Common Cold and its Sure Shot Treatment

The common cold is supposed to be one of the most trivial of ailments, and yet is responsible for significant absences from work and school, both for adults as well as children. While it is common for adults to be affected about 2 - 4 times a year, and for children, about 5 - 10 times a year, there are many who have recurrent common cold, almost daily or every few weeks. Depending upon the severity of symptoms, this affliction may make life miserable for such people.

Most people have their own home remedies for the common cold. Some of these can be supported by scientific research. Researchers are still trying to find out how to cure the common cold, but in all likelihood, there will never be a cure, only a treatment.

Treatment:

1. Fruit juices have long been considered home cures for the common cold. Both lemon and orange juice are excellent sources of vitami
C, one of the best known anti-oxidants. There have been hundreds more studies about vitami
C and the common cold than there have about green tea and the common cold. Numerous books have been written on the subject.

2. Ginger is another excellent herb that is a good remedy for colds and coughs. About 10 grams of ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and1/2 a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, arranged by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiling water before adding the tea leaves, is also an efficient remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. It may be taken 2 times a day.

3. Garlic is another herb known for its antibacterial properties. Garlic aids in improving appetite as well so patients eat better even with their condition. The herb can be prepared in different ways as soup, tea or juice. If the patient can tolerate, they can eat pure garlic as well.

4. One additional and vitally important cold treatment is to maintain a balanced diet. Good nutrition will help you resist and recover quickly from the common cold. Taking a multivitamin is a good way to ensure that you are receiving the recommended dietary vitamin allowances.

5. Home remedies are helpful in most of the cases in treating this disorder. Most of the required herbs such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), Onion (Allium cepa), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) are commonly available at home. In addition, Jaggery, Black pepper and Lemon are also effectively used. Home remedies work best when applied on the prodome (tingling) stage of the disease.

6. Another way of treating the common cold would be to consume Vitamin C laden fruits and juices. Lemons and lime are just two of the fruits which are normally loaded with Vitamin C, and you can treat yourself to a glass of lemon or lime juice laced with a few drops of honey. Oranges may be too sweet and are thus best switched with either lemon or lime.