Get Well Soon!
Top 5 fixes for the start of sniffles
Cold, cough and flu season has arrived with the holidays, but don’t let a bug get you down just when you need to be on your feet. Stock up on these tried-and-true remedies for instant pain relief and comfort this holiday season.
1. Over-the-counter medications: There’s no cure for the common cold, but over-the-counter pain relievers; cold, cough and flu remedies; cough drops; throat lozenges; and sprays can help relieve achy bodies, sore throats, and the general “ickiness” of cough, cold and flu symptoms.
2. Hot drinks: Hot tea, warm broth and warm apple cider can help clear nasal passages and soothe a sore throat. If someone you love is under the weather, cheer them up with a little get-well gift basket that includes a mug, their favorite box of herbal tea, a bottle of honey and tissue packets.
3. Saline nasal spray: Saltwater sprays can help clear out a stuffy nose so you can breathe easier and (hopefully!) avoid a sinus infection.
4. Kitchen Rx: Studies show honey may help calm a cough. Just don’t give honey to children/babies under age 2, as it can contain substances that their underdeveloped immune systems can’t handle. Additionally, drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Each of the food groups has a unique mix of nutrients to keep us—and our immune systems—healthy all year.
5. Chicken soup: Scientific studies prove what mothers have known for generations: chicken soup—the combination of broth, chicken and vegetables—helps bolster the immune system and fight colds and flu. Breathing in that fragrant, warm broth when you’re under the weather is just a nice bonus.
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-remedies/ID00036
- http://live.psu.edu/story/27584; also see http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Cold-and-flu/10_Doctor-Approved_Natural_Cold_Remedies.aspx for background info
- http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/feeding/honey_botulism.html
- Background: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Cold-and-flu/10_Doctor-Approved_Natural_Cold_Remedies.aspx
