Home Remedies for Cold and Cough  | Natural cough and cold treatments | Traditional cough and cold solutions

Home remedies for common cough and cold. Indian home remedies to cure cough and cold. What's a Common Cold and Cough? A common cold is called so because it's the commonest of all ailments and affects most of us more frequently than any other ailment. Throat irritation and blockage of the nasal passage usually accompanies a cold. It may also be accompanied by a cough which is the secretion of mucus due to infection of the lungs. What causes Cold and Cough? There is no exact reason for the cold and cough. Its causes can vary from an allergy, influenza, sinusitis or a viral infection.

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Four most common reasons for cold and cough are:

1. Viral Infections: The majority of colds and many coughs are caused by viruses.

• Rhinoviruses: These are the most frequent cause of the common cold.
• Influenza viruses: These cause the flu, which can include cough, cold symptoms, and more severe symptoms.

2. Allergies: Allergies can trigger both a cough and cold-like symptoms. When you're exposed to allergens (like pollen or dust mites), your body releases chemicals that can cause:

3. Irritants: Inhaling irritants can lead to coughing. These irritants can include:

• Smoke (from cigarettes, wildfires, etc.)
• Pollution
• Dust
• Chemical fumes
• Strong odors

4. Low immunity

Symptoms of Cold and Cough

The symptoms of a cold and cough can vary, but here are some of the most common ones:

Common Cold Symptoms:

• Runny or Stuffy Nose: This is often one of the first symptoms to appear. The discharge may start clear and then become thicker and yellow or green.
• Sore Throat: You might experience pain or discomfort when swallowing.
• Sneezing: This is a frequent symptom, especially in the early stages.
• Cough: While a cough can occur with a cold, it's often milder than with other respiratory illnesses.
• Mild Fatigue: You might feel more tired than usual.
• Headache: A mild headache is possible.
• Body aches: You might have mild muscle aches.
• Low-grade Fever: A slight fever can sometimes accompany a cold, but it's not always present, especially in adults.

Cough Symptoms:

• Persistent Cough: A cough can be dry (without mucus) or productive (with mucus).
• Sore Throat: Coughing can sometimes irritate the throat, leading to soreness.
• Chest Discomfort: You might feel tightness or pain in your chest from frequent coughing.
• Wheezing: In some cases, a cough may be accompanied by wheezing, which could indicate a more serious condition.

Important Notes:

• The severity and duration of symptoms can vary depending on the cause (virus, allergies, etc.).
• Colds and coughs often overlap, and you may experience a combination of symptoms.
• If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning signs (such as difficulty breathing, high fever, or severe chest pain), it's important to seek medical advice.

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5 Home Remedies to Overcome Cold and Cough

Here are some soothing natural remedies that will help keep you smiling through the cold.

1. Vitamin C rich fruits  to overcome cold and cough: 

Vitamin C rich fruits such as oranges, sweet limes, strawberries, lemons etc. are extremely effective in treating and keeping cold and cough away. The high amount of vitamin C in these fruits increases the body's resistance to virus and decreases the duration of the illness. An easy way to enhance your intake of vitamin C is to have Honey Lemon Water. You just need to squeeze a lemon in a glass of warm water, sweeten it with a tsp of honey and drink it twice daily for at least 3 days. Want to indulge in a hot soup that soothes your throat and pleases your taste buds? Then try Lemon and Coriander Soup.

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2. Garlic (lehsun) to overcome cold and cough: 

Garlic is a real immunity booster. Finely chop 2 to 3 cloves of garlic and swallow it like any other medicine. It can also be used raw into salad dressings.

Crushing a clove of garlic into soups, stews etc. is also effective and greatly enhances their flavour. Garlic Vegetable Soup is a flavourful example of including garlic in your cooking which also pleases your throat.

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3. Ginger (adrak) to overcome cold and cough :

 Cut about 10 grams of ginger into small pieces and boil in a cup of water. Strain and drink it while hot. Alternatively add ginger juice to a cup of warm water   and drink. You can check out the proportions in ginger lemon drink recipe .  You can add finely chopped ginger and garlic to soups like we have done in Mixed Vegetable Clear Soup.

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4. Turmeric powder (haldi) to overcome cold and cough : 

Turmeric is most effective in curing throat irritation during colds. Fresh turmeric powder and ajwain (carom seeds) mixed in a glass of warm milk in the form of Ajwain and Turmeric Milk when taken once or twice a day is the most useful curative measure. For those who have an aversion for milk can try it with water. Check the recipe of Warm Honey Lemon Water with Turmeric.

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5. dried ginger powder (sonth)  to overcome cold and cough :

Dried ginger, or sonth, is renowned for its warming properties and its ability to alleviate a variety of ailments. It contains compounds like gingerol, which possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These properties make dried ginger a valuable remedy for common cold and cough symptoms. It helps to soothe the throat, reduce congestion, and expel mucus, providing relief from discomfort.

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Foods to be Avoided during Cold and Cough

• Cold beverages, aerated drinks and ice-creams
• Deep-fried foods
• Confectionery and mithai
• Pickles, canned and preserved foods
• Alcohol

6 Points to Fight Cold and Cough

1. Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as they abound in nutrients which strengthen the immune system. Try not to cook the vegetables for a long period as it results in loss of volatile nutrients like vitamins B and C.

2. Drink plenty of fluids (water, vegetable soups and fruit juices) as they help to replenish the fluids lost during the illness. Try Garlicky Beetroot Soup – an easy to make and gratifying appetizer.

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3. Makes use of fresh herbs to flavour foods. Tulsi ka Kadha and Minty Spicy Lemongrass Milk are some classic age-old recipes which you can rely on.

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4. Avoid smoking as it aggravates the throat and interferes with the infection-fighting activity of the cells. 

5. Take rest and have a good sleep as it gives your body a better chance to fight the virus. 

6. Stay away from a dusty environment as that can aggravate the situation. 

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