8 Effective Common Cold Treatments and Prevention Tips

Common Cold is characterized by running nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. It is caused by viruses like Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, Respiratory syncytial virus, etc. There is no such effective cure for Common Cold even though; it is one of the big reasons to visit a doctor. If you know the symptoms well, cure may be done effectively at home.

The role of alternative medicine in the remedial measure of common cold is commendable. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) like Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, diet, etc. has enough potential in curing Common Cold. Home remedies, prevention, and precautions are also important aspects in the treatment of Cold.

Symptoms of common cold

• Running nose
• Sneezing
• Nasal Congestion and stuffiness
• Mild Fever
• Muscle ache
• Cough
• Shivering
• Body aches and Headache
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Sore and scratchy throat
• Redness of eye
• Watery eyes
• Postnasal drip

Causes of common cold

• Overheated or chilled
• Rhinoviruses
• Coronaviruses
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Transmission of the virus through saliva, air, cough, surfaces, blood, needles, etc.
• Adenovirus
• Parainfluenza
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Kissing

Complications of cold

• Viral infection leads to heavy pain
• Acute ear infection
• Rhinovirus leads asthma to chronic
• More secretion of mucus from sinuses-Sinusitis
• Increases the risk lower respiratory tract infection
• Tonsillitis
• Wheezing
• Secondary bacterial infections
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Aggravate the chronic respiratory conditions
• Laryngitis
• Pyrexia

Common cold risk factors

• Company with a person who has cold
• Women and Children are more prone
• Risk increases with stress people
• Unhygienic condition
• Exposed to smoke and smoggy air
• Person with less immunity
• Kissing
• Sharing utensil with the diseased person

Diagnosis of common cold

A throat culture or blood test to know whether other diseases are involved

Top 10 Yoga for common cold

Yoga due to its holistic healing can prevent the common cold and provide cold comfort. Yoga postures strengthen the immune system and help in preventing germs infection thereby keep the body away from cold and cough. The different Yoga poses and Yoga techniques for common cold relief are being described here.

1. Jal neti cleanses the nasal passages, removes excess mucus from the sinuses thereby helpful for normal breathing.
2. Sutra Neti: It is an excellent method of preventing cold inflammation of the nose as it rendered more resistant to attack by germs or viruses.
3. Kapalbhati is one of the effective breathing exercises to ease cold and its regular practice helps one to keep away from cough and cold for good.
4. Downward-Facing Dog- eases congestion as the pose stimulates blood flow to sinuses.
5. Setubandha asana facilitates restorative breathing.
6. Sarvangasana helps to eliminate and prevent throats, nose ailments thus a good measure for the common cold.
7. Ushtrasana expands the chest and results in deep breathing.
8. Bhastrika pranayama opens up the air cells of the lungs.
9. Anuloma-viloma eases nasal and chest congestion.
10. Bhramari Pranayama helps to open sinuses and relieves pressure.

7  amazing tips to prevent common cold

The various naturopathic remedy for common cold is given here. Fasting is advisable as it releases toxins from the body and helpful in the common cold.

1. Give more weight to vegetable soup.
2. Keep your body warm.
3. Sweating is helpful so use your blanket to cover for 30 minutes.
4. Hot spice tea is preferred.
5. Put olive oil into your nostril to release excess phlegm.
6. Take a mixture of jaggery + black pepper + boil water to get relief fast from the condition.
7. Water + lemon assuage the nasal congestion.

Ayurveda  medicine for common cold

More or less all people suffered from the common cold at certain stages of life. Ayurveda, being a holistic alternative medicine is having effective remedies for it. Ayurveda cure common cold and cough through herbs, foods, and spices. Ayurvedic herbs and foods are well-known home remedies. Prevention of the condition through Ayurveda is an old tradition prevalent in society.

