Cold and flu can be easily treated at home. If you don’t want to go to the doctor then here are some natural common remedies for cold and flu that are easy yet highly effective in giving you relief from the symptoms.
Blow Your Nose Correctly
You should avoid not blowing your nose when you have a cold and flu. However, you should know how to blow your nose correctly. You can press a finger over your left nostril and blow without too much pressure from the other nostril and vice versa.
Rest
You should rest when you have a cold and flu so you get better sooner. You should aim to stay warm when you rest so your body is better able to get well faster. When your immune system is constantly fighting it gets tired and resting can help you feel better.
Elevate Your Head
When you rest, you want to do it right. One of the common remedies for cold and flu is to elevate your head when you are sleeping. You can keep another pillow under your head so your nasal passages can clear.
Warm Salt Water
You should mix ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt in about 8 ounces of warm water. Using a bulb syringe, you can squirt the mixture into your nose. The best way to do it is to close one nostril with your finger while squirting the mixture in the other nostril. Then allow it to drain.
Salve Under Nose
You can dab a bit of mentholated salve right under your nose. This can help improve the irritated skin there and it can help you breathe better. You want to make sure you don’t dab the salve inside your nose. You want to use ingredients such as menthol that are not too strong.
Eat Certain Foods
Eating certain foods is one of the common remedies for cold and flu. You should consume foods that are rich in Vitamin C, cranberries, bananas, horseradish, onions, carrots, chili peppers, and blueberries.
Gargle
Gargling can help give you relief from cold and flu. You want to take 8 ounces of warm water and then put in ½ teaspoon of salt. You should ideally gargle at least four times a day to feel better and get better sooner.
Hot And Cold Packs
You can buy cold or hot packs at a store and both work well in giving you relief from cold and flu. You can make a cold pack by using a frozen bag of food in your freezer. For the hot pack, you can heat a damp washcloth in the microwave for about 50 seconds. You don’t want it to be too hot.
Zinc Lozenges
One of the common remedies for cold and flu is to take zinc lozenges. You can easily find them at a store near you. Zinc lozenges can help relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. The sooner you start taking these the quicker you will experience the relief.
Take A Warm Shower
Taking a warm shower can help clear your nasal passages. You will feel more relaxed and your symptoms can improve as a result. You can take a steamy shower by sitting on a chair if you feel a little dizzy due to the flu. Else, just take a warm shower and it will give you relief from symptoms.
Drink Warm Liquids
Your nose and throat membranes inflame when you have a cold and flu. Drinking warm liquids can help with hydration and can help give you relief from nasal congestion. For example, have a cup of herbal tea every day and it will help give you relief.
When you don’t feel better after these common remedies for cold and flu, then it is best you visit a doctor. Sometimes, serious conditions can have symptoms similar to a common cold.