3 Ways to Cure Colds

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

A severe cold can thwart plans, spoil your mood, and prevent you from getting out of bed when you really want to get up and go to work. The best way to cure a cold is to get plenty of rest, strengthen your immune system by doing various healthy habits, and relieve symptoms with herbs and medical drugs. Take time to heal your body properly. The common cold occurs due to a disruption in the immune system, while the immune system must defeat the cold virus so that the body can return to health. So, help the body heal itself by meeting its needs.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Strengthening the Immune System

Step 1. Get enough sleep

The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep each night and sleep becomes even more important when the immune system is compromised. Make sure you get enough rest: don't stay up late and sleep longer if you can. Sleep is an opportunity for the body to heal itself.

Ask to be absent from work or show up late so you can sleep more. You don't have to rest in bed all day unless it's necessary, but at least try not to work too hard

Step 2. Keep yourself hydrated

It's very easy to get dehydrated when you're sick and dry sinuses will only make cold symptoms worse. Drink plenty of water, tea, and soup to relieve irritation.

Stay away from alcohol and sugary drinks because even small amounts of it can weaken the immune system. Do not consume alcohol and sugary drinks until the body returns to health and the immune system is strong.
Use a humidifier in the bedroom so you don't breathe dry air through the night. Electric humidifiers can be purchased at some department stores and pharmacies.

Step 3. Avoid exposure to germs

Your immune system has been compromised. So, try to avoid bacteria that can worsen the condition of the body. Stay away from hospitals, crowds of people, and other people who are also sick. Stay away from all germ-laden places. Clean your hands with a hand sanitizer several times throughout the day.

Always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Whenever you come into contact with germs or someone who is sick, clean your hands.
Avoid transmitting the virus to other people, especially children, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Cover your nose and mouth with your arm, tissue, or handkerchief when you sneeze or cough. Wash pillowcases, towels, clothing, and eating utensils that have been contaminated so that the cold does not recur after recovery.

Step 4. Stay away from sugar

Sugar weakens the immune system. Eating lots of sugar-rich foods/drinks reduces the body's ability to heal cold symptoms. There is a medical debate about whether avoiding sugar consumption during a cold can actually speed up the duration of healing. However, generally avoiding sugar consumption is a better choice to support the immune system.

People tend to get sick when they consume a lot of sugar at certain times, for example during times of stress and during winter. Stress itself also weakens the immune system. So, the combination of stress and sugar consumption can harm the body. It's a good idea to reduce sugar consumption during these times so as not to aggravate the problem.
Don't eat candy, soda, and other sweets. Fruit juices contain sugar, but are usually also rich in vitamin C. So, avoid fruit juices that contain too much sugar.
Many animals can convert sugar into vitamin C, but humans cannot. Sugar competes with vitamin C in the body. So, high sugar consumption often causes the concentration of vitamin C in the body to be low.

Method 2 of 3: Using Over-the-counter Medicines

Step 1. Use a nasal decongestant to relieve the symptoms of a sinus cold

Decongestants don't speed up the duration of a cold, but they make it easier for you to tolerate your symptoms. Decongestants are available in pill, chewable, and liquid form. Steroid nasal sprays may also be used. Decongestants can generally be used safely as long as the dosage instructions listed on the package are followed. Over-the-counter decongestants are available at most pharmacies and convenience stores.

The active ingredient in most commercial decongestants is pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Decongestants work by constricting the blood vessels in the walls of the nose. Thus, the blood flow through the area is reduced so that the swollen tissue in the nose is reduced and breathing air can pass more easily.
Do not use decongestants for more than 3 days because they can cause addiction. If you are addicted to a decongestant, your nose can feel even more stuffy when you stop using the decongestant, also known as the "rebound effect".

Step 2. Take a cough suppressant to relieve coughing

Cough syrups and cough gums, whether medicated or not, are available at most pharmacies and convenience stores. Some cough syrups are designed to help you go about your daily activities, although others, such as Nyquil, Z-Quil, and all brands ending in "PM," help you sleep at night when a cough interferes with sleep.

Dextromethorphan is the main active ingredient in most cough medicines. This substance is safe for consumption in moderation, but should not exceed the recommended dose, especially if the drug also contains the expectorant guaifenesin. This substance should also not be used if you are taking antidepressants.
Always carry cough candy with you. The effect of cough syrup lasts longer than cough gum. However, cough gum is usually an herbal cough reliever that doesn't contain medication so it doesn't cause drowsiness.

Step 3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve headaches, sore throats, and other aches

Pain relievers do not reduce the duration of the cold, but help you tolerate the symptoms of the common cold. Pain relievers should only be used for a short time, should not be prolonged so as not to cause addiction.

The active ingredient in most over-the-counter pain relievers is paracetamol or several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Although effective in relieving pain, not everyone gets the same effect when taking over-the-counter pain relievers. So, if one medication doesn't work for you, try another.
Follow the dosage instructions listed on the medicine package. Do not take pain relievers more or for longer than the recommended dosage and instructions for use. “Can be purchased without a prescription” does not mean “harmless”. Paracetamol overdose, for example, can cause liver failure that may require a liver transplant or result in death.