• Decoction of equal part of raisin, black pepper, leaf of vasaka, cinnamon bark, and root of glycyrrhiza-14 to 28 ml is to be taken with 5 to 10 gram of raw sugar thrice a day. These are natural, herbal as well as safe treatment.
• 1 to 2 vati to be taken with honey sufficient to make a paste or with 7 to 14 ml. of ginger, twice a day.
• 1 to 2 vati to be taken with 7 to 14 ml. juice of the leaf of sacred basil and 60 to 120 mg bark of box myrtle twice a day.
• Prepare Nasya of dried ginger (600 mg.) and milk ( 5 to 10 ml). It’s 2 to 4 drops to be instilled in the nose. It is useful for a stuffy nose.
• Bishops weed easily opens up blocked nasal passages.
• Inhaling of Bishops weed seeds clear nasal congestions.
• Brunt roots smoke of cassia eases the clogged sinuses.
• Boil the mixture of cinnamon + pepper + honey to lessen sore throat.
• Cumin seeds are highly useful for cold.
• Drinking ginger tea is a good remedy.
• To prevent sore throat, chew leaves of Tulsi.
• Onion helps to remove sticky mucus from nasal passage.
• Ayurvedic medicines and herbs like Bhringasava, Anutaila, Vyoshaadi vati, Tribhuvana Keerti is prescribed by doctors for common cold remedy.
• Boil the mix of Tulsi (1 tsp) + water (1 litre). Drink it after filtration helps to alleviate the condition.
• The mix of fennel seeds and clove powder can be taken after boiling it with water.
• The mix of milk +turmeric helps to recover from cold early.
• Eating some raw garlic is good for the condition.
• Fasting followed by vegetable soup is good for it.
• Sitopladi churna or Yashtimadhu churna along with honey helps to prevent cough.
• Panchakarma is also beneficial for the common cold.

Homeopathy for cold and cough

Common cold has solutions and remedies in Homeopathy. Homeopathy remedies can relieve symptoms like running nose, sneezing, nasal congestion & stuffiness, watery eyes, etc. Few of the important homeopathic treatment and homeopathic cure for cold is described here. Before taking homeopathic medicine, it is suggested that one should consult a physician.

• Aconite napellus is used for sore throat and choking cough. It is a useful homeopathic remedy for cold.
• Allium cepa is a useful natural remedy for running nose and sneezing.
• Arsenicum album treats periodic cold.
• Belladonna is a good treatment for dry nose and acute headache.
• Bryonia helps to overcome irritation and dry cough.
• Dulcamara is beneficial for body ache and clogged nose.
• Euphrasia reduces the formation of phlegm.
• Ferrum Phosphoricum is helpful at the beginning of a cold.
• Gelsemium deals with drowsiness, lethargy, and body ache with body sensation.
• Calcarea carb is a good remedy for children who faced frequent cold.
• Kali Bichromicum is beneficial for thick mucous, sinus headache, and pain at the root of the nose.
• Oscillococcinum is advantageous for severe cold.

Naturopathy for common cold

The various naturopathic remedies for the common cold is given here:

• Fasting is advisable as it releases toxins from the body and helpful in the common cold.
• Give more weightage on vegetable soup.
• Keep your body warm.
• Sweating is helpful so use your blanket to cover for 30 minutes.
• Hot spice tea is preferred.
• Put olive oil into your nostril to release excess phlegm.
• Take a mixture of jaggery + black pepper + boil water to relieve fast.
• Water + lemon assuage the nasal congestion.

25 Top home remedies for the common cold

Home remedy is safe, balance, and cost-effective in curing of common cold. A number of home remedy is available that is beneficial for different types of cold. Natural cures for the condition through home remedies are without any side effects. Home remedy is effective for cold virus.

