Alternative remedies for colds

Among the alternative remedies for the common cold are vitamin C, zinc, honey, teas with a variety of herbs. But these funds need to be applied competently, otherwise why then be treated for a cold? Studies show that not all drugs about which we thought they were effective actually do not do any good. Be careful with the cold remedies that you apply. Ask your doctor if you doubt the effect of your alternative medications.

Read also: Treatment of influenza by alternative methods

Vitamin C and cold treatment

There are many scientific disputes regarding the fact that vitamin C helps prevent colds. Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling discovered the effective effects of vitamin C on colds in the 1970s. Some studies have shown that this vitamin for colds does help. Others have concluded that vitamin C does not help fight colds at all its stages.

There are some grounds for believing that some of these studies had serious shortcomings. To make vitamin C a real benefit, it is important that a minimum dose of vitamin C is used in treatment. Many studies have shown that there was no benefit from vitamin C if it was taken too little for too short a time.

Doses of vitamin C intake

In studies that showed the benefits of vitamin C, participants took at least 2000 mg of vitamin C per day from the onset of the first symptoms of a cold to its complete cessation. Proponents of vitamin C recommend taking it at a dose of 5000 mg or more per day.

One of the main problems in using this mega dose of a vitamin is that you can suffer from diarrhea. To avoid diarrhea, you need to use calcium powder, ascorbic acid. Calcium ascorbate is one of the forms of vitamin C, which irritates the gastrointestinal tract and often causes diarrhea. It is enough to take calcium ascorbate 1 teaspoon four times a day.

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Vitamin C and the formation of stones

Anyone who suffers from kidney stones should avoid using supplements of vitamin C for a long time. Most kidney stones are made up of calcium salts, but anyone who suffers from acidic kidney stones should be extremely careful in using vitamin C.

Zinc against colds

If there is a zinc deficiency in your diet, the amount of neutrophils can significantly decrease in the body, and you become more susceptible to all kinds of infections, including those causing colds. In a study that sought to test the effectiveness of zinc tablets in treating colds, the researchers found that people with colds and taking 23 mg zinc gluconate tablets every 2 hours recovered significantly faster than people taking placebo. Other studies have shown that tablets such as zinc glycine gluconate or zinc acetate can significantly shorten the duration of cold symptoms.

Zinc works best if you start taking the pill at the first sign of a sore throat. Take one tablet every 2 hours until your symptoms become weak if they increase the risk of a stomach upset. In this case, you can use them as often as you can be comfortable. Do not use tablets for longer than one week. Zinc can suppress the immune system and is used for a long period of time. There are also a number of studies that show that zinc can be an excellent helper in Alzheimer's disease.

Chicken soup against colds

Chicken soup, also known as "Jewish penicillin," has been the basis of alternative medicine for 800 years, since the Egyptian doctor Moses Maimonides recommended it as a remedy for colds.

And it really works, as many modern studies have shown. These researchers suggest that fighting chicken soup flu is effective not because of the chicken, but because of the vegetables that are usually part of the dish. Soup leads to a decrease in cold symptoms, especially nasal congestion.

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Mushrooms against colds

Oriental fungi, such as Shiitake, Maitake and Reishi, contain compounds that can strengthen your immune system.

Thus, when eating these kinds of fungi, people are much better able to fight the common cold.

Spicy food against colds

If you feel how hot spices help your body fight colds, include them in the diet.

Fight with a cold with a bowl of chili or other spicy foods, such as horseradish, include pepper, hot sauce, mustard or curry in the diet. Hot Mexican and Indian products are very good for eliminating colds and its symptoms.

Drink lots of hot liquid

Viruses of colds grow and multiply quickly enough when the temperature around them is high. However, they are eliminated and killed when their environment is excessively heated. Drink a hot liquid. It will warm your throat.

This should also worsen the spread of