Method 3 of 3: Using Home Remedies

Step 1. Use menthol or honey to relieve cough and sore throat

If you don't want to take over-the-counter cough or pain relievers, you can also use natural ingredients to get the same effect.

Use menthol, the active chemical in mint, to relieve symptoms of a cold in the throat. Always carry a pack of Altoids or gargle with a mint-flavored mouthwash and take advantage of the mild numbing effect of menthol for pain relief.
Use honey to relieve coughs. Researchers have compared the effects of honey with dextromethorphan and found that honey is much more effective. Honey may be especially useful for treating children who don't like the taste of over-the-counter cough suppressants. However, be careful not to overuse honey because the sweetness of honey that relieves coughs can also weaken the immune system if consumed in large doses.

Step 2. Use camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil to clear sinus congestion

Apply a small amount of menthol-containing balm under the nose to help open the airways and restore irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor have mild numbing properties that can relieve the pain of an irritated nose.

Step 3. Take herbal supplements to boost your immune system

Help the immune system by taking vitamins, herbs, and other natural supplements, such as vitamin C, zinc, garlic, ginseng, Echinacea, etc. Take multivitamins to improve overall body health. Supplements can't miraculously cure the common cold, but they can strengthen and enable the body to fight the cold virus more effectively.

Various supplements that can strengthen the immune system are available at health food stores and convenience stores. It's a good idea to find out about the effects of certain herbal supplements before taking them. However, know that the risks of herbs and vitamins are usually not as dangerous as medical drugs that can be purchased without a prescription.
Echinacea is believed to be an "immune system stimulant". However, the ability of Echinacea to prevent or relieve cold symptoms is still debated in the medical community. Laboratory tests have proven that garlic is efficacious against bacteria, viruses, and fungi although more research is needed. A number of small studies and trusted practitioners of eastern medicine state that ginseng can greatly stimulate the immune system.

Step 4. Drink hot liquids to relieve nasal congestion

Hot liquids help clear congestion in the respiratory tract, prevent dehydration, and soothe inflamed membranes in the irritated nose and throat. Hot tea, hot soup, hot lemon water, or hot herbal teas are great hot drinks to help relieve cold symptoms. Make sure the drink is not too hot so that it doesn't hurt your throat and make it hurt even more.

If your nose is so stuffy that you can't sleep at night, try drinking hot toddy, an ancient home remedy. Make 240 ml of hot herbal tea. Add 1 tsp honey and 45 ml whiskey or bourbon. Limit alcohol to only 45 ml because too much alcohol can cause inflammation of the sinus membranes, which will actually make the cold worse

Step 5. Gargle with a warm saline solution to relieve a sore throat

Gargle at least once every hour with 1 tsp (5 g) of salt dissolved in 240 ml of warm water to reduce swelling and relieve sore throat. If you have post-nasal drip, where mucus flows from the back of your nose into your throat, rinse your mouth frequently to avoid further irritation of the throat.

Try gargling with apple cider vinegar. The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar kills bacteria in the throat. In addition, apple cider vinegar also helps strengthen the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells. Vinegar is also a natural expectorant that can kill bacteria and loosen phlegm.
Try gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash. Mouthwash may not relieve cold symptoms, but it can kill some of the bacteria in your throat, making them multiply more slowly.

Step 6. Apply a hot compress on the face to remove the blockage in the sinuses

Reusable hot compresses are available at pharmacies. However, you can also make your own hot compress. Wet a washcloth and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Or, wet a washcloth with hot water. Before applying to the face, make sure the washcloth is not too hot so as not to injure the skin.

Step 7. Blow your nose frequently to reduce blockage

Blow your nose gently so as not to irritate your sinuses or inner ear. Blowing your nose too hard can cause nose bleeds and ear infections. Close one nostril, then blow through the other, and vice versa.

Blow your nose into your hands while taking a hot shower and run the water through to clear mucus. This is a great way to completely get rid of blockages in the sinuses, even if only temporarily.
Use a clean roll of toilet paper which is a cheaper option than regular paper towels. Keep the tissue nearby to wipe your nose, blow your nose, or sneeze if needed.

Step 8. Support your head so that there is no blockage during sleep

Support your head with one or two extra clean pillows. Blockage can occur at night if fluid flows down the back of the throat, especially if you are used to sleeping on your back. Sleep on your side or on your stomach so that your throat and nose are not blocked.

Tips

Blowing your nose too hard can cause a nose bleed or even an ear infection. Blow your nose gently and use a good quality tissue to prevent irritation.
Remember, use a hand sanitizer, or wash your hands as usual, several times throughout the day to keep the cold from recurring or spreading to other people.
Get plenty of rest. If you feel tired, sleep. Don't surf the internet all night until dawn.