| Every year, millions of people world-wide get sick with | | | | cold and flu. Then by using an ink-filler like application, |
| the flu and cold. A person may suffer from a common | | | | place two or three drops of the filtered salt solution |
| cold and flu several times in a year. They are more | | | | into each nose and do this for two to three times in a |
| likely to strike when a person's immune system is low. | | | | day. |
| Colds and flu are caused by viruses which are | | | | 7. Use a salve under your nose. A small dab of |
| infectious agents that rely on a living host for survival. | | | | mentholated salve under your nose can open |
| There are more than 200 viruses that are responsible | | | | breathing passages and help soothe the irritated skin |
| for cause of common cold and flu. Its intensity, | | | | at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus and |
| however, depends upon the state of health of the | | | | camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may |
| person and environmental factors. | | | | help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw. |
| Symptoms of a cold and Flu include sore throat, | | | | 8. Take hot water in a bowl and put some Vicks |
| blocked or runny nose, cough, watery eyes, fatigue | | | | vaporub. Place your nose over the vapors and inhale, |
| headache. These symptoms will typically last | | | | covering yourself with a towel. This remedy is good |
| anywhere from 3 to 10 days. But if your symptoms | | | | for your blocked nose. |
| have lasted longer than that and start to change, you | | | | 9. Take a Steamy Shower. Steamy showers |
| may be suffering from a secondary infection. These | | | | moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're |
| common complications of the cold and flu can leave | | | | dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit |
| you feeling pretty miserable. | | | | on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath. |
| Here are some home remedies that may help you feel | | | | 10. Take vitamin C. It's up there with chicken soup as |
| better along the way. | | | | far as legendary cold remedies go, and there might be |
| 1. Honey: Excellent for sore throats and coughs. You | | | | some truth to vitamin C being helpful as well. Some |
| can take it plain, one teaspoonful at a time or mix it | | | | evidence shows that it can reduce the duration and |
| with some hot water and lemon. | | | | severity of a common cold. . Taking vitamin C every |
| 2. Eat Chicken soup. Chicken soup may be frequently | | | | day seems to reduce the length of a cold once you |
| taken because it has been found that the intake of | | | | get it; however, taking big doses of vitamin C after you |
| chicken soup helps in stimulation of the immune system | | | | already have a cold gets mixed results. |
| of an individual and hence, the concerned person will | | | | 11. Sleep with an extra pillow under your head. This will |
| have concrete disease resistance. chicken soup may | | | | help with the drainage of nasal passages. If the angle |
| be taken in hot condition and perhaps, the steam | | | | is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the |
| arising from the hot soup will help in relieving the | | | | mattress and the box springs to create a more |
| congestion found in nasal passages and thereby | | | | gradual slope. |
| leading to immediate relief from the cold condition. | | | | 12. Apply hot or cold Packs around your congested |
| 3. Get extra rest. Even taking adequate rest helps in | | | | sinuses. Either temperature may help you feel more |
| relieving the cold because resting activities help to | | | | comfortable. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs |
| minimize the chances of additional infections from | | | | at a drugstore. Or make your own. Take a damp |
| multiple sources. It will also help you avoid spreading | | | | washcloth and heat it for 55 seconds in a microwave |
| the virus to others. | | | | (test the temperature first to make sure it's right for |
| 4. Drink lots of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear | | | | you.) Or take a small bag of frozen peas to use as a |
| soups. Fluids help loosen mucus.eight glasses of water, | | | | cold pack. |
| clear juice, tea, and other mostly clear liquids are | | | | 13. Keep washing your hands! Those nasty germs |
| advised. Staying hydrated helps moisturize the lining of | | | | won't be able to find their way into your bod if you |
| the nose and throat, which makes mucus easier to | | | | keep washing them away. |
| clear. But be sure to avoid caffeinated or alcoholic | | | | 14. Zinc: is another wonder thing for cold that can cut |
| drinks, as they can cause dehydration. Avoid alcohol, | | | | colds short. While early studies showed that zinc could |
| coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make | | | | help fight off a cold more quickly, the latest consensus |
| dehydration worse | | | | seems to be that zinc has a minimal benefit at best. |
| 5. Drink hot hiquids. Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, | | | | 15 It's important to blow your nose regularly when you |
| help prevent dehydration, and can soothe the | | | | have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your |
| uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose | | | | head. But when you blow hard, pressure can carry |
| and throat. | | | | germ-carrying phlegm back into your ear passages, |
| 6. Gargle . Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring | | | | causing earache. The best way to blow your nose: |
| temporary relief. Take 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in | | | | Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to |
| an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Thus, prepare the | | | | clear the other. Wash your hands after blowing your |
| saturated solution and use it as a home remedy for | | | | nose. |