Suffering from the common cold is nowhere near as bad as suffering from the flu, but that just doesn’t make you feel any better in the midst of feeling awful. Unfortunately, no one has found an instant cure for the common cold just yet. That doesn’t mean you have to lie around feeling miserable until your cold goes away, though. These five home remedies really work, which means you’ll feel better in no time.
Stay Hydrated
One of the easiest home remedies for the common cold is to stay hydrated. Your body loses a lot of water when you’re sick, and that makes you more susceptible to dehydration. When your throat stays moist, it helps your body break up congestion and it helps ease your sore throat.
Use Steam
Take a hot shower or stand over a pot of boiling water. Hot water and the steam it releases into the air can help break up the mucus in your body and the congestion in your nasal passages. When you don’t feel congested, you feel better. You can also use a humidifier if you have one.
Rest and Stay Warm
One of the best home remedies for the common cold is simple rest. You should stay in bed and let your body do all the work it needs to do to heal. Staying warm is important when you’re sick, which is why a fleece blanket is a great accessory. Make sure your fleece blanket, your tissues, and your water are within reach when you have a cold.
Chicken Soup for the Common Cold
Your mom probably made you eat homemade chicken soup when you didn’t feel well growing up. Despite the fact that she may not be a medical doctor, she was right in making you eat warm chicken soup. Chicken soup acts as a decongestant, it gets rid of mucus, and the broth helps to keep you hydrated.
Soothe Your Throat
If you want to ease your sore throat and prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated, mix a little lemon and honey with a glass of hot water. The lemon and honey work to soothe the dryness and the irritation in your throat and it can also help to clear your sinuses for a while.
There is no cure for the common cold. However, your mom’s advice when you were a child still stands. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and comfort yourself with a bowl of warm chicken soup. You’ll feel better much sooner.