Seasonal changes can bring in serious changes in our immune system making it susceptible to cold, cough and viral fever. It is common for everyone to suffer from cough and cold twice or thrice a year and studies have found that babies and toddlers suffer from these health conditions around 8 to 10 times a year.
Common cough and cold can be easily treated at home and you don’t need to rush to the doctor with just one sneeze. Instead of popping up chemical laden pills which are studied to damage the kidneys and liver in the long run, opt for easy DIY remedies with easily available kitchen ingredients. However, if you have cough and cold for more than a week and is not showing improvement or is accompanied by fever, then you must definitely get yourself medically checked.
Here are 5 home remedies to treat common cough and cold which will provide significant relief from sore throat, nasal congestion and mild headache or temperature:
1. Honey Ginger Tea
This tea is perhaps your immunity system’s best friend and will help your body defend itself from cold and cough causing virus and bacteria. Honey is a super food that is loaded with various nutrients and antioxidants while the flavour of ginger helps in alleviating symptoms of cold and cough.
Take some ginger slices and add them to boiling water. After boiling it for around 10 to 15 minutes, add three teaspoons of honey and drink it thrice a day. Ensure that you drink it warm. It will instantly provide energy and drink it every day till the symptoms completely vanish.
2. Honey Onion Syrup
Apart from honey, onion is one commonly available kitchen ingredient that can come to your rescue in case of cough and cold. Onions are loaded with essential antioxidants that boost the body’s immunity level and protect it from the attack of cold and cough causing bacteria.
Take three red onions and cut them into slices. Put the slices in a bottle and add two tablespoons of honey to it. Close the lid and leave it for 12 hours. After this time duration, open the lid and discard the onion slices. Your homemade cough syrup is ready. Take this syrup thrice a day and do not drink water for at least half an hour after taking this syrup.
3. Steam Inhalation
Your body requires warmth, which helps in melting the mucus accumulation in the nose and throat. Just boil some water in a large vessel and inhale the steam while covering your head with a towel. In case of babies or toddlers, use humidifiers or shower mist to help relieve nasal congestion.
4. Vegetable Garlic Soup
Garlic is anti-bacterial and anti-viral in nature and is loaded with antioxidants that build body’s stamina to deal with common diseases. During cough and cold, your digestion system too suffers a hard time digesting more of carbohydrates. Instead go for fibre and vitamin rich vegetables and prefer more of hot soup made from fresh vegetables and garlic, which not only treats weakness and headache associated with cough and cold but also helps in giving your taste buds the much required kick.
5. Turmeric Milk
The ancient Ayurveda has always cited the importance of including turmeric in the daily diet. Turmeric is rich in compound named curcumin which is an antioxidant that has been medically studied to provide incredible benefits to the kidneys, brain, liver and heart. Being anti-septic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory, turmeric must be consumed to easily get rid of common cold and cough. Milk being rich in protein and calcium makes the perfect partner to turmeric.
Just boil a glass of milk and add one teaspoon of turmeric to it and drink it twice a day to get relief from cough, body ache and headache. This is one of the most trusted, cheapest and simplest home remedies to treat common cough and cold.
While knowing these remedies are important but you must also take precautions during seasonal changes. Avoid eating or drinking cold foodstuffs, wear weather suitable clothing and ensure that you don’t step out with your hair wet. Babies and children should be given lukewarm water for drinking, should be bathed in warm water and layering them with appropriate clothing is very essential. Moreover, keeping your house clean and breathing fresh air while bringing necessary changes in your diet will help you in preventing cough and cold.
