The cold has already begun to “claim victims”. Nothing serious, but it is unpleasant to have a stuffy nose , red and watery eyes, tiredness.

• Cold symptoms
• How long does a cold last
• How to cure colds naturally
• Treat colds with warm salted water
• Treat colds by sleeping between two pillows
• Treat colds with ginger
• Treat colds with warm compresses
• Treat colds with essential oils

Cold symptoms

The cold is an acute viral infection caused by seasonal viruses and is transmitted by direct contact between person and person or by aerosol. The most common cold symptoms are:

• Rhinorrhea
• Sneezing
• Nasal obstruction
• Throat irritation
• Cough
• Fever
• Mucus secretion

This is a typical progressive symptomatology , which can however also evolve into more complex pathologies with complications such as otitis , sinusitis , pharyngitis or bronchitis . 

How long does a cold last

Colds can last a few days up to a week : it depends on the reactive capacity of the organism and on the type of virus that has infected the subject. If countered from its first signs with the right remedies, even the so-called grandmother’s remedies, which are so useful and easy to apply, can be eradicated quickly.

How to cure colds naturally

You need to drink a lot, stay warm, rest as soon as possible and some quick, easy, natural remedies to cure a cold.

Here are the 5 natural remedies to relieve colds, cure a runny nose, … with a surprise from the kitchen.

Treat colds with warm salted water

No, don’t worry, it’s not for drinking! It is used to rinse the nose to decongest and free it, to defeat viruses “in the bud”.

Here’s how to prepare it:

• 1 cup of boiling water (preferably distilled);
  3 teaspoons of salt ;
• 1 teaspoon  of baking soda .

Let it cool slightly and proceed to inhale, one nostril at a time . Some use plastic syringes for convenience.

Alternatively, there are ready-made vials of salt water, to be “injected” into the nostrils, as is done for newborns. The salt water prepared in this way will also be fine for gargling . Sore throat is often an inseparable companion to the cold.

If, on the other hand, you put salt and bicarbonate in a pan (low and large) of boiling water, you can also do direct inhalations of the steam , preferably with a towel on your head, so as not to disperse the steam, and being careful not to burn yourself. These are home remedies that are also very useful in case of a summer cold. 

Read also Sore throat, the cold does not exist 

Treating colds by sleeping “between two pillows”

Often the night is the hardest time when you have a cold.

To avoid nasal congestion, put another pillow : sleeping with your torso slightly tilted will help keep your nose clear.

Better if you also keep a humidifier , which avoids the annoying dryness of the nasal mucosa (frequent especially with the heating on) and helps to clear the nose. 

On the pillow it may be useful to keep a handkerchief on which a few drops of eucalyptus , thyme and lavender essential oil have been poured . They help to clear the upper airways and to breathe better.

Treat colds with ginger

Anti-inflammatory, stimulant and decongestant thanks to its pleasant “pinch”, ginger is a very valid remedy in case of cold. We can use it in various ways, for example:

• Herbal tea with hot water and fresh ginger , lemon juice and a pinch of cinnamon . To drink, but also to be used by inhaling the steam that releases when the water is boiling: a quick remedy also indicated in case of severe cold. Ginger tea and in general a decongestant hot drink helps loosen mucus and decongest the airways.
• A homemade syrup made with boiling water, fresh ginger and sugar or honey. It is left to cool to the desired consistency. Useful in case of colds and coughs

Treat colds with essential oils

Plants have already thought of it: the essential oils of thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary , mint , lavender, tea tree have a decongestant effect,  give quick relief to breathing, useful remedies for a blocked nose .

They can be used individually or together, in a blend of your favorites. Use them 100% pure , make sure it says ” for food use ” and try them in these ways:

1. Aromatic vapors : boil some water in a pot, then put 10 drops of essential oil (or 10 drops of your favorite blend, which you will have prepared or asked for in herbal medicine); inhale the vapors, better with a towel on your head and your eyes closed. In this way, real natural aerosols are prepared.
2. Balsamic ointment : lightly heat coconut oil, or shea butter , add 15 drops of the chosen essential oil (or 15 drops of your favorite blend, which you will have prepared or asked for in herbal medicine), let it cool and then spread on the chest , or (in small doses) under the nose .
3. Balsamic bath salts : prepare yourself with a cup of English salts to which you will add 10 drops of essential oil (or 10 drops of your favorite blend, which you have prepared or asked for in herbal medicine); prepare yourself a hot bath, with lots of steam, add the salts, and immerse yourself in healthy relaxation .
4. Chef Mario Oriani’s idea : aromatic tools . Fill a saucepan with cold water and bring to a boil; add sprigs of thyme and rosemary, and for the bravest even a clove of garlic and half an onion (in the humid heat they release their balsamic oils). Then inhale the vapors, preferably with a towel on your head and eyes closed for at least 15 minutes, breathing directly on the vapor

Treat colds with warm compresses

A cold often manifests itself as sinusitis : headache, especially in the forehead, above the eyes, and pain “inside the eyes”. It is necessary to free this congestion, with compresses directed on the area.

There are bags of cherry pits , to be heated in the microwave and applied to the area. Wet and warm towels (small ones, face towels) on the forehead will also work well .