When you feel you might catch a cold, your head hurts, you start to cough a little and maybe you have a runny nose, there are certain things you can do to stop it from developing.

At the same time, we must not underestimate the flu and its severe consequences. The main way to differentiate a simple cold from a flu is that the first one affects the body a shorter amount of time and is less aggressive, while the flu manifests a longer period of time and can be really serious.

Symptoms often get confused, especially because some of them are similar. The main symptoms that distinguish the two conditions are as follows:

The simple cold

It begins with fatigue, sneezing, headaches and a sore throat, slight fever followed by increased nasal secretions and the skin has a pale look.

The flu

It begins suddenly and has a violent manifestation: fever of 390- 400C (1020-1040F), often accompanied by fatigue, dry coughs, chills, severe headache, eye pain and a soar throat. The fever may last from 3 to 5 days. The coughing is also present and can last up to two months, persisting even after other symptoms have disappeared. Muscle aches are more acute from than of simple colds and the chills are accompanied by abdominal and bone pain, with a burning eye sensation. Nausea and vomiting are also associated with the flu and in serious cases it can evolve into other gastrointestinal problems. In this case it is recommended to seek emergency medical help.

Now we know what a simple cold is and how it starts. But  we are not always able to recover from it quickly while avoiding to take many drugs.

Here are some natural remedies that you can use to treat a simple cold:

Drink plenty of liquids

When you have a simple cold, you need to increase hydration. The body fights to make you healthy again and this consumes a lot of resources, so it is necessary to consume plenty of liquids. Fresh fruit juices, water, tea and soup can all provide vitamins and nutrients that the body needs. Hydration also relieves symptoms like a sore throat or runny nose.

Salt

It has many healing properties. Water with salt has been used for centuries for its therapeutic effects, because it dissolves the mucus and cleans the throat.

Gargling with salty water can relieve sore and itchy throats that are associated with the first signs of a cold. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and use it to gargle four times a day. You can also take hot baths with salt. You will start to feel their positive effects right after the first one.

Also Read:
The Essence of Energy Inside Us – Traditional Chinese Medicine
7 Health Benefits of Raspberry Tea

Salt water spray is one of the most effective ways to breathe easily again. The biggest advantage is that, besides letting you breathe again, it can clean bacteria and eliminate viruses.

Honey

It has antibacterial properties, so it is ideal in getting rid of a sore throat. You can disolve it in hot tea or even consume it as it is.

Plantains plant 

The infusion made of the plantains plant is ideal for cleaning the airways because it has antibacterial properties.

Add boiling water over two teaspoons of plantains and cover it for 10 minutes. After that you can drink it. Plantains syrup is best known for its property to get rid of coughing.

Onions

It has antimicrobial properties and it is known since ancient times that onion tea was used as a natural remedy against colds. Its curable properties are well known and elders still use it as a natural medicine whenever they need to. Onion tea reduces fever and helps you get rid of a simple cold. The most important aspect of all is that it has no side effects.

Eucalyptus

The tea or infusion made of eucalyptus will help you breathe easily and reduce the throat irritation.

Ginger – the natural painkiller

Ginger is on top of the list when it comes to natural remedies. It increases body temperature so that you can eliminate the illness from your body and normalizes breathing. It can be consumed in its natural form or as an infusion. It has analgesic properties so it will help you feel better.

Citrus fruits

Vitamin C is essential in the fight against a simple cold and it is mostly found in citrus fruits. Examples: lemon, orange, grapefruit, pomelo, tangerine, lime, etc.

A good rest

When you are well rested, the body can better recover and eliminate the virus that caused the cold. Try to stay in bed for at least two days, if possible. The body is weak and unable to cope with all the tasks that it used to do when we were healthy.

One important thing: these advices did not come from a professional medical doctor. They come from the experience of ordinary people that used them to treat a common cold. If you don’t feel good, please first consult a professional medical doctor.

Are there any other ways you treat a common cold? Please leave a comment bellow and share them with us. Thanks!

Also Read:
Chinese Medicine – The Study of Internal Organs
The Health Benefits of Eating Cherries