Home remedies for a cold - that can work

Home remedies for a cold - that can work /
These home remedies relieve a cold
When you catch a cold, you do not have to resort to medicines right away. Nature has many herbs and small plants ready for this case, which promise as a home remedy for colds relief. The following article provides you with an overview of the available home remedies and explanations for their successful application.

contents

  • Difference cold - flu
  • Inhale
  • teas
  • Cough
  • onion juice
  • Cough syrup from onions, sage and thyme
  • Healing wraps
  • Quark packs
  • lemon wrap
  • Potato Wrap
  • Oil Wrap
  • ginger
  • Manuka honey
  • Erkältungsbad
  • Enough drinking
  • nasal irrigation
  • nutrition
  • Erkältungs tips

Difference cold - flu

Frequently, flu is used when a cold is actually meant. However, a proper flu is something completely different. This is triggered by a certain type of virus, the so-called influenza virus. Behind a cold, however, can be a variety of viruses stuck, such as adenoviruses, Coxsackievirenteroviruses and many more. Thus, about one hundred different pathogens can be the cause.

(Image: drubig-photo / fotolia.com)

A real flu usually starts suddenly, within hours and very violently. Massive headache and body aches, dry cough, fever and a massive malady torment sufferers and these usually seek as soon as possible the couch or the bed. In contrast, a flu infection usually begins creeping, with some discomfort, fatigue, scratching the throat, difficulty swallowing and running nose. With such a disease home remedies are the right thing. These can alleviate the symptoms and speed healing.

If the home remedies described below have no effect and / or the symptoms worsen, a doctor should be consulted. However, the remedies can always accompany a conventional medical therapy.

Inhalations are a tried and tested home remedy for colds. In addition, they also act preventively. (Image: Martin Christ / fotolia.com)

Inhale

Inhaling is a good home remedy. If the nose is clogged and / or a nagging cough occurs, regular inhalation may result in relief. Stuck mucus dissolves from the nose and bronchial system.
Twice a day, a bowl is filled with boiling water. Himalayan or rock salt comes in, nine grams per liter of water. With a towel over bowl and head is inhaled, when the water has reached a comfortable temperature. Essential oils are not recommended, as they cause allergic reactions and may irritate the sensitive mucous membranes even more.

teas

A blend of the right ingredients is an excellent natural remedy. Suitable plants for this are eucalyptus, rosehip, elderberry, meadowsweet, blackcurrant, sun hat and many more.

Here are some recipes that can help with respiratory infections:

Recipe No. 1
Elderflower and linden flowers are mixed in equal parts and a teaspoon of it is poured over with about 250 ml of boiling water. The tea should be drawn for about seven to eight minutes and then drunk in small sips, preferably sweetened with a little honey. Elderberry stimulates the defense and dissolves stuck mucus. Linden flowers also have a defense-enhancing effect and are also fever-reducing and a little antispasmodic and coughing.

Recipe No. 2
This recipe also contains linden and elder flowers, each 30g. In addition there are 20 g meadowsweet flowers and 20 g rosehip fruits. The preparation is the same as in recipe 1.
Meadowsweet is a rose plant and got its name because of its lovely appearance. The plant has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. Rosehip fruits contain a lot of vitamin C and thus strengthen the defense.

Recipe No. 3
If the upper airways are especially irritated, the following mixture of tea soothes the discomfort: 40 g lime blossom, 10 g elderflower and 40 g mullein flowers are mixed. The contained mullein flowers, also known as wool flowers, are mainly used for catarrhs ​​of the upper respiratory tract. One teaspoon of the mixture is brewed with one-quarter liter of boiling water and should then draw for about ten minutes. This tea is also drunk several times a day if needed.

Cough

This cough mixture has a soothing effect: 20g of fennel fruits, 20 g of lungwort, 20 g of ribwort leaves and 40 g of coltsfoot leaves. For a large cup of tea, a heaping teaspoonful is poured over with 250 ml of boiling water and strained after about 10 minutes. Drinked three cups a day, relieving the urge to cough.

onion juice

The homemade onion juice is an old remedy that had a permanent place in the kitchen of our grandmothers. For this an onion is minced, some honey mixed and put the whole thing on the heater for a few hours. The resulting settling liquid is a tasty, well-acting cough syrup, which can be taken several times a day.

