Chicken Soup - Common Cold Remedies

Let us begin with Mommy's favorite – good ol' chicken soup. Okay, this may not technically fall into the group of common cold remedies. But then, chicken soup is the favored common cold diet the world over. It relieves congestion by allowing the mucus to move freely through the nasal passage. Moreover, if you have a cough, there is nothing like a hot cup of chicken soup to soothe a sore throat.

Salt water gargling also works wonders for a sore throat. Ensure that the water is warm, and the irritation will disappear for at least a little while.

A general rule to remember is that you must keep your body hydrated. If you have a cold, or seem to be catching one, make sure you drink a lot of water. This usually keeps a cold infection at bay. Similarly, avoid dehydrating beverages such as those that contain caffeine or alcohol.

Common Cold Remedies: Garlic

Garlic - Common Cold Remedies

Whenever I am on the lookout for a remedy for an ailment, I invariably find that garlic is an option. It happened while I was searching for common cold remedies as well. Among the more common cold remedies, diluted garlic juice is quite a popular choice. It is especially effective if your cold is not too intense.

Common Cold Remedies: Onions

Onions - Common Cold Remedies

Remember how munching on some onions makes you sneeze? And what about those nasty onions that make you cry buckets if you so much as slice them in half? Well, onions too are placed near the top of most common cold remedies lists. It becomes easy to figure out how they work when you realize that coughing and sneezing are the defense mechanisms of the body. The body tries to get rid of the infection by these methods. So, the next time an onion tickles your nose, try thanking it for a change.

Common Cold Remedies: Vitamin C

Now, I know colds make you feel miserable. However, when I was younger, I actually looked forward to getting a cold because that meant that I would be given those yummy sweet and sour vitamin C pills.

Vitamin C is one of the common cold remedies that most people swear by. Maybe "C" stands for "cold-fighter", for this vitamin makes the body resistant to toxins and thereby makes colds vanish faster.

So get a hold of fruits rich in vitamin C, oranges, lemons, and so on, and start dealing with your horrible cold right away.

Other Common Cold Remedies

Zinc is believed to be quite effective in dealing with colds. Zinc lozenges are especially useful in dealing with common cold symptoms.

If you are a tea drinker, try boiling a piece of ginger with your tea to make green tea. Not only does it taste refreshing, but it is also a terrific solution for all those sneezes and sore throats.

One of my favorite common cold remedies is that of steam inhalation. Do it for fifteen minutes and all the mucus that is jamming your nose and throat is loosened, making removal easier.

Better Than All Common Cold Remedies: Prevention

As for preventing a cold, all you have to do is remember the basic rules:
- Don't get too close to those with a cold.
- Wash your hands properly.
- Don't touch your face unnecessarily.
- Avoid sharing towels.
- Ensure that your immune system is in tiptop shape by following a balanced diet, sleeping well, and avoiding stress.

Remember, common cold can be caused by over two hundred different viruses. It is therefore not viable to develop a common cold vaccine. However, this is one of the most infectious diseases of our world. So, remember the old adage: "Prevention is better than cure." And if you are currently being bothered by a very runny nose, do yourself and everybody else a favor -- stay home till you get better!