Home Remedy for Colds & Runny Noses

The sniffling, sneezing and stuffiness of the common cold is miserable and inevitable, with many suffering from three to four colds ever year. Luckily, there are several home remedies you can use to relieve your symptoms without unwanted side effects. Many home remedies require simple ingredients and are easy to administer.

Foods

• More than just an "old wives tale," science is now beginning to support the notion that chicken soup aids in cold relief. According to Stephen Rennard, M.D. of The University of Nebraska Medical Center, chicken soup seems to function as an anti-inflammatory, relieving coughing and congestion. And Irwin Ziment, M.D. of the UCLA School of Medicine says that the amino acids from cooked chicken as well other common chicken soup ingredients (such as garlic and pepper) work much the same as some modern cough and respiratory medications.

  In "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II," Gordon Raphael, M.D of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases suggests eating spicy foods, such as hot peppers, to relieve a runny nose. Though initially this remedy will cause your nose to run more, it will eventually flush the nose out, relieving your nasal congestion.

  Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, juice or hot tea replenishes fluid lost through excess mucus production. Drinking warm liquids such as tea, warm lemon water or broth can sooth the throat as well and help relieve nasal congestion.

Treatments

• To relieve nasal stuffiness and post nasal drip, irrigating the nose with saline is a safe and simple treatment. Unlike store bought nasal sprays, which can cause rebound congestion when used too much, saline rinses excess mucus from the nasal passages without irritation. You can either purchase a saline spray at your drug store or make your own at home. In "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II," Dr. Jerold Principato of George Washington University School of Medicine suggests dissolving a half teaspoon of common table salt in an 8 oz. glass of water then irrigating the nasal passages using an aspirator.

  According to the Mayo Clinic, cold viruses like dry environments. To combat these cold viruses, use a humidifier---but make sure to clean it regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. The added humidity provided will moisturize dried mucus membranes in the nose and throat and relieve coughing and congestion. Taking hot baths or showers are also beneficial for relieving congestion, runny nose and coughing.