Home Remedies That Effectively Fight Colds and Flu

Cold medicines are almost as common as the common cold in the winter, but do they work? There’s nothing that can cure a cold, but there are treatments that can help relieve your symptoms so you don’t feel so miserable. Here, we take a look at some common cold remedies and what you need to know about them.

If you catch a cold, you may be sick for a week or two. This doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. These treatments can help you feel better.

Also read: What is hypothermia: How to avoid the effects of the cold in winter

stay hydrated

Water, juice, broth, or warm lemon water with honey can help relieve congestion and prevent dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated drinks, which can worsen dehydration.

rest

Your body needs to heal.

Soothes sore throat

A saltwater gargle (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) can temporarily relieve throat pain or irritation. Children under 6 years old are unlikely to be able to rinse their mouth properly. You can also try ice chips, sore throat spray, lozenges, or candy. Do not give pills or candy to children under 4 years of age as they may choke.

Fight congestion. Over-the-counter nose drops and saline sprays can help relieve congestion and congestion. For babies, experts recommend placing a few drops of saline solution into one nostril and then gently suctioning the nostril with a syringe. To do this, squeeze the ball, gently insert the syringe tip 1/4 to 1/2 inch into the nostril, and then slowly release the ball.Saline nasal spray may be used in older children

• Reduce pain. For children 6 months of age or younger, give only acetaminophen. For children older than 6 months, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ask your child’s healthcare provider for the correct dosage for your child’s age and weight. Adults can take acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) or aspirin. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Although aspirin is approved for use in children over 3 years of age, children and teens who are recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin because it is associated with Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease. disease.
• Drink hot liquids. A cold remedy used in many cultures is drinking warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea, or warm apple juice, which can soothe and relieve congestion by increasing the flow of mucus. – Increase air humidity. A cool mist evaporator or humidifier can increase the humidity in your home, which can help relieve congestion. Change the water daily and clean the equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use steam as it has not been proven to help and may cause burns. Try over-the-counter cold and cough medicines.
• Reduce pain. For adults and children over 5 years of age, over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines, and pain relievers may be helpful. However, they do not prevent colds or shorten their duration, and most have some side effects. Experts agree that it should not be given to young children. Overuse and abuse of these drugs can cause serious harm. Take the medicine only as directed. Some cold medicines contain multiple ingredients, such as decongestants and pain relievers, so read the label of any cold medicine you take to make sure you’re not taking too much.

What are the cold medicines? No do their job

The list of ineffective cold medicines is long. Some of the most common methods that don’t work include:

antibiotic. They attack bacteria but are not helpful in fighting cold viruses. Avoid asking your doctor for cold antibiotics or using older antibiotics you already have on hand. You won’t recover faster, and improper use of antibiotics can lead to a serious and growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines for young children:

Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines can cause serious or fatal side effects in children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns children under 6 years of age not to use this drug.

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Cold medicine with conflicting evidence

Although research is still ongoing, the scientific jury is still out on some popular cold remedies, such as vitamin C and echinacea.

Here are updates to some common alternative remedies:

• Vitamin C. For the most part, taking vitamin C doesn’t seem to help the average person prevent colds. However, Taking vitamin C before cold symptoms appear can shorten the duration of symptoms. Vitamin C may benefit people who are at high risk for colds due to frequent exposure, such as children who attend group day care during the winter.
• Echinacea. Research on whether echinacea can prevent or shorten the duration of colds has mixed results. Some studies show no benefit. Other medications have been shown to reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken early in the course of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have led to different results. Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you have cold symptoms and continue taking it for 7 to 10 days. It appears to be safe in healthy adults but can interact with many medications. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking echinacea or any other supplement.
• zinc. There has been a lot of discussion about taking zinc to treat colds since a 1984 study showed that zinc supplements could reduce cold symptoms. Research since then has produced mixed results.some studies show Zinc lozenges or syrup may shorten cold duration by one daya, especially if taken within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms. Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider before considering using zinc to prevent or reduce the length of a cold.

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