Unfortunately for many of us, the dark cold days of winter means coming down with at least a cough or a few sniffles. Cold season, so aptly named, is when colds and flus are at their heights and we do our best to stay healthy when the weather is frightful. We all know there is no cure yet for the common cold, and a recent article in USAToday stated that Americans catch an estimated one billion colds each year. Seems colds are here to stay.
Still, there are a number of home remedies that are not only safe, but also effective in helping speed up the recovery process, or at the least, soothing your symptoms. Everyone has there own “method” for dealing with nasty cold symptoms. But, if cough drops are your go-to fix, maybe try out one of these other options and see how you feel.
1. Chicken Noodle Soup
It’s no secret that chicken noodle is soup is a classic favorite for sick bodies looking for some restoration, It's a perfect comfort food during the winter. Chicken soup is made by boiling and simmering chicken parts to create that delicious, clear broth that will cure what ails ye. Many countries have their own versions, and you can mix and match different fillings like noodles, dumplings, veggies, chicken, and matzo balls to make your soup satisfying to the soul. Pho is another great alternative to chicken noodle soup (plus it’s got that extra kick).
2. Ginger Tea
Many people are intimated by the idea of making their own tea, but nothing could be simpler! To make ginger tea, all you have to do is cut up some ginger root , boil it, and then let it simmer. Maybe add a little lemon and honey. The strong brew will kick your cold to the curb. To see a video for ginger tea, click here.
3. The Neti Pot
Love it or hate it, the Neti pot is a very effective way to clear nasal symptoms by pouring warm salt water down your passages to clear build up. Some find this too weird/invasive, but you’d be amazed at what this spouted white pot can do.
4. Garlic
Garlic is not just for warding off vampires; it is said to have high antibiotic and antifungal properties and is an easy, handy way to fight off symptoms without buying expensive medicines. One way to get garlic into your system is to simply add it to your food, but you can also try some more hard core methods like eating it pressed with honey, in tea, or juicing it!
Photos by Flickr user Robert Couse-Baker
Comments
February 21, 2011
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Foodista, hungryduo, Opinion Place, Joe Tufaro, Kyle Roope and others. Kyle Roope said: RT @foodista: No meds necessary! 4 home remedies for the common cold: http://fdsta.com/iasogH [...]
February 24, 2011
You have brought up four very important factors which are under looked in some communities in treating common cold. Specially as a sri lankan, if I look in to ayurwedic medicine (a system of medicine) lot of these king of remedies can be found. Some believe ginger tea and garlic give a quick symptomatic relief. I like to add another important set of foods. That is citrus fruits like orange and strawberry. They contain vitamin c and there are lot of studies about effectiveness of vitamin c in treating common cold. Have a look at http://agelag.blogspot.com/2011/02/vitamin-c-and-common-cold.html