1. 1 tsp each of lemon + honey with a glass of warm water, if taken thrice a day is a good homemade remedy for the common cold.
2. Gargling with salt + lukewarm water is useful.
3. Take 10 drops of betel leaf juice twice a day as a natural remedy.
4. Onion + honey prevent chronic condition.
5. Use hot liquid in the form of herbal tea and veg. soup.
6. Rub the mixture of salt + mustard oil on ENT parts to get relief.
7. Applied the mix of nutmeg + opium + cow’s milk on the forehead and nasal area to open the congested nasal zone.
8. 1 tsp each of gooseberry juice + ginger generally checks recurrence of it.
9. Eucalyptus oil is quite beneficial when it is applied to the affected region.
10. A ventilated room is preferred to see the outside optimum temperature.
11. Steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil is effective.
12. Vitamin C reduces the severity of cold.
13. 1 tsp of salt +10 ml of warm water may be used as a nasal drop.
14. Zinc is beneficial for dry and inflamed throat.
15. Bath with cinnamon helps to relieve congestion.
16. A mix of garlic + onion + water enables us to overcome it.
17. Ginger juice +Honey is fruitful for the disease.
18. Garlic is a preventive one due to its antiseptic properties, so one should go for garlic soup.
19. Bath with warm water eases nasal and chest congestion
20. Warm milk + small quantity of asafetida is quite beneficial.
21. To cure it, inhale the ingredients of coriander seeds + jaggery + water.
22. To help to alleviate the symptoms, use a mix of black pepper + curd + sugar.
23. To cure nasal blockage, take the mixture of Tulsi seeds and ginger
24. Inhalation of vapor of ladies finger + water helps to remove throat infection and dry cough.
25. Taking vapor of ajwain twice a day relieve nasal blockage.

10 Unani medicines for cold

The different Unani medicines and products are here for the treatment and cure of the common cold:

1. 6 grams of wheat husk, black peppers 5 in numbers, and 1 gram of salt. Boil the entire ingredient in 120 ml. of water and strain it. This mix of Unani medicine is given twice a day to get instant relief.
2. Take 12 grams of fresh leaves of almond and 1 gram of salt. Boil both the components in 180 ml. of water and strain the product properly. It is given once or twice daily on empty stomach.
3. Take 5 grams of Banafsha flower, boil 120 ml. of water, and strain. It is given twice daily on empty stomach.
4. 3 grams of Behidana + 5 pieces of Unnab + 9 almond. Boil the mixture. Boil Unnab and almond in 120 ml. of water and strain. Soak behidana in 60 ml. of water, extract the mucilage, mix with decoction and sweeten with honey. The product is taken twice a day.
5. Boil 3 grams of Darchini in 120 ml. of water, strain, and sweeten with sugar. The dose is given twice a day.
6. Dissolve 10 grams of the lauq Sipistan in 120 ml. water and take it at bedtime.
7. Dissolve 10 gram of the Lauq Motadil in 120 ml. of hot water and take at bedtime.
8. 25 ml. of Sharbat Sadar mixed with 60 ml. of lukewarm water at bedtime.
9. 25 ml. of Sharbat Banafsha mixed with 60 ml. of lukewarm water at bedtime.
10. 7 grams of Tiryaq Nazala in the morning is good.

20 prevention tips for cold

1.  Cold foods, Cold drinks, ice cream, fried foods, etc. should be avoided
2. Eat freshly cooked food
3. Keep yourself away from the infected person
4. Use kerchief or tissues while sneezing
5. Avoid cold showers, cold winds, and air conditioners
6. Avoid tomatoes and bananas
7. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
8. Wash your hands frequently after bathing and before eating because the biggest carrier of germs is your hand
9. Wash your hand with plain water
10. Use liquid iodine to remove virus
11. Avoid excessive stress or tiredness
12. More precaution should be taken for  young children and seniors as they are easily susceptible
13. Keep your kitchen and bathroom neat and clean
14. Sharing of water-glass and utensil should be avoided
15. Keep fingers out of the eyes and nose
16. Take vitamin, especially Vitamin C as it makes your immune system stronger
17. If you have a fever, put moist clothes on your head to have good sleep
18. Sweet fruit juices are not good to take
19. Good to take boiled or steamed vegetables
20. Clean the surface with disinfectant