The six most effective ways to beat the common cold

It's February and unless you've got Superman's immune system you've probably already had a battle with a cold this year.

Bouts of the flu and the common cold have been running rife since 2018 began and as temperatures continue to plummet, the illness is unlikely to go anywhere soon.

By now you're probably aware of all the symptoms: a blocked or a runny nose, sore throat, headache, coughing, sneezing, high temperature, muscle ache, loss of taste and smell.

I think you'll agree that they all of them suck; but fortunately, a cold is relatively easy to overcome and many treatments don't even require you to leave the house.

The NHS recommends that you get plenty of the following:

• Rest and sleep
• Keep warm
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Gargle salt water

Surprisingly the NHS add that taking vitamin c, garlic or zinc supplements do little to help people recover.

Those methods will help restore your immune system and avoid the spread of infection. However, if those aren't working, here are some additional solutions.

Chicken Soup

Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The tried and tested chicken soup treatment is great and provides you with a filling meal too.

It's not entirely obvious what chicken soup does for a cold sufferer, but research from Chest found that it helped slow the movement of the white blood cells that spread a cold around the body.

Medication

Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Paracetamol and ibuprofen will help you feel better and ease the pain but if the aches are getting too much there are others forms of medication available.

Over the counter drugs like Advil and Tylenol will help soothe swollen glands and other inflammations with research suggesting that Tylenol provides a more effective form of relief.

However, the NHS advises that you do not take any a cough or cold medicine with pills as it is easy to take too much.

Honey

Picture: iStock/Getty Images

Let's be honest most cough medicines taste gross, so consider taking a spoonful of honey instead.

Honey has been found to be a very effective way of combatting a cough with research from Pediatrics showing that 10 grams of honey before bed lowered the symptoms of a cold in 300 sick children.

It also helped them sleep more soundly, so that's a bonus. Plus, it's tastes delicious.

Decongestants

Picture: iStock/Getty Images

If you have a badly blocked nose you may have fallen into the trap of thinking menthol rubs will help unclog your airways.

A recent post from Mayo Clinic suggests that they are nothing more than a placebo which tricks your brain into thinking that you are breathing more easily.

A better solution might to take decongestant tables like Sudafed or even try a nasal spray, which will help reduce the swelling in your nose.

Ginger

Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

All sorts can happen to your body when you have a cold including bloating, indigestion or nausea.

If you are suffering from those conditions then try a little bit of ginger in some hot water.

The qualities of one gram of ginger have been found to reduce gas, indigestion, and sickness.

Watch what you are eating

Picture: iStock/Getty Images

If you've had a cold for a few days you've probably lost your appetite but it is important to keep eating even a small amount of food.

That being said going back to sandwiches and crisps aren't going to help.

Dr Jockers recommends that you abide by a diet of prebiotic and probiotic foods like citrus fruits, artichokes, leeks and fermented dairy and vegetables.

These will provide your insides with the good bacteria it needs and slowly restore your immune system.

HT Business Insider

More: The best ways to phone in sick without your boss suspecting