how to get rid of a head cold without medicine

How to Get Rid of a Head Cold Without Medicine

In general, a head cold is not such a serious health issue that you have to take medicines for it. What you actually need is some relief from the discomfort. Go through this article and you will get to know how to get rid of a head cold without medicine.

A bad head cold can make you feel miserable. It develops when you are suffering from a common cold infection. In this condition, your nose, throat, sinus cavities and ears are already clogged up with thick phlegm. The accumulated phlegm inside the sinus cavities located near the forehead, nose, ears, and eyes puts a lot of pressure in the head. Thus you get a heaviness in head and a constant dull headache. Other obvious symptoms observed in this condition are stuffy nose, itchy throat, water discharge from eyes, cough, sneezing and sometimes, fever. A head cold can happen to anyone men, women or children. It is more common during winter. Head Cold Medication The medicines that are most popularly used for treating head cold are decongestants and painkillers. Decongestants are available in the form of oral medicines and nasal sprays. These medicines are highly effective for bringing down the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal passage and facilitate faster drainage of the phlegm. As the stuffiness subsides, the head seems lighter. On the other hand, painkillers can provide temporary relief from the bothering headache. However, medicines cannot cure the actual infection. Antibiotics that are used for the treatment of bacterial infections are not effective on the cold as it is a viral infection. The only difference these medicines can make is that they can reduce the intensity of the symptoms. The drawback of these medicines is that they cannot be taken for more than 2 - 3 days as they have adverse side effects. Most people opt for treating a head cold without using any medicines mainly because of this reason. How to Get Rid of a Head Cold Without Medicine There is nothing more annoying than a head cold and you feel a desperate need to obtain an instant relief from it. In this section of the article, we are going to talk about some simple home remedies. They are as follows: Stay Hydrated When you have a head cold, your body loses out a lot of fluid in the form of mucus. Therefore, to prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water. Fruit juice is also quite helpful in this condition as it hydrates the body and at the same time it is a good source of vitamin C which is essential to make the immune system stronger. Have Warm Liquid A cup of warm herbal tea or a bowl of chicken soup works wonders on a head cold. This is because the heat thins up the mucus quickly and it is drained out rather easily. Thus the sinus cavities get cleared up and the headache subsides. The warm liquid will have a soothing effect on sore throat too. Inhale Hot Steamy Vapor Take some boiling water in a pot, keep your head over it for some time and slowly breathe in the steam coming from it. You can cover up your head with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping out. You can use a humidifier for steam inhalation. Spending some time in hot shower can also ease off the congested feeling. Apply Saline Nasal Spray Prepare a solution by mixing up one-fourth teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda in a cup of water. Once the ingredients are thoroughly dissolved, put the solution in a neti pot. Tilt your head, close one nostril by pressing with one finger and pour the solution into the other nostril. Next, remove the finger from the closed nostril and let the water drain out of it. Washing off the nose in this manner 2 - 3 times in a day provides an excellent relief from symptoms. Take Lemon and Honey This is one great combination that can help you to cure a head cold. Mix well one teaspoon of honey and same amount of lemon juice in a glass of water and drink this mixture. It has several benefits. Honey forms a thick coat on the throat lining and reduces the irritation that induces cough. It also ensures faster elimination of the mucus. On the other hand, vitamin C present in lemon juice helps your immune system battle out the infection. Drink Ginger Tea This is an age-old remedy for a bad headache caused by common cold. Take one inch of ginger root and cut it into thin slices. Boil a cup of water and put the ginger slices into it. Boil it for another 5 minutes at low heat. Then remove it from heat and strain out the liquid. Drink this tea after every few hours for best results. For a complete relief from a head cold, you have to wait for almost one week. During this time, make sure that you keep yourself warm and get some good amount of rest. This will help your immune system to fight off the infection. If a bad cough bothers you while you lie down, elevate your head with 3 - 4 pillows. Thus the throat irritation caused by post nasal drip can be prevented.

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