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Home > Respiratory Health > Cough, Cold & Flu > 6 Home Remedies for Common Cold and Preventive Tips

6 Home Remedies for Common Cold and Preventive Tips

April 12, 2023
7 min read
By Dr. Arif Maghribi Khan, MBBS, MD | Mental Health Counselor

In this article:

  • Homes Remedies to Relieve Common Cold Discomfort
  • Prevention for the Common Cold
  • Most-Asked Questions About Common Cold
  • Final Word

The common cold refers to a group of upper respiratory symptoms such as a stuffed nose, throat congestion, and cough. It is caused by a number of viral infections.

home remedies to soothe common cold
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It is common all over the world and usually does not require any medical intervention. Most cases of colds last for a week or two and can be managed with the help of some handy home remedies.

Homes Remedies to Relieve Common Cold Discomfort

Here are the most effective home remedies that can bring relief from a common cold. (1)(2)

1. Consume garlic

Garlic contains potent antimicrobial compounds that may help fight off the viral infection that causes a cold, such as allicin.

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Garlic is also filled with anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe the nasal passages and clear up a stuffed nose. (3)(4)

How to use:

  • Eat at least 4 cloves of raw garlic in a day for faster relief.
  • You can also boil 4–5 garlic cloves in a cup of water to make garlic tea. Add a teaspoon of honey and drink it.

Note: People on blood-thinning medications or who have a bleeding disorder should avoid consuming garlic.

2. Use honey

Honey contains widely proven and powerful antimicrobial properties. It also has a demulcent effect and can help cure cough.

Filled with antioxidants, raw unadulterated honey can be a potent home remedy for the common cold. (5)(6)(7)

How to use:

  1. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to 2 teaspoons of honey.
  2. Consume this mixture on an empty stomach.
using garlic, honey, and ginger tea can help soothe common cold

3. Drink ginger tea

Ginger contains active compounds called gingerols, which have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. You can consume ginger in many forms such as ginger teas and ginger supplements. (8)(9)(10)

How to use:

  1. Add a tablespoon of crushed or chopped ginger to a cup of boiling water.
  2. Steep this tea for a few minutes.
  3. Strain the liquid, and you may add a teaspoon of honey for extra benefit.
  4. Drink the tea.

4. Consume vitamin C-rich foods

Vitamin C is an immune-boosting nutrient and can help improve your overall immunity and protect you from frequent infections. It can also help speed up recovery.

According to some studies, vitamin C may be required in very high doses to help fight the common cold. Hence, vitamin C supplements are sometimes recommended by doctors to fight off the flu or a severe cold. (11)(12)

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Note: Do not take any supplements without the advice of your doctor.

How to use:

Consume fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C every day. These include oranges, lemons, spinach, pineapple, and guava.

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consume vitamin C-rich foods, turmeric and cinnamon to soothe common cold

5. Drink turmeric milk

Turmeric contains an active compound called curcumin, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent and can provide relief from cough, runny nose, and sore throat. It also has antimicrobial properties that can help fight the infection. (13)

How to use:

  1. Add ½–1 teaspoon of turmeric to a cup of warm milk.
  2. Drink this turmeric milk.

6. Drink cinnamon tea

Cinnamon contains phenolic compounds and other plant chemicals with potent anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains antioxidants that help your body fight infections. (14)

How to use:

  1. Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder to a couple of cups of water.
  2. Boil this tea for a few minutes.
  3. Strain and drink the tea.

Prevention for the Common Cold

Steer clear of the common cold by following these preventive tips:

preventive tips against common cold
  • Wash your hands with soap often.
  • Do not touch your face often.
  • Distance yourself from people suffering from a cold.
  • Drink hot beverages such as tea for quick relief from cold and cough.
  • Take plenty of rest to restore your energy.
  • Consume a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Inhale steam to help clear your nasal passages. (15)(16)
  • Discard used tissues as soon as you use them.

Most-Asked Questions About Common Cold

Do antibiotics help fight common colds?

No, do not take antibiotics to fight a common cold unless advised by a doctor. Most cases of common colds are caused by viral infections and cannot be treated by antibiotics.

Taking antibiotics without a prescription can lead to much more dangerous complications such as antibiotic resistance. (17)

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Antibiotics are prescribed by doctors only when there is a secondary infection in your respiratory tract.

What are the possible complications of the common cold in a child?

Some rare complications of the common cold include:

  • Ear infections
  • Sinusitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Throat infections (18)

What is the difference between the common cold and flu?

The common cold, as the name suggests, is a common infection that only affects the upper respiratory tract – the nose and throat. It usually resolves within a week or two.

The flu is a more serious infection that can cause a fever, body aches, general weakness, etc. The flu vaccine can help prevent the flu but does not prevent the common cold.

Final Word

The common cold is usually a mild condition that can be treated with home remedies. If you do not feel better even after trying these remedies, you can take over-the-counter medicines for cough and cold.

Continue Reading Continue ReadingCommon Cold: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Risk Factors, and More
References
  1. (PDF) The Common Cold: A review of the literature – researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8534790/.
  2. Turner RB. The common cold. Goldman’s Cecil Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7173442/. Published 2012.
  3. M; LEBALC. Garlic for the common cold. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25386977/.
  4. Mikaili P, Maadirad S, Moloudizargari M, Aghajanshakeri S, Sarahroodi S. Therapeutic uses and pharmacological properties of garlic, shallot, and their biologically active compounds. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3874089/. Published October 2013.
  5. J; AHACL. Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ evidence-based medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32817011/.
  6. Ahmed N, Sutcliffe A, Tipper C. Feasibility study: Honey for treatment of cough in children. Pediatric reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3718232/. Published June 20, 2013.
  7. Common colds: Relief for a stuffy nose, cough and Sore Throat. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279542/.
  8. Rasheed N. Ginger and its active constituents as therapeutic agents: Recent perspectives with molecular evidences. International journal of health sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7644455/. Published 2020.
  9. Ginger Root – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565886/.
  10. Got a cold? try some honey. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-a-cold-try-some-honey. Published November 1, 2020.
  11. Common colds: Does vitamin C keep you healthy? – NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279544/.
  12. Bucher A, White N. Vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of the Common Cold. American journal of lifestyle medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124957/. Published February 9, 2016.
  13. Idowu-Adebayo F, Fogliano V, Linnemann A. Turmeric-fortified cow and soya milk: Golden Milk as a street food to support Consumer Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8871262/. Published February 16, 2022.
  14. Rao PV, Gan SH. Cinnamon: A multifaceted medicinal plant. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/. Published 2014.
  15. Common colds: Protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html. Published November 29, 2021.
  16. Common cold. Mount Sinai Health System. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/common-cold.
  17. Do antibiotics help fight common colds? – NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279540/.
  18. Common cold in children. Common Cold in Children – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P02966.
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