Falling ill is never a pleasant experience. Common illnesses like cold and flu can be quite difficult to deal with especially since they can leave you feeling miserable. While dealing with a nasty cold and its symptoms such as a runny nose, blocked sinuses, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, fever, and chills, you might feel unable to go about doing your daily chores as well. While medications may seem like the last option to choose as soon as you catch a cold, there are some effective old-timey remedies for cold and flu that can be resorted to.
These remedies can help you get relief from the symptoms:
1. Nasal irrigation
Unpleasant as it may seem, nasal irrigation works wonders when it comes to clearing your sinuses and relieving the headache it is accompanied by. An old-timey home remedy, the nasal irrigation technique is now being backed by a lot of studies. Using warm saline water to flush your nasal passages helps in thinning the mucus, clearing congestion, and excavating the viral particles lying dormant. This method helps rid the pressure and pain caused by chronic sinus infections as well. The procedure can be executed by the use of either nasal saline drops or with the help of Neti pots.
2. Gargling
Studies show that gargling regularly has significant effects on a person’s chances of falling ill. Using warm saline water to gargle when suffering from cold helps rid the respiratory system of bacteria and virus-containing mucus. It is also considered as an old-timey remedy for cold and flu as it helps decrease the soreness of the throat and the swelling in the lymph nodes.
3. Oregano
Oregano can act as a master weapon against the symptoms of flu as it is rich in antioxidants and is antibacterial and antifungal in nature. Thymol and carvacrol give oregano it’s antibacterial properties which are effective against the bacteria present in mucus and phlegm. Oregano can also be used as an all-natural expectorant to rid the lungs and the respiratory tracts of congestion. Oregano oil can also be considered as an old-timey remedy for cold and flu as it has been used to find relief from cough, headaches, and diarrhea. Rubbing it on the chest can also help decrease the symptoms of cold and flu.
4. Exercise
Some researches show that regular exercising can result in better functioning of the immune system. Therefore, when you are feeling slightly under the weather, a little light exercise can do you good. Exercising makes your immune system work better, thereby leading to a better fighting mechanism against the disease.
5. Using a humidifier
The influenza virus thrives in a dry, indoor atmosphere. The dry air during the winter season works as an advantage towards the growth and spread of the virus responsible for the common cold and flu. A humidifier can help hinder the growth and spread of such viruses. Temporarily adding a humidifier to your room can prevent your symptoms from escalating or becoming contagious. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the humidifier can also show visible results and help you breathe easier.