Top Natural Remedies for Treating a Cold at Home

It’s that time of year – cold and flu season is here. And while you can get a shot to help protect against the flu, or at least lessen the impact of the flu, there’s little you can do to avoid getting a cold.

Did you know that there are more than 200 different viruses that can cause colds?  That’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to find a cure or come up with a vaccine against colds.  Adults typically get two to four colds each year, while children can get as many as ten a year.

In general, symptoms of the cold will get better without treatment, unless your cold flares into bronchitis or a sinus infection.  But there are things you can do at home to help ease those symptoms.

Remedies That May Work

There are a dozen remedies out there that say they can help shorten the common cold, but not all work.  According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, and the Cleveland Clinic, here are the top four at-home remedies that will definitely help you feel better while dealing with a cold, and will lessen the length of your symptoms:

• Stay hydrated.  Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, will help loosen congestion and prevent dehydration.  Stick with water, juice, clear broth, warm lemon water with honey, and decaffeinated teas. Stay away from alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated sodas.
• Rest.  Don’t try to push yourself when you’ve got a cold.  You’re not being lazy; your body needs rest. Pushing yourself when you’re ill only makes things worse and could lead to complications, such as bronchitis and sinus infections.
• Add moisture.  Both the indoor and outdoor air gets very dry during the winter.  Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air to loosen the congestion.
• Salt it up.  Over-the-counter saline nose drops and sprays help relieve stuffiness and congestion. Gargling with warm salt water will help calm down a sore throat that can accompany a cold. To make a saltwater gargle, let ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt dissolve into an 8-ounce glass of warm water.

Remedies That Might Work

Some cold remedies might work, depending on how each individual reacts to them.  The jury is still out on some of the herbal and vitamin supplements that tout themselves as helping lessen the length of a cold.  Both Mayo and Cleveland say that, while there’s been plenty of studies into these remedies, there is no conclusive proof they work, while studies on the above show definitive positive results.

• Vitamin C, zinc and echinacea. These three vitamin and herbal supplements, sold under a variety of names, show no definitely easing of either the length of a cold or the severity.  There is some anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness, but extensive studies over many years still cannot definitively prove they work. None of them have proven to prevent colds, but may help once you first develop symptoms; there’s just not enough concrete proof to say yes, they work.
• Over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers.  OTC decongestants and pain relievers may offer some relief of cold symptoms, but they will not shorten how long you have a cold and may have some side effects.  Take these medications only as directed.

Remedies That Might Not Work

The one thing that will not help with the common cold is antibiotics.  Antibiotics are formulated to treat bacterial infections. The common cold is a virus.  Antibiotics will do nothing for your cold and can actually hurt you.  There is one caveat, though – if your cold turns into something worse, like bronchitis or an ear or sinus infection, that’s the time to talk to your medical professional about getting on antibiotics.  Otherwise, steer clear of them if it’s just a typical cold.

The common cold is just that – common.  And the best way to get through it is to use common sense, simple home remedies, and rest.