Despite being a pretty tame illness, the common cold can be downright miserable! Achy muscles, stuffy nose, itchy throat, sneezing, and coughing can make for a miserable few days. If you’re between doses of your over-the-counter medicine or you just want to ease your cold symptoms naturally, there are plenty of options right in your own cupboards!
Home remedies are usually less expensive, not filled with tons of chemicals and they’re great in a pinch! Check out a few of these ideas to help ease your cold symptoms:
1. Create a steam shower
WebMD recommends steaming up your sinuses to clear them out when you’re feeling stuffed up. Step into your bathroom, shove a towel under the door and turn your water up high. The steam will the bathroom, naturally loosening any buildup in your nose and throat so you can breathe easier.
2. Use a cool mist vaporizer
Try a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier to add extra moisture to the air, The Mayo Clinic recommends. You’ll need to change the water daily to get rid of any dust which can agitate already stuffy noses.
3. Create a salt water spray
Unstuff your nose by making your own salt water nasal spray. Mix 3 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 8-ounces of warm (boiled) water. Use a bulb syringe to squirt the water in your nose. Store the leftover mixture in an airtight container, according to WebMD.
4. Gargle with warm salt water
One of the simplest tricks for soothing a sore through is to gargle a bit of warm salt water. Add 1 tablespoon to 1/2 cup of water and gargle up to three times per day. Try not to swallow the salty water.
5. Make a hot rice pack for your sinuses
Heat can help relieve pressure on your sinuses. Make your own rice pack with a tube sock and white rice. Fill a clean sock 2/3 of the way full with rice. Sew the end closed. Heat the rice pack up in the microwave, checking every 30 seconds until you get the right temperature. (You can even toss these in the freezer for a cold pack to use in the summer!)
6. Drink ginger tea
Ease tummy troubles and sooth your cough with a little ginger tea. Just add a few slices of ginger root to hot water and sip it, Healthline recommends.
7. Eat a teaspoon of honey
Honey is well-known for its antibacterial properties, according to Healthline. Simply eating a teaspoon of honey (for anyone over 1-years-old) is a safe remedy for coughs and sore throats. You can also add some honey to your ginger tea.
8. Take a scented bath
Warm baths can help ease cold and flu symptoms. To maximize the bath’s effectiveness: add Epsom salt and baking soda to the water to relax sore muscles. Lavender or orange can help you relax.
9. Drink lots of water
One of the easiest ways to help your body heal faster is to make sure you are getting enough fluids. When you’re sick aim to drink at least 8 ounces every two hours. Add some mint or lemon for extra cold-boosting power, according to Dr. Axe.
10. Eat chicken noodle soup
Eating chicken noodle soup when you’re sick isn’t just a sentimental thing. Researchers believe that some ingredients in chicken noodle soup could aid white blood cell production and transportation. Plus chicken soup helped ease nasal congestion better than hot water, according to a New York Times report.