Over 8 billion colds occur each year in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough and headache. The NIH states that over 200 viruses can cause a cold. The average cold lasts about two weeks, and though there is no cure, there are a variety of natural remedies that can relieve cold symptoms.
Echinacea
Echinacea is believed to boost the immune system, and may reduce the length of the common cold. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a comparison of 14 clinical trials found that using echinacea reduced the odds of developing the common cold by 58 percent. Take echinacea three times a day for seven to 10 days at the first sign of a cold. Echinacea can be taken as as tea by adding 1 to 2 g to hot water. The recommended dose of Echinacea in tablet form is 300 mg per dose.
Humidity
Cold viruses generally thrive in dry conditions which are more common during the winter months. A warm bath or hot shower adds moisture to the sinuses and respiratory tract, and can relieve cold symptoms such as a dry, scratchy throat. You can also place humidifiers next to the bed at night. Since mold and fungi can grow in humidifiers, the Mayo Clinic recommends cleaning the equipment after each use and changing the water daily.
Chicken Soup
The Mayo Clinic suggests that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory benefits when used to treat cold and flu symptoms. The soup increases the movement of mucus, relieving congestion and stuffy noses. The increased movement limits the time the cold virus is in contact with the nose lining. Limiting the virus's contact with nasal lining limits its reproduction and growth.
References
- Northwestern Health: Common Colds: Naturopathic Remedies Can Prevent or Lessen the Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic: Cold remedies: What Works, What Doesn't, What Can't Hurt.
- University of Nebraska Medical Center: Chicken Soup Inhibits Neutrophil Chemotaxis In Vitro
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: Colds (Chicken Soup)
