Natural Cold Remedies (By Jodi M)

There are over ONE BILLION cases of colds and influenza (the common flu) in the United States every single year. The common cold is caused by cold viruses getting into your nasal passages and spreading to your adenoids which contain cells to which they can attach. Cold symptoms are triggered by your body's reaction to these infected cells.

Most people know that there is no cure for a cold, but what some people fail to realize is that there are treatments for symptoms of a cold. Antihistamines, decongestants and cough suppressants are all effective aids in relieving some of the discomfort associated with a cold. In addition to alleviating your symptoms with medicine, there are many things you can do to protect yourself from and shorten the duration of your cold.

The BEST thing you can do when you feel a cold coming on is get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids. Force yourself to stay home from school, work, or other activities and stay in bed! Your body will heal much faster if you give it the rest it needs. A body under stress is less able to fight off a cold or flu. Fruit juice with Vitamin C or plain water are the best fluids to ingest when fighting a cold. Drink as much as you can and stay well hydrated.

If you are feeling congested using a humidifier at night can really help clear out your nasal passages. If you don't have a humidifier you can turn on a hot shower and stand in the bathroom breathing in the steam for a few minutes.

If a sore throat is one of your cold symptoms, gargling with salt water can be really soothing. Use approximately one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle several times throughout the day.

Blow your nose often. Sniffling mucous back into your head will actually prolong the duration of your cold. Frequently blow your nose to keep your nasal passages clear. Drinking hot liquids and steamy showers can also help relieve nasal congestion.

Placing a small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can help open breathing passages as well as soothe the irritated skin under your nose.

Don't fly unless you have to. Flying with a cold or flu can hurt your eardrums as a result of pressure changes. Also, germs spread like wildfire on an airplane as there is nowhere for the air to escape for the duration of the flight.

Several natural vitamins and minerals are commonly used in helping with cold treatments. Zinc and Vitamin C can help reduce both the severity and the length of your cold. Echinacea is also thought to aid in healing faster from a cold. These natural cold remedies can be used in conjunction with cold medicines to give you the best results for your nagging cold.