Home remedies for a cold • They really help!

With a cold, the unpleasant symptoms can be relieved quickly and gently with home remedies. In addition, onions, compresses and tea support the body in the fight against the pathogens of the flu.

There is no cure or vaccination against the common cold. These are not even necessary, because the body usually gets along well on its own. The fact that he actively fights the cold virus is shown by the typical symptoms of a flu-like infection: When the body temperature rises, it becomes uncomfortable for pathogens. Colds and coughs carry germs out of the body. Therefore, one should not try to switch off cold symptoms right away. However, home remedies can help to make them more bearable and also support the immune system to overcome the disease more quickly.

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The best home remedies for a cold

The best home remedies for a cold

The most important home remedy for a cold: rest and sleep

The top priority with a bad cold: lots of sleep! Our body expresses the need for rest through typical symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue. Physical exertion, but also stressful situations in general, should now be avoided. If the cold really broke out, you should call in sick at work and stay at home. In this way, the organism can focus its energy on fighting pathogens.

If you take it easy now, you will have survived the worst after three to five days. Otherwise you risk a significantly longer recovery time and even dangerous secondary diseases such as heart muscle or pneumonia.

Jump to the infographic: Home remedies for a cold at a glance

Home remedies for a cold: drink, drink, drink!

Adequate hydration is a simple but effective home remedy for treating a cold. First, you often sweat more during a flu-like infection, for example due to increased body temperature. Second, the mucous membranes, which fulfill an important defense function, have to be kept moist – this only works if you drink enough. Water is always suitable for this.

Hot drinks have additional positive effects: the warmth stimulates the blood circulation, an increased temperature supports the body in the fight against the cold viruses. Popular home remedies are hot lemon with ginger and teas made from linden blossom, sage, thyme, chamomile, ribwort or white elderberry. Since chamomile has a somewhat drying effect, it is better to use other ingredients if you have a dry cough.

Chicken broth is also recommended now: it provides warmth, contains many minerals (e.g. zinc) and provides the body with plenty of fluids.

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Fresh air: home remedies for a cold

Regular ventilation reduces the virus density and thus the risk of infection for our fellow human beings and prevents a dry room climate – the enemy of our moisture-loving mucous membranes. The humidity of a room can also be easily increased by hanging up wet laundry there. This is also a tried and tested home remedy for dry coughs.

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If the cold symptoms are no longer so severe, you can also take short walks to get some fresh air. Moderate exercise also has a positive effect on the circulatory system.

Inhalation, compresses, vitamins: an overview of other home remedies for colds

The healing process of a cold can be supported with many other home remedies:

  • Inhale For damp mucous membranes, against blocked noses and coughs: Add essential oils or, alternatively, one or two tips of tiger balm to hot water and inhale the vapors. The inhalation of salt water vapors is also effective. You can find recipes and tips for everything to do with inhalation here. But be careful: do not overdose on the additives! Otherwise the already irritated airways will be additionally burdened, coughing will be promoted rather than relieved.

  • Wrap are jack-of-all-trades among home remedies: They can be used cold or warm, for fever, sore throats, ears and limbs.

  • On Cold bath is especially useful at the first signs of a cold: it may prevent the outbreak of the disease. You can even easily make additions yourself. If the flu infection is only in progress, it is better not to take a cold bath: the strong heat is an additional problem for the weakened body.

  • Also a Foot bath can prevent the onset of colds. Instructions for a warm mustard powdery foot bath or a soaring foot bath against flu-like infections can be found here. Then you should lie down for 30 minutes if possible and keep your body and feet warm.

  • Tiger balm and mint oil have a particular strength: the active ingredient menthol relieves headaches that often occur with flu-like infections.

  • Nasal irrigation: A runny nose is a useful cold symptom. Diseased cells are transported out of the body with the draining mucus. This process can be supported by nasal rinsing or a saline nasal spray. You shouldn't fight a runny nose, however. If it is completely blocked, you can try to clear the sinuses by inhaling.
    If you have a stubborn cold and especially a stuffy nose, you can hardly think of a good night's sleep. Medicines such as nasal decongestant sprays are recommended if you cannot breathe easily at night and sleep is slow. However, they should not be used for more than a week. It can also help to keep your head as high as possible at night.

  • Eating healthy: A balanced diet provides the body with all the nutrients that it urgently needs now.

  • Whether as a sachet for earache or a wrap against a sore throat – the onion is an all-round talent among home remedies for colds. Their juice is often used against coughs: one with it onion Squeeze out and drink in small sips mixed with a little honey.

  • Oil pulling: In the oil treatment, germs are bound and transported out of the body. This prevents bacteria from settling in the airways – the likelihood of an additional bacterial infection (superinfection) is reduced. This is how it works: In the morning before brushing your teeth, put a tablespoon of oil with a mild, pleasant taste (for example sunflower, rapeseed or coconut oil) in your mouth, move it back and forth and pull it through the spaces between the teeth. The oil must not be swallowed! Perform the procedure for 15 to 20 minutes. Then the oil, which has now taken on a whitish color, is spat out – please not into the sink, but preferably onto a kitchen towel, which is disposed of in the residual waste.

  • You should now avoid alcohol and nicotine. Pleasure poisons put additional strain on the weakened immune system and sometimes extend the duration of the cold.

Unfortunately, there are also alleged home remedies for colds, which are not advisable: visits to the sauna are useful to prevent infections, but they are unnecessary strain on the organism during a flu-like infection. Warm beer is also not recommended due to the alcohol content. You can read about other famous misconceptions about colds and how to treat them here.

Home remedies have their limits when it comes to a cold

Colds are usually mild and can be easily cured with the help of home remedies or over-the-counter medicines from the pharmacy. If, however, a high fever occurs and the symptoms worsen instead of getting better after the third to fifth day, a visit to the doctor is the order of the day.This could include a superinfection that needs to be treated with an antibiotic.

Infographic: Important home remedies for a cold at a glance

Infographic: home remedies for a cold

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