The common cold is a pretty common occurrence, but are remedies effective? There is nothing that can cure a cold. But some remedies might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable. Here’s a look at the most popular treatments for the common cold and what we know about them.
1. Hot or Cold Packs
Hot or cold packs can help relieve pain and swelling caused by a cold. The effect is short-term, however, and most people will feel better within a day or two after using them. You can buy hot packs from the drugstore, but they are expensive and not very effective. If you have the money, you might want to invest in a heating pad instead. These pads cost about $20-$30 for a rechargeable model, but they’re more effective than hot packs at relieving pain and swelling because they stay warm longer (up to 10 hours) and are more comfortable to use. Alternatively, you can use liquid paracetamol.
2. Vicks VapoRub
This is an old-school remedy for a cold that’s still popular today. You probably already know about it, but in case you don’t, it’s a mixture of petroleum jelly and menthol that you rub on your chest and upper back. It can relieve pain and can help keep your chest warm.
3. Steam
Steam is an old-school remedy for a cold that’s also still popular today. It works by releasing moisture into the air around you, which can help loosen congestion in your sinuses, which is what causes most of the symptoms of a cold. You can make your own steam by filling an empty aluminum soda pop or beer can with water and setting it over a pot of boiling water on the stove. Keep the can moving so that the water doesn’t boil over.
Or you can buy a steam generator, which is a metal container that holds water and has a small hole in the lid so steam can escape. Put the container in your bathroom and turn on the hot water faucet. The steam will rise from the bottom of the container and fill your bathroom with warm air. Stay there for 10 minutes or so, then turn off the hot water faucet and let the steam dissipate.
4. Tea
Tea is a traditional remedy for a cold. You can brew up some tea, or you can buy premade tea bags and hot water to drink. The most common type of tea is green tea, which comes from the same plant that’s used to make the leaves of a certain kind of tree that’s used to make paper. Green tea contains catechins, which are antioxidants and have been shown to help clear mucus from your nose and throat, relieve congestion in your sinuses, and stimulate your immune system.
There are also other types of teas out there with different ingredients, including black teas (which contain tannins) and white teas (which contain flavonoids). You can buy all sorts of teas at a grocery store, health food store, or tea shop. It’s not necessary to buy fancy bags and boxes; any bag will do. Just make sure it says something like “tea” on it.
