Rest

The misconception that exercise will help to sweat out a cold is misleading. The body needs to be able to fight the cold infection and by exercising or being excessively active you are reducing its capability to do this. Resting allows the body to fully combat the cold virus. The immune system and various immune functions within the body are strengthened or generated during sleep. It is these that will help your body beat the cold.

Water

When suffering from a cold the body is susceptible to becoming dehydrated. In order to prevent this it is absolutely essential that sufferers drink plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses of water a day is the absolute minimum that you should be aiming to drink when suffering from a cold. For this reason, water can help to further strengthen the immune system and subsequently beat the infection.

Vitamin C

It may sound something your mom or your grandmother would try to convince you but it is widely believed to be true. However, too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea and possible even kidney stones. Many proponents of vitamin C as a cold remedy would argue that 1,000mg every hour is not damaging and will help to reduce the time a person suffers from a cold. However, it has been medically proven that 250mg has the same positive effects as any larger dose with fewer and less severe side effects. The best way to obtain this level of vitamin C is through fruit juices because this also provides a good source of extra fluid.

Garlic

Garlic is another age old herbal remedy for colds. It helps to strengthen the immune system and is also a good antiviral. Putting garlic in meals will help to prevent colds and can also reduce the suffering time of patients. The best way to consume the garlic is freshly ground and raw. Many people would find this a struggle, especially because a lot of people eat as many as three or four cloves as soon as they show symptoms of a cold.

Elderberry Extracts

Elderberries may look harmless but to the cold virus they are far from it. It is a powerful antiviral as well as being a highly effective prophylactic. As an antiviral it can help to stave off the actual infection causing the cold, and its prophylactic properties strengthens and rejuvenates the immune system. Elderberry and blueberries are among the best varieties of fruit a cold sufferer can eat for these very reasons.

The Immune System’s Role

You will have probably noticed that almost all of these remedies are strongly based around the strengthening of the immune system. This is because there is essentially no cure for the common cold and we are forced to rely on our bodies to fend off the infection. In order to do this, the immune system needs to be as strong as possible and the stronger it is the less suffering will be required.

The effects of the common cold are not usually serious. Sometimes a cold can lead to a sinus, throat or ear infection. Even bronchitis sometimes starts out as a cold. Some people seem to get over colds more quickly than others. Most researchers believe that people with stronger immune systems recover more quickly, though there are some who disagree with this opinion. In an effort to come up with the fastest cure for common colds, scientists have come up with a zinc nasal spray or gel, which is supposed to reduce the duration of a cold to as little as two days, when taken within the first day or so after noticing symptoms.

The drawback to this treatment is that it can cause a person to permanently lose their sense of smell. Zinc lozenges are sometimes recommended and they are not believed to have the same negative side effects, but questions about their effectiveness still remain.

During the seventies and eighties, vitamin C was believed to be the fastest cure for common colds. Many clinical studies support this belief, but some do not. The biggest problems that scientists run into when investigating the effects of the common cold and evaluating treatments for it are that some people recover quickly without any treatment at all and some people who are infected with the virus never experience any symptoms. Then there is the placebo effect.

Many people show improvement in symptoms from any number of conditions when they are taking a placebo, which contains no active components. In order to avoid this, scientists perform “double-blind studies”, which means that neither the person who receives the treatment nor the person who administers the treatment knows who is getting a placebo and who is getting the product being investigated. When it comes to vitamins and other natural products, such as herbs, there are specific tastes and odors that cannot be eliminated. So, in many cases study participants are able to “guess” what they got. If these herbs or vitamins reduce or improve the effects of the common cold, some scientists are concerned that the results are invalid, because of the placebo effect or the participants ability to “un-blind” themselves.

Both clinical and laboratory research have shown that a number of natural products may be effective for preventing and relieving the effects of the common cold. These are not always highly advertised, because they are usually health or dietary supplements, which, by law, cannot claim to prevent or cure any disease. Although the fastest cure for common colds may be among them, they cannot be advertised as such. To learn more about these products, visit the Immune System Booster Guide.

The stages of the common cold vary. Some people experience no symptoms at all, while some experience a full range of frustrating ailments; from fever to body aches to coughing, sneezing and runny nose. Unlike influenza, which typically begins with a relatively high fever, most adults do not experience any fever at all. In children and infants, temperature can climb to 102 degrees farenheit.

A large number of different viruses can cause the common cold, but scientists know the most about the rhinovirus. It is a very common virus and can be grown easily in a laboratory setting. Research indicates that the beginning stages of the common cold usually occur two or three days after exposure to the rhinovirus. The most active viruses are present in nasal secretions during the first four days of infection. Thus, the first step in home instructions for the common cold is to try to keep those who have begun to show symptoms away from those who are not infected, at least for the first few days.

Parents who are caring for a sick child should wash their hands well and often, particularly before touching their own face or another family member. Disinfectants may help to remove the virus from surfaces, but it is believed that the rubbing action is what removes viruses. Anti-bacterial hand soaps and cleaners have no effect on viruses, but the hand washing action rubs them off. The rhinovirus has been shown to be active for as long as three hours on skin and surfaces.

The next step in our home instructions for the common cold covers shortening the duration of symptoms. Most research about common cold treatment is geared towards shortening symptoms, since curing the infection is not possible. First, let’s look at what does not work. Regardless of what stages of the common cold a person is currently suffering from, an antibiotic is not effective. Antibiotics neither kill viruses, nor shorten the duration of viral infections. They are only effective against bacterial infections. If symptoms last for more than two weeks, a bacterial infection may be present and a visit to the doctor is appropriate. There is no indication that inhaling steam is an effective treatment. Steam may temporarily relieve congestion, but will not shorten duration of symptoms.

While cold weather does not cause the common cold (as mentioned, it is caused by a virus), staying comfortably warm and dry will make you feel better. Getting out in rainy, wet or cold conditions often cause symptoms to worsen temporarily. When stages of the common cold experienced include fever, chills are often present. There is no reason to avoid bundling up when chills are present, but there is no indication that “sweating it out” is an effective treatment. Sweating may actually increase dehydration and experts agree that staying well-hydrated is particular important during a cold.

When asked about home instructions for the common cold, most doctors will recommend that you get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and take acetaminophen for headache, body aches and fever. Parents should not give children aspirin or aspirin containing products, as it has been associated with Reye’s Syndrome, a rare, but life threatening illness that sometimes follows chicken pox, influenza and other viral infections. Some doctors may recommend zinc tablets to shorten the duration of symptoms, if used in the early stages of the common cold. There is a bit of controversy surrounding the use of zinc nasal gels or sprays. Some studies have shown that they shorten the duration of symptoms, while others conclude that they are not effective and should not be used, because they can cause permanent loss of the sense of smell. In order to have any positive effect, they must be used in the early stages of the common cold, within in the first two days.

Taking supplements of vitamin C, E, A or zinc may be helpful home instructions. For the common cold treatment, some experts recommend them. It is always important to follow the manufacturers recommended dosage. High dosages of vitamin C can cause diarrhea; zinc can cause anemia; A can cause irritability and painful joints; E can have an anticoagulant effect. The better health supplements take all of this into consideration when creating products for use during viral infections or as a preventative of viral infections.

Sometimes over-the-counter multi-symptom cold relievers are included in home instructions for the common cold. If you choose to use these, it is important to read the directions and ingredients. Some products contain aspirin. Others contain alcohol. Some cause drowsiness and should not be used when driving or operating dangerous equipment. Studies have shown that many are ineffective on common cold symptoms and most should not be used by children.

Home instructions for the common cold would not be complete without listing a few home remedies. These can make you feel better, relieve symptoms temporarily and are safe for use by most people, since they are common food products. Chicken soup contains selenium, a trace element necessary for proper immune system function. If you can make your own, then add garlic, onions, black pepper and/or ginger. These are helpful to the immune system and taste good. If you must buy canned soup, choose the low-salt versions. Warm mullein or other herbal teas are soothing to the throat. Green tea can increase energy and boost the immune system. Studies have shown that during early stages of the common cold, vitamin C in the blood stream depletes very quickly, so fruit juices can help the body get the vitamin C that it needs to fight the infection.

Many researchers believe that year round vitamin supplementation can reduce the number of colds that a person has per year. In addition, certain herbs and other plant components have been shown to improve immune system function. To learn more about these, visit the Immune System Booster Guide. This is the final step in our home instructions for the common cold, you can start taking immune system boosters during a cold to reduce the duration of symptoms and continue to take them year round for protection from the common cold viruses.