Content

• Steps

How often do you get colds or an upper respiratory infection? Usually, patients take over-the-counter drugs such as antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressant syrups to combat these common diseases. However, clinical trials have shown that these drugs are not as effective as before. Medication can provide short-term relief of symptoms, but not really weakening the source of the cold. In essence, the body already has the ability to fight off disease. So you just need to increase this natural ability of your body. Try to clear your sinuses, boost your immune system, and keep energy by helping yourself feel comfortable. All of the above can be done without medication.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Sinus catheterization

1. 

   
   
   Blowing nose. Cover one side of your nose and breathe lightly through the other nostril, blowing your nose into the tissue. Then switch sides. Remember to only breathe lightly because exhaling too hard can damage the inside of the nasal passages and take longer to heal. Do not exhale through your nostrils at the same time as this will not be effective. Wash your hands after blowing your nose.
   • Avoid snorting as much as possible. Sniffling causes mucus to flow back into your body. If you have a runny nose, wipe instead of sniffling.
   • Frequent blowing of the nose can irritate the skin. Therefore, use a soft tissue and moisturizer to reduce dry skin.

2. 

   
   
   Steam. A steam or steam inhalation helps to clear your nose by thinning it, making it easier to blow it out. First, you need to boil some water and pour it into a bowl. Place the bowl on the table and sit upright with the side facing the bowl. Put the towel over your head. Close your eyes and take a deep breath for about 60 seconds and don't get too close to the surface of the water. You should always feel comfortable with your steam bath.
   • Add a few drops of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, pine oil or thyme essential oil to the water for a relaxing and more effective sensation. These natural essential oils help to better thin mucus.
   • Do not let children steam themselves. Hot water can cause burns. Young children are not able to use boiling water by themselves and are difficult to avoid injury.
   • Turn on the tap. This works the same way as a steam bath and works for young children. Children do not have to take a hot shower, but just sit in the bathroom with the door closed and turn on the hot water to inhale the hot steam.

3. 

   
   
   Use normal saline solution. Normal saline is a natural mixture of salt and water. You can buy saline nasal drops over-the-counter in pharmacies. You can use normal saline for children. Should be used once a day for best results.
   • To put your nose down or wash it with salt water, first stand near the sink and keep your head down. Place the tip of the saltwater bottle in one side of your nostril and spray. About 120 ml of saline should be sprayed into the nasal passages. Turn your head to let the salt water flow back into your nose naturally. Continue repeating with the other nostril. Do not swallow salt water. If you feel a runny nose in your throat, keep your head down slightly. After you finish washing your nose, blow your nose gently to remove the remaining saline.
   • If using a Neti jar, fill it with salt water. Stand by the sink. Tilting head, then pointed the mouth of Neti bottle into nostril. Inhale through your nose and pour the salt water (about 120 ml) into your nostrils slowly. The solution will flow through the nasal passages and out of the nostrils after 3-4 seconds. Repeat with the other nostril. Should blow your nose again after using the Neti.
   • Physiological saline drops for babies. Put 2-3 drops of salt water into your child's nostrils. Then, place the rubber pump tip on one side of the nostril to gently drain the saline. Do not put salt water in both nostrils at the same time because it will affect the child's ability to breathe.
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Method 2 of 3: Strengthen the immune system

1. 

   Drink a lot of water. Drink warm water. Staying hydrated can help reduce many cold symptoms such as headaches and sore throats, and also prevent dehydration. Hot teas and soups can help increase fluid tolerance, while reducing sinus congestion and reducing inflammation in the nose and throat.
   • Drink enough water to quench the thirst. You need to drink enough fluids when you are sick, but drinking too much will force your liver and kidneys to work too hard to process fluids. Therefore, you should drink more water than usual but no more than 12-15 cups per day.
   • A good sign that you are drinking enough water is that the urine is almost clear. Dark urine is a sign of a high concentration of waste products in the body and is not dissolved, not diluted enough. In that case, you should increase your hydration.

2. 

   Use natural herbs to relieve the common cold symptoms. There are many natural ingredients available (some are allowed, some are not), two of which have been shown to improve cold symptoms.
   • Radial inter (a popular Southeast Asian herb) has been shown to help relieve cold symptoms. Take 100 mg capsules twice daily for 5 days. Higher doses may cause vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
   • You can also use it celestial tree (South American herbs). This herb is commonly sold in liquid extract form.Take 1.5 ml or 30 drops of the extract, three times daily before meals for 10 days. Side effects include mild nausea, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Discontinue use if you experience any side effects.

