3 Best Winter Cold Remedies

Winter is here and cold is very common in the winter. Your daily activities can be seriously affected by cold if it's not treated properly. It can give you oxidative stress which isn't good for the health. There are a few things that you've to keep in mind for preventing yourselves from the common cold. Common cold can be treated at home easily without using antibiotics. Following are the symptoms of a cold that you can check and treat accordingly.

Common Cold Symptoms:

A sore throat
A raised temperature
A cough
A runny nose or blocked nose or sneezing
Muscle aches
A headache

3 Best Winter Cold Remedies:

There are 3 easy winter cold remedies that you can easily do at home.

1- Take Lemon and Honey Drink:

Honey and lemon drink soothes cold symptoms. Honey helps in relieving the symptoms and relaxes a sore throat. Honey improves the immune system that fights with cold. Lemon has so many benefits. It doesn't only cleanse the body but it also cures a cold. Lemon is rich in vitamin c that boosts the immune system. It contains antioxidants that help in healing the body.

Mix 1 tablespoon of honey and a half lemon juice in a cup of warm water. Drink it, whenever you want to soothe the throat and relieve cold symptoms. It also gives helps in the symptoms of a cough. For a persistent cough, check with the doctor.

The lemon drink alone can also be used for treating cold. For a lemon drink, slice 4-5 lemons and leave them in a jug of hot water for some time then drink it when it becomes warm.

2- Keep Warm and take Rest:

Keeping warm helps you to fight with the cold. Keeping warm improves immune system response to the common cold. Stay indoors and wear woolen clothes to keep warm. Cotton clothes are good at ventilation and provide good comfort in the winter. Cover your head with a woolen hat prevents a headache but don't cover your head if you've got a raised temperature.

Taking a good rest and sleep encourages the immune system to fight off infections. Take plenty of rest when you've got a cold. It releases stress from the body and recovers it.

3- Gargle Salt Water:

Mix a pinch of salt in warm water and gargle. Gargling with warm salt water several times a day helps in relieving cold symptoms especially sore throat. It reduces swelling in the throat, clear bacteria and infection from it.

For gargling, take a large sip of warm salt water and move your head upward so you can see the ceiling now gargle for at least 30 seconds and then spit all the water in the sink. Repeat this process until you finish all the cup of water.

For treating cold in babies check post 'Cold in babies'.

Tips to Avoid Catching a Cold:

You can avoid catching a cold by using the following tips,

Don't share your towel, cup or glass with someone having a cold.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Add vitamin C in your diet.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Cover properly when going outside in cold weather.

When to See the Doctor:

If the symptoms get worse or cold symptoms don't improve within 3 weeks or you have a weaker immune system (because of any long-term medical condition) then you can see the doctor.