A runny nose, sore muscles and a splitting headache? Congrats, you have the common cold. No cure exists for this devilish disease and all the ibuprofen and paracetemol in the world doesn’t seem to make a dent in the malicious illness’ destructive path, however, there are several ways to power through it so it doesn’t get the better of you.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially hot fluids to help replace what you've lost from having a runny nose and sweating. Have hot ginger and lemon tea to soothe a sore throat and battle nausea. Drink as much water as possible (preferably two liters or more) to keep mucous membranes moist and help thin mucus so that it’s easier to expel.
Get plenty of rest; listen to your body when it says it wants to shut down. Resting for a few days will save you a long and tiresome recovery.
Eat healthy foods, preferably low fat and high fibre foods along with ample fruits and vegetables. You may lose your appetite when you have a cold so force yourself to eat if you're not feeling hungry, as it is more important for your body to fight illness than digest food.
For a sore throat, gargle with lukewarm water and plenty of salt added for a few minutes at a time. Rinse and repeat for about 15 minutes. You can also gargle with warm water with a squeeze of lemon added about four times a day.
Suck on menthol sweets or dissolve solid menthol crystals in hot water and inhale the steam given off for an effective cure for blocked noses.
For young children, rub their chest, back and nasal area with vapor rub or mustard oil, gently warmed with garlic and massage well for easier breathing.
To help keep mucus loose, stay in a moist, warm, well-ventilated room.
Steamy showers moisturise your nasal passages and relaxes you, so run a steamy shower while you sit on a nearby chair and take a sponge bath.
Sleep with an extra pillow, this will help relieve congested nasal passages
Turns out grandma was right. Chicken soup alleviates the cold as it stops certain white blood cells (neutrophils) from congregating and causing inflammation, preventing large amounts of mucus from being produced and also thins the mucous. Add freshly chopped garlic to your soup, as it kills germs and appears to stimulate the release of natural killer cells. A dash of red (chili) pepper flakes can increase the broth’s