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Alternative Treatments for the Common Cold

No alternative facts here, just alternative healing/Gesundheit!

When you’re down with a cold, it’s hard to imagine anything more annoying or inconvenient. There are plenty, of course, but when you’ve got a cold and everything that comes with it—the headache, the sore throat, the fever, the runny nose—nothing seems as tiresome. At least you can take comfort in the fact that everybody gets the sniffles; nobody is exempt. It is one of life’s great equalizers.

Speaking of comfort, although it’s true that you can’t cure a cold (you just have to live with it until it’s done with you), you don’t have to suffer through the symptoms. If you’re not keen on taking meds, there are a lot of natural remedies that can provide relief.

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Give it a rest

The best remedy for the common cold is to get plenty of sleep and rest. This will channel your body’s energy toward fighting off the viral infection and boosting your immune system. So file that sick leave and get ready to spend the rest of the day in bed.

Drink up

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink plenty of fluids to thin out mucus buildup and help you expel it faster and easier. Aside from water, you can drink some salabat or ginger tea. Ginger is believed to have antiviral properties and is known to loosen mucus, reduce inflammation, and alleviate congestion. Add a bit of lemon to your tea to give it a Vitamin C boost and a little honey to further help soothe your scratchy throat.

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Go for the essentials

Essential oils, that is. Get in on the trend and do an essential-oil steaming. Boil three to six cups of clean water, put three to five drops of your preferred essential oil, and cover your head with a towel as you slowly inhale the steam through the nose. The most commonly recommended essential oils for a cold are peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus. Peppermint and eucalyptus work as a decongestants while tea tree oil has antiviral properties and helps relieve sore throat. You can also try frankincense oil, which works as an expectorant, and lavender oil, which promotes sleep and relaxation as well as aids in loosening mucus.

Feel the pressure

If you’re down with a nasty cold, acupressure and reflexology can help with the symptoms. Stimulating specific pressure points in the body can clear up nasal or chest congestion, treat headaches, reduce phlegm, soothe sore throat, and strengthen your immune system. Hey, if a massage is what the doctor prescribed, who are you to argue, right?

Go for the herb appeal

Who knew your kitchen and garden could sub for your local pharmacy? For a stuffy nose, put a few spoonfuls of cinnamon powder in a bowl and slowly breathe in the steam, (Don’t sniff the powder!). If you want to get rid of sticky phlegm, brew a concoction of cowslip roots. For cough and sore throat, drop a few sage leaves in hot water and drink it like tea. To fight off respiratory infections, chew a raw garlic clove or two. What? It’s not like you’re going to be kissing anyone with that cold!

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Pinpoint the problem

You could also give acupuncture a try. Just like acupressure, acupuncture works by stimulating specific acupoints in the body. If you feel like you’re coming down with something, schedule an appointment with an acupuncturist. This alternative healing method can help prevent colds and flus, as well as treat symptoms like headaches, congestion, and body aches. Not a fan of needles? Don’t worry, they don’t hurt at all.

Remember though that before you embark on any treatment—whether traditional or alternative—it is important to consult with a medical professional first. Even herbal medications come with health warnings and side effects, so it’s important to proceed only with your doctor’s go signal. At Centuria Medical Makati, you can consult with the best doctors and undergo the best treatments all under one classy roof. #Convenient!

Sources:

http://www.modernreflexology.com/treat-cold-flu-fever-with-acupressure-points/
http://www.acupressure.com/articles/colds_and_flu.htm
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/echinacea-common-cold#1
http://www.healthcommunities.com/common-cold/alternative-medicine/naturopathic-cold-treatment.shtml
http://www.medicinehunter.com/6-natural-remedies-cure-cold
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4472/10-Holistic-Remedies-for-the-Common-Cold.html
https://www.rodalewellness.com/health/30-herbs-for-colds-and-flu/slide/30
http://everydayroots.com/cold-remedies
https://www.up-nature.com/blogs/news/20-of-the-best-essential-oils-for-colds-and-relieving-the-flu
https://www.aboveandbeyondacupuncture.com/can-acupuncture-treat-colds-the-flu/

 

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