If you have a common cold, some symptoms may linger for weeks. Nasal congestion can build up in your sinuses, causing a headache. Mucus in the sinuses can drip down the back of your throat, causing a raw, sore throat and dry cough. If mucus drips down your throat and into your lungs, it can cause a wheezing cough. A home remedy can help soothe your cough and cold symptoms.
Step 1
Drink hot water with lemon and honey. Add 1 tsp. of honey and 1 tsp. of lemon juice to a mug of hot water and mix thoroughly. Lemon and honey can help soothe a cough, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sip the hot drink slowly, while inhaling and exhaling steam from the cup. Inhaling the steam from the hot water will help loosen congestion in your lungs and sinuses.
Step 2
Sleep with a humidifier. A humidifier spreads water vapor into the air, which can help loosen congestion in your chest. A dirty humidifier can spread harmful bacteria, so clean your humidifier at least once every three days.
Step 3
Warm up the room. A room that is warm but not too hot, warns the Mayo Clinic, can help loosen chest congestion that causes a cough.
Step 4
Gargle with salt water. Mix about 1 tbsp. of salt in a glass of warm water. Then gargle with the liquid, one mouthful at a time. Do not swallow the water. Instead, spit it in the sink.
Step 5
Soothe your cold with chicken soup. Chicken soup can speed up the movement of mucus and has anti-inflammatory properties, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that congestion will move more quickly through the nasal passages, reducing the length of time the cold sits in your sinuses.
Tips and Warnings
- Drink hot water with lemon and honey as needed throughout the day to soothe your cough and cold symptoms.
- Consult a doctor if your cold is accompanied by a fever or lasts longer than several weeks.
Things You'll Need
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- Humidifier
- Salt
- Chicken soup
