Monsoons are back in Kerala & it’s raining heavily for the last couple of days now. Hopefully, it doesn’t flood this time!
This rainy season when most persons catch a common cold and take sick leave from their work just because of the nasty flu. In this article, I will tell you some useful home remedies that you can try out.
Here is a video in Malayalam on the same topic –
Honey
Yes, it might sound funny enough, but honey has been proven to be effective in managing the symptoms related to cold and cough. Several studies have been made and most of them have found out that children, as well as adults, benefit from taking honey when they have a sore throat or common cold.
2.5ml of honey at night time before bedtime reduces the incidence of cough frequency and so it provides a good night’s sleep, both for the children and for their parents.
But keep in mind to always use pasteurized honey and never give honey to infants (babies below the age of 1 year).
Steam inhalation
6 out of 9 randomized controlled trials have shown that inhalation of humidified air helps with relieving stuffy nose and sore throat. The exact principle of how steam inhalation works is unknown, but it has been proposed that steam and humidified air increases the drainage of secretions in the nasal passage as well as the upper respiratory tract.
Small children below the age of 2 years should not be compelled to use steam inhalation. However, in children above the age of 2 years, it can be used under parental supervision.
Salt water gargle
I have already written an article about the health benefits of using salt water gargle to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and sore throat. It works based on the scientific principle of osmosis where fluid travels from the area of low salt concentration (inflamed throat or tissue) to the area of high salt concentration (salt water used for gargling). It also works by flushing the bacteria and other pathogens sticking on to the inflamed mucous membrane and by clearing out small food particles stuck in little crevices.
You should definitely read the article on salt water gargling to understand the health benefits associated with it.
Did you know that in Japan, everyone uses either salt water gargle or freshwater gargle after every meal that is, they do it 3-4 times a day! In studies conducted in earlier 2002, it was shown that the Japanese are resistant to upper respiratory tract infections simply because of their gargling habit.
It is a tough job but at the same time, it is one of the best home remedies that can not only relieve your symptoms but even prevent you from airborne infections.
Fluids
You might have heard this one from your doctors and you would have wondered how drinking more fluids is going to help you, isn’t it?
Small children often develop a fever along with a common cold, this is because their body reacts to Rhinovirus and other pathogens in a much aggressive way in order to fight it. Adults, on the other hand, do not exhibit fever when they catch a cold.
Drinking more fluids helps you keep hydrated, this is very important because when fever develops your body temperature rises and fluid is lost from your body by a process known as evaporation. Dehydration can happen anytime and it becomes dangerous particularly when you have a fever. Drinking more fluids prevents dehydration.
Taking more oral fluids also works by softening the secretions when you are having a common cold or any other upper respiratory tract infection.
Children should be forced to drink more fluids even if they have a simple cold.
Over the counter medicines
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Mefenamic acid are commonly used medicines to treat fever. But studies have shown that taking such medicines reduces the discomfort associated with common cold and cough by lowering the pain. But, it does not completely cure it nor does it have any effect in reducing the soreness and congestion associated with the common cold.
Moreover, medicines belonging to the anti-histamine groups have adverse effects particularly in children below the age of 6 years. These drugs are easily available for purchase over the counter in India even without a prescription! Adverse effects like sedation are very common with anti-histamines. If you have cough syrups, nasal decongestion, saline nasal drops, demulcents in your home, it would be wiser to get a doctors opinion before using such medicines. This is especially true in the case of children because calculation of medicine dose is done based on the type of medicine and their body weight.
I hope you liked this article, kindly consider sharing this with your friends and family members if the on cold is bothering you, Chat and talk to a doctor online using the Dofody app anytime, anywhere.
