Suffering from a cold? Help is at hand (Video)

Stuffy nose, sore throat, persistent cough...ugh, it's the flu! Let's look at some common home remedies that can help.

A stuffy nose and cough getting you down? A cold or flu is caused by a viral infection. Prescription medication only assists in reducing the symptoms, but there's no cure for the common cold.

Usually a cold lasts for seven days (the normal time the virus lasts in your body before it is eliminated). Prevention is better than cure.

Here are a few tips you can follow to avoid catching a cold:

• Avoid crowded places during seasons such as winters and the rainy season. This is because a cold can be transmitted by particles in the air, as well as contact with an infected person.
• If you have been near a person who is suffering from the flu, avoid touching your nose or face. This precaution protects you from transferring the infection from your hands into your respiratory system.
• Remember to always gargle with a warm salt water solution.
• A hand sanitizer can go a long way in protecting you from catching a cold.
• If you have a cold, always remember to carry enough tissues. Discard the used tissues regularly to avoid the infection lingering around.
• A common precaution to prevent your cold from spreading is to cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough. This reduces the chances of spreading the infection.

Here are a few home remedies that could help relieve the symptoms:

Tip 1 : Crush a tablespoon of carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a muslin cloth. Hold the bundle near your nose and inhale whenever you feel the discomfort of a blocked nose.

Tip 2: Drinking milk with pepper powder and a pinch of turmeric before bed, helps to relieve stuffiness and induce sleep.

Tip 3: For an irritable throat, a mixture of honey and ginger juice is very helpful. It helps to relieve the throat and suppresses cough.

Tip 4: Coarsely pound ginger is boiled in a cup of water till the water reduces to half the original volume, add some honey and drink hot at bedtime.