Home remedies for common cold

If you catch a cold, expect to be sick for 1 to 2 weeks. That doesn't mean you have to feel awful the whole time.

There are some remedies that might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so bad. Here's a look at some common cold remedies and what's known about them.

• Get plenty of rest- The best common cold self-care remedy is to get plenty of rest. Consider taking time off from work or school for at least the first few days of illness. Not only will you have more time to rest, but you’ll avoid spreading germs to others.
• Drink lots of fluids - Water, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey ‘Maji Dawa’ helps loosen stuffiness, called congestion. These also help prevent losing too much fluid, called dehydration. Don't drink alcohol, coffee and sodas with caffeine. They can make dehydration worse.
• gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat- If you have a sore throat, using a saltwater gargle can relieve it for a while.

However if you have a high temperature for more than 3 days or your cold symptoms are getting worse, see a General Practitioner.

Adapted from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403