3. 

   Eat garlic. There is evidence that garlic can help reduce cold symptoms. The allicin in garlic helps fight viruses. You can eat whole garlic cloves, add garlic to soups or drink garlic supplements. The capsule contains 180 mg of garlic extract which helps to reduce the duration of colds. Garlic can increase the risk of bleeding, so people taking blood thinners such as aspirin or Warfarin should not take garlic.

4. 

   Supplement with vitamin C. Eat an orange a day and you don't need to see a doctor. Or you can take a vitamin C supplement before a cold starts to reduce the duration of the illness. Vitamin C supplements are available in pill form, which can be taken as 200 mg capsules per day. Taking more than 2000 mg can lead to diarrhea, fainting, headache and abdominal pain. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Help your body relax

1. 

   Rested. Your body needs to be recharged so you should rest a lot. The knee height increases to ensure the nose is effectively cleared of mucus during sleep instead of blocking the mucus.
   • Absences from school or work. When you are sick, you can't do the daily work but need rest, it's best to stay at home. To avoid spreading the virus, stay away from crowded places. Rhinovirus virus can be spread through the air. Usually, the day with the worst cold (about 2 days) is when the body is eliminating the virus. So you can still carry the virus and infect others during this time.

2. 

   Eat chicken soup. Hot chicken soup helps open sinuses, reduce congestion and provide nutrients for the body. Researchers claim that compounds in chicken soup help increase red blood cells to attack external microorganisms from outside.

3. 

   Keep body warm. If you have a fever, your body will feel colder. So, you should put on a warm blanket and lie on a warm bed / chair. Wear layers of clothing and cover as many blankets as needed. While it does not cure a cold, keeping warm will help your body fight off disease. On the other hand, there is little evidence that sweating can help with colds.

4. 

   Gargle salt water. Since a stuffy nose often leads to a sore throat, rinse your mouth with salt water frequently. Add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to 8 ounces of water. Stir the salt to dissolve completely. Take a small sip and rinse your mouth for about 30 seconds. Spit the water out and rinse if necessary.

5. 

   Take a throat-soothing supplement. You can buy supplements at most pharmacies. Many are available in the form of "cough syrup". Look for products that contain honey, licorice, or slippery oil.
   • Honey in the form of lozenges or tea is a great ingredient to soothe a sore throat and suppress a cough.
   • Licorice root can be purchased in the form of tablets or extracts. Dissolve 500 mg of licorice root (equivalent to 1 1/2 tablets) in 30 ml of warm water. Gargle and spit it out.
   • For centuries, slippery elm has been used as a herbal ingredient in North America. You can buy it in tablet or powder form. Take 3-4 tablets (400-500 mg per tablet) daily for 1-2 months. To make slippery duffle tea, you can add 2 teaspoons of powder to 2 cups of warm (480 ml) water. Drink it 3 times a day during a cold.

6. 

   Use a humidifier or a steam generator. Turning on a humidifier or steam generator in your room while resting can help make the air more comfortable for you. This is especially helpful if the nasal passages or throat are dry and irritated. Remember that while it soothes your throat, a humidifier will not help reduce cold symptoms or shorten the duration of your illness.
   • Some studies suggest that a more harmful humidifier or steam generator is beneficial. Humidifiers can spread germs, mold, and toxins, and in addition cause burns. Therefore, you should consider whether or not to use a humidifier.

7. 

   Apply camphor or peppermint essential oil to thin mucus. According to the Mayo Clinic (USA), products like Vick's VapoRub do not really help relieve congestion, but it is the strong scent of mint and camphor that helps clear the nose. These two essential oils send signals to the brain that you can breathe, thereby helping to reduce cold anxiety. So, you can try these two essential oils to soothe your mind.

8. 

   Quit smoking. Tobacco weakens the immune system and provokes many cold symptoms. Not only that, but the pressure on the throat and lungs hinders the recovery process.

9. 

   Go to the doctor. Sometimes, you need to see a doctor to cure a cold. See your doctor right away if you have symptoms:
   • Fever over 39 degrees Celsius
   • Symptoms persist for more than 10 days
   • Shortness of breath
   • Severe ear pain or discharge of mucus from the ear
   • Confusion, disorientation, or convulsions
   • Frequent vomiting or stomach pain
   • Swollen glands in your neck or jaw are painful
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