Try These Home Remedies When You Have a Cold

Anyone who’s ever had a cold knows nothing beats staying hydrated and getting enough rest to help your body heal. Don’t be afraid to take a day off because of a cold! Staying at home to rest and drinking warm water with lemon and honey to help loosen congestion is one of the most common home remedies whenever you have a cold.

Different cultures have different methods of treating the common cold at home. For instance, in Zambia, they use an herbal steam that uses an herb called Mayani, which smells like mint and has expectorant qualities. The person with a cold sits under a blanket and lets the steam from a pot of boiled Mayani leaves mist over their face and chest.

Many cultures also eat hot soups when they have a cold or flu. Doing so makes them feel better and ingest nutrients more easily. In China, they believe that Congee can be a healing food. It is made from rice and stock, but you can add many different ingredients too. While in Cambodia, they drink a simple vegetable soup with a little spice.

Other people across the world use ginger tea, garlic tea, and cinnamon tea (sometimes mixed with honey) for symptom relief. Additionally, we mustn’t forget the classic chicken noodle soup, which is believed to be a natural remedy for colds because hot soups and drinks help soothe your membranes while delivering vital nutrients to your body.

There are many types of home remedies that you can find at your local drugstore for minor health conditions, and that includes the common cold. Although there is no cure for a cold, some effective remedies are available to help relieve symptoms and make you feel a little bit better while you recover. Hence, here are some home remedies for the common cold that work.

• Saltwater gargle for sore throats
  Dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and gargling it for a few seconds gives you temporary relief from scratchy or sore throats. If you don’t like gargling saltwater, you may also try getting sore throat sprays or lozenges from a retail pharmacy near you. Although please be cautious when giving lozenges to children below six years old as it can become a choking hazard.
• Use nasal drops and sprays to help counter stuffiness
  When you have a cold, your nose can get stuffy, making it harder for you to breathe. There are many over-the-counter options for saline drops and sprays for you to use when you’ve got a stuffy nose. Additionally, if you have a humidifier, you can use it to add moisture to the room you are resting in because moisture can help loosen congestion.
• Over-the-counter medicine for pain relief
  Having a first-aid cabinet at home is always ideal since it helps to keep a few over-the-counter medicines around. OTC medications like ibuprofen or aspirin offer pain relief when feeling the severe symptoms of a cold. You can also ask your pharmacists about the correct dosage and if you can pair it with over-the-counter cold and cough medications to relieve your symptoms.
• Natural honey
  For centuries, honey has been used to treat wounds and intestinal conditions. Because natural honey has bactericidal activity, it is known to help soothe sore throats and coughs. If you have a jar of natural honey lying around the house, try putting it in tea or mixing it with warm liquids to help relieve coughs. It’s been known to have a soothing effect, and adults and children over the age of 1 can safely consume it.

When you have a cold, try to avoid drinking sodas, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks, as these can worsen your dehydration. And since we know fairly well that colds (though minor) can make people feel out of sorts, you have the option to contact Cavalier Pharmacare for convenient prescription delivery services to have your medications delivered to your door while you rest at home.

Our expert pharmacists do not recommend taking antibiotics when you have a cold. Viruses cause colds, and antibiotics attack bacteria, so they won’t help you recover from a cold. Moreover, misusing antibiotics can put you at risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can multiply with increased use of antibiotics. Always remember to consult a health professional before taking medications to avoid serious side effects.

You have the option of asking your local pharmacists about which medications to take when you have a cold and the best times and dosage to take your medicine. You can always rely on us for your medical supplies and other pharmaceutical needs, so you are always prepared at home.

Do you have further inquiries or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 276-666-6644.