Cough syrup from onions, sage and thyme

For this easy-to-make cough syrup, chop an onion and boil with 100 ml of water, a teaspoon of thyme, a teaspoon of sage, and 100 grams of brown sugar for about fifteen minutes, then strain off. One to two teaspoons of it three times daily relieve the symptoms and have a healing effect on the mucous membranes.

Healing wraps

Wraps are ancient home remedies for colds. These are easy to use and extremely effective.

Quark packs

If you have a cough or a constant cough, the well-known quark wrap helps. The middle of a dishcloth (use a smaller cloth on children) is spread over with plain skim curd and the two free ends are folded over it. The wrap will stay on the heater for a few minutes to keep it cool. Then he is laid on the chest. On top comes a dry cotton cloth and finally a woolen cloth. The wrap can be worn as long as tolerated. The quark has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is very positively noticeable in coughing. But even with a sore throat, the wrap is recommended. Here, this is placed around the neck, but so that the cervical spine remains free. Also come a cotton cloth and then a wool scarf.

lemon wrap

For sore throat, the lemon wrap is a great alternative to quark wrap. For the wrap either lemon slices or lemon juice are used. A lemon is cut into thin slices and placed lengthwise in the middle of a dishcloth. Left and right at the end, a little space is left free, so that the cervical spine can remain free during winding. Beat the free ends over it and the roll is ready. He is also fixed with another cotton cloth and a wool scarf. The wrap stays on the skin for up to an hour. If itching or burning it is immediately removed and treated the neck with a nourishing cream.

Those who prefer lemon juice for the wrap, squeeze out a lemon and soak a cotton cloth with the juice. This is then placed around the neck as described above and immediately removed when irritative symptoms occur.

Potato Wrap

The potato wrap relieves the coughing stimulus and dissolves the mucus. Boiled potatoes are beaten into a cloth, crushed and, if the temperature is right, put on the skin. Beware of burns - potatoes store the heat for a long time! Over the wrap comes a cotton and over it a woolen cloth. As long as the envelope is perceived as pleasant, it can remain on the skin.

Oil Wrap

Oil wrap relieve the symptoms of a cold. Lavender and / or thyme oil (please pay attention to quality), a maximum of ten drops in total, are mixed together with some olive or almond oil. The oil mixture is slightly warmed and soaked with a smaller cotton cloth and placed on the affected skin. The wrap is fixed with another cloth and a wool scarf. The effect is reinforced even with a heat source such as a Dinkelsäckchen or a hot water bottle. The oil wrap may remain on the skin for one to two hours if no skin irritation occurs.

Ginger tea not only helps with colds, but also relieves indigestion and generally strengthens the immune system. (Image: aboikis / fotolia.com)

ginger

Ginger is a very versatile home remedy for colds. This sharp root helps the stomach, relieves nausea, strengthens the defense. At the first signs, such as scratching the throat or running nose, ginger helps - preferably in the form of tea. For a small piece (organic quality) is thoroughly washed and sliced. Then pour the pieces with a quarter of a liter of boiling water and let the tea draw for ten minutes. If you like the sharpness, you do not have to remove the ginger after cooking. But beware: the cup gets sharper from cup to cup.

Manuka honey

This is a very special honey with a special effect. He comes as needed, both externally and internally used. In case of a cold, a teaspoon is poured into a cup of sage tea and drunk in small sips. This helps especially when swallowing.

The Manuka honey is often enjoyed pure. A teaspoon of the honey should then slide very slowly down the throat so that the mucous membranes can get in touch with the sweet remedy.

Erkältungsbad

Another home remedy is the cold bath. But only if those affected do not have a fever. This should be noted. A hot bath puts a strain on the circulation and the whole organism, which could be dangerous in connection with fever. But even with a simple cold, a relative should always be in the vicinity when bathing, to have a helping hand immediately in case of any discomfort.

A cold bath usually lasts twenty minutes and the temperature is 37 ° Celsius. The body must then necessarily rest. A cold bath works best if done directly before going to bed. For the bath of meadowsweet, chamomile and sage every two teaspoons fully boiled together with a liter of water. This mixture should still ten minutes, is strained and then added to the bath water. For sensitive skin, the brew is enriched with a cup of milk.

Those who prefer to use essential oils, can itself create a mixture: sage, eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm - all these are oils that can have a soothing effect on the common cold symptoms. For the mixture, a maximum of three oils and a total of not more than six drops are mixed with some cream and, when the tub is already filled, with the hands in the water "stirred".

Enough drinking

Sufficient drinking is urgently needed for a cold. Non-carbonated water or tea will remove the toxins from the body and help liquefy the mucus. To the above mentioned cold tea should be enough still water and "normal" teas, such as green tea or rooibos tea drunk.

nasal irrigation

The nasal irrigation is done with salt - just from the hollow hand or with a nasal douche, which is available in every pharmacy. Nine grams of Himalayan or sea salt are dissolved in one liter of lukewarm water to make a 0.9 percent saline solution. The salt water is sucked out of the hand above the sink into a nostril and ausgeschnaubt again or washed according to instructions included with the nasal douche through the nose. The saline solution moistens the affected nasal mucosa and prevents even more germs from settling. The liquid should not be too salty, but remember the taste of the tear fluid. Preventively, the nasal rinse can protect against an infection.

nutrition

The home remedies for flu-like infections include a healthy, vitamin-rich diet. Daily fresh fruits and seasonal vegetables are important. Heavy meals are essential to avoid. Helpful enzyme-rich fruits such as pineapple, papaya and mango. The enzymes contained in it activate the metabolism and strengthen the immune system.

Horseradish has an antiviral and antibacterial effect. Every day between ten and twenty grams of freshly grated horseradish root, mixed with apple or cottage cheese, have a very positive effect on the immune system. Who does not like fresh horseradish root or just does not get it, can also consume horseradish from the glass or as a juice (health food store). But please only buy products that contain no preservatives. Garlic, wild garlic and / or onions are also on the menu during a cold. In addition, sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C. Refined with a little honey and stir into cereal or in yogurt, this is a healthy snack - not only in a cold.

A freshly cooked chicken soup has always been considered one of the most effective home remedies for common cold. The preparation is not difficult, in addition, the soup can be prepared very well in advance.

Recipe for chicken soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 soup chicken (approx. 2.5 kg, if possible organic quality)
  • 1 bunch of birch trees
  • 1 onion
  • 3-4 cloves
  • 1 bouquet of herbs (for example with thyme, parsley and bay leaf)
  • salt
  • 1 tbsp fresh peppercorns
  • 5 juniper berries

Preparation Step 1:
Thoroughly wash the chicken from the inside and outside and cut off the fat gland on the tail. Wash the onion and cut in half. Roast the two halves with the cut surfaces down in a (coated) pan without fat. Put the herbs, peppercorns, juniper berries, salt and chicken in a large saucepan and add cold water until the ingredients are well covered. Slowly bring everything to a boil, skim off the now rising foam with a skimmer. Repeat this process several times so that the soup does not become cloudy. Now reduce the temperature and let the soup simmer for three to four hours over low heat and with the lid half-lidded.

Step 2:
When the soup is boiling, the greens are cleaned and cut into rough pieces. Add this one hour before the end of the cooking time and cook with it. Then remove onions, vegetables and spices with a skimmer. Remove the chicken and allow to cool. Pour the broth through a sieve into another pan and season with salt and pepper. Skin the chilled chicken, then remove the meat from the bones, chop it and put it back into the broth.

Step 3:
Depending on your taste, you can now add other ingredients such as vermicelli or rice as well as various vegetables to the soup. For example, add peeled and sliced ​​carrots, cauliflower or frozen peas and let them cook for a few minutes in the broth.

Tip: Freeze some of the freshly cooked chicken broth to have something ready when needed. Do this, however, before adding any deposits such as pasta or rice, as they will turn mushy after thawing and heating. Cook the insert better fresh.

Erkältungs tips

In times of illness, the body needs rest. Sport is absolutely contraindicated. The organism has enough to do with the pathogens and should not have to make an extra effort. If you feel fit enough to do so - well packed - a walk in the fresh air is good. But be careful - no forced marches. If you do not feel sick or have a fever, you may be fine with a passage in the steam sauna. In case of discomfort such a sauna should be stopped.

The sucking of pastilles comprising Cystus (rock rose) or drinking Cystus Sud or Cystus tea is recommended during a cold, but also for prevention. Anyone traveling by public transport on a daily basis protects themselves from infection by sucking a suitable cystus preparation. This is available in every pharmacy. If you still have a cold, you can and should refrain from shaking hands, because the cold germs do not necessarily have to be passed on. (sw, updated 18.09.2017)