Common Cold - Causes And Home Remedies

Common cold, the most frequent illness for almost all, may be defined as a contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by the rhinovirus that enters the body through mouth or nose. The virus infects the cells lining the nose. One catches common cold mainly by inhaling in the air which bears droplets sprayed by the infected person when he or she coughs, sneezes or talks. Common cold virus also spreads through hand to hand contact or sharing the articles belonging to the infected person.

The symptoms of common cold include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough congestion, mild headache, body aches, low grade fever, sneezing, hoarseness, watery eyes, decreased appetite, breathing discomfort and mild fatigue. The symptoms show up within 2-3 days of exposure to common cold virus, and as the infection matures, the nasal discharge becomes thick and yellowish. The number of common cold infection cases shoots up in rainy season, fall and winters. Infants and people with weakened immune system easily fall prey to common cold. Also allergic disorders and menstrual cycles increase the vulnerability to common cold infection.

Home Remedies for Common Cold

1. Gargling with saline water (one-fourth teaspoon salt mixed in 8 ounce water) soothes a sore, itchy throat

2. A hot water bath relieves nasal and chest congestion.

3. Mix chopped garlic in 3 tablespoon honey. Take a teaspoon of the mixture an hour before going to bed. This is a perfect home remedy for cold.

4. A bowl of garlic soup may be taken daily. The antiseptic properties in garlic relieve cold.

5. Steam inhalation frees the blocked nose and enables easy breathing.

6. Mix one teaspoon turmeric in half cup milk. Take the solution to get fast relief from cold.

7. Add a pinch of black pepper powder and some jiggery to a bowl of yoghurt. Take the mixture twice daily. This is an effective cold remedy.

8. Add the juice of one lemon to a glass of warm water, sweeten with honey and drink 2 times daily. This is highly beneficial in treating cold.

9. Add 3 grams asafetida to a glass of warm milk and drink twice. This is a good solution for cold problem.

10. Application of hot packs relieves headache due to cold.

11. Take a mixture of half teaspoon cinnamon oil and half teaspoon honey. This helps to get rid of cold quickly.

12. Take a mixture of 3-4 teaspoon onion juice and 3-4 teaspoon honey daily to get relief from cold.

13. Tie a tablespoon of crushed carom seeds in a piece of cloth and inhale. This clears nasal blockage.

14. Cut lemon in to two. Put the halves in a jug and add 2 tablespoon barley after pouring boiling water in to the jug. Cover and leave ove
ight. Strain the liquid and drink the next morning. This is an effective cold cure.

15. Mix powdered basil seeds and powdered ginger. Take 5 grams of the mixture twice a day. This yields good results against cold

16. A cup of hot ginger tea daily keeps away cold.

17. Make a paste of 200 gram coriander seeds, add jiggery and further beat it up in to a smooth paste. Add water and bring to boil. Inhale the vapor to get relief from stuffy nose.