The numbered household items correspond with the descriptions below of ways to combat the common cold.
With no specific treatment for the viruses which cause the common cold, students might be unsure about how to treat their symptoms. But there are some household items which might help with the symptoms of a cold.
Director of Student Health Services Glynda Moorer said students are recommended to use decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine, and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, such as Benadryl.
She said antibiotics are not useful to treating a common cold.
Moorer said when looking at treatments besides over-the-counter medications, students should weigh the benefits and side effects.
“If it’s not going to hurt you, then it could be helpful and doesn’t hurt to try,” Moorer said, adding handwashing is an easy way to prevent the common cold.
1. Saline drops
Spraying or dripping saltwater, which is the basis of Saline drops, might help with a stuffy nose. Saline drops can be bought over the counter, or can be made by combining 8 ounces of warm water, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Then use a bulb syringe to insert the concoction into one nostril, hold the other closed, repeat two to three times and then change to the other nostril. Moorer said the drops might irritate the nostrils, so the drops should be taken with caution.
2. Hot toddy
A hot toddy is an alcoholic drink, best taken at nighttime to help with cold symptoms. Start by making hot herbal tea and adding a squeeze of lemon, teaspoon of honey and small shot of whiskey or bourbon. This mixture might help soothe a sore throat, ease congestion and help with sleep. Only drink one hot toddy because more might throw off sleep patterns.
3. Garlic
One study found garlic might help prevent colds when taken daily, but more research is necessary. Garlic is nutritious and might help meals taste better when a stuffy nose blocks food’s taste. Moorer said that limited evidence is not sufficient enough to prove garlic is helpful with cold symptoms.
4. Steam
Breathing in steam through a humidifier or running a hot shower might help clear nasal passages. Moorer said exposure to heat might help with symptoms of the common cold by helping reduce nasal airway resistance.
Source: webmd.com
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