Americans spend over 4 billion dollars on cold medicine each year. Some experts think you’d be better off pouring that money down the drain.
If you want to use remedies that will save you money and actually work, try these natural ways to treat a cold instead.
5 Ways to Cure a Cold Naturally
1. Rinse with a Neti-Pot
Studies have shown that neti-pots can help alleviate congestion associated with allergies, so it should do the same for those suffering from the common cold.
Some studies show that using nasal irrigation can actually prevent the common cold!
So, if you’re suffering from the sniffles, or just want to avoid them altogether, grab a neti pot like the one found here and give your sinuses the cleaning it deserves.
Be sure that you always clean your neti-pot with clean filtered water.
2. Take Zinc
Loads of studies have been conducted about the benefits of zinc and it’s ability to help fight the common cold. A new study shows that taking zinc can reduce the length of a cold by about one day.
Zinc can be taken easily as a lozenge, and is most effective when used right after signs and symptoms of a cold appear.
3. Drink Hot Tea
Drinking hot liquids like warm water and tea, and inhaling the steam can help relieve nasal congestion.
4. Sleep more
When you sleep your body produces proteins called cytokines which fight infection and inflammation. Not getting enough sleep can affect your immune system, increasing your chances of getting the common cold.
So don’t feel guilty calling in for a sick day; chances are your boss and co-workers will appreciate you keeping your germs out of the workplace anyway.
5. Take Echinacea
Echinacea is an herbal plant remedy that is commonly used in the form of tea or extract in order to treat the common cold.
Studies show that taking Echinacea does improve the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count in the body.
If your young son or daughter has sniffles, keep the Echinacea in your medicine cabinet; one study shows that the use of Echinacea shows little to no effect when relieving the cold symptoms of children.
The Takeaway
The next time you get the sniffles, try some of these natural ways to treat a cold in order to get you out of bed and back into the real world.
*Make sure to always consult with your doctor before taking or adding any supplements into your diet.
This story was approved by Calvin Kwan, ND
Photo By: Mcfarlandmo