, low fever with body pain, loss of appetite, lethargy and sleeplessness.

Home Remedies for cough with onions, grapes & almonds:

1. Onions are useful in removing phlegm. Chop raw onions into fine pieces and extract juice from it. 1 tsp of this juice should be mixed with 1tsp of honey and kept for 4 to 5 hrs. This makes an excellent cough syrup and can be taken twice daily.
Crush a medium sized onion, add the juice of 1 lemon and then add 1 cup of boiling water to it. A tsp of honey can be added for taste. This mixture can be taken 2 - 3 times a day for good relief from cough.
2. Almonds are useful for dry coughs. Soak seven kernels of almonds overnight and remove the brown skin. Make a fine paste out of it. Add 20gms of butter and sugar to the paste. This paste can be taken in the morning and evening for good relief from dry cough.
3. Grapes act as an expectorant. Grapes tone up the lungs and acts as an expectorant, giving relief from simple cold and cough in a couple of days. A cup of grape juice mixed with honey gives good relief from cough.

Here are some more simple home remedies to control cold and cough:- Add honey and a pinch of salt to orange juice and drink it to get relief from cold, cough and throat pain. Include cabbage regularly in food to control cold and cough. Add pepper to guava to get relief from phlegm. Having cow's milk with honey cures cold. Fresh cow's milk with turmeric powder, drink early morning to get relief from dry cough. For children add tulsi leaves juice to mother's milk for cold. Burn onion directly in the flame and eat to remove cough and chest congestion. Betel leaves juice with honey helps in getting relief from cough. Having a glass of milk with turmeric in the night gives relief from cold and cough. Taking steam with Vicks VapoRub gives good relief from cold. A warm drink also soothes the entire respiratory tact.

By Rekha S

Cold Sore Symptom Identification - Best Cold Sore Treatment Ideas

A cold sore is a blister which appears on a person's lip or the edge of the mouth and is caused by infection with the HSV (herpes simplex virus). Such blisters will usually break open and weep clear fluid and then crust over and finally disappear after a few days. In this article we will look at cold sore symptoms.

The other such symptoms which will be related to a cold sore as well as the blister are:-

1. A sore mouth which makes eating, drinking and sleeping uncomfortable. Unfortunately many who suffer with cold sores find them painful.

2. You may have a temperature or fever.

3. You could suffer from a sore throat.

4. The lymph nodes in your neck will have become swollen.

5. Small children who have cold sores will drool more than usual.

Although you may no first develop a cold sore when you first become infected with HSV and if you do develop them when you are first infected these are normally more severe than any later outbreaks that may occur. With the first outbreak of cold sores they will often spread to any part of the mouth and not just be situated at one particular location.

Once a person has become infected with HSV it will remain in the body and may cause cold sores to return throughout your life. Most people who suffer from cold sores will have between 3 and 4 outbreaks a year although some may even suffer more than 1 cold sore attack each month.

Those core sores which are recurrent usually develop where a person's facial skin and lips meet and it takes between 6 and 48 hours before a cold sore becomes visible. The first real symptoms that a person will feel when a cold sore is about to happen is a tingling, or burning, or itching, or numbness, or tenderness or in somes cases pain around the affected area and this is called the prodromal stage.

Things which may cause a cold sore to return include such things as exposure to sunlight especially to the lips, stress, fatigue, another infection (such as a cold or flu), a food allergy, an injury that has happened to your lips or gums or you immune system may be impaired. Also women whose hormones are changing which can be caused by their menstrual cycle or because they are pregnant and result in cold sore symptom issues.

As you see the cold sore symptom can be varied and it all depends on the person who has actually been infected by HSV. Stay out of the sunlight if you get one on your lips or use spf 30 on the spot on your lip it occurs.

By Dee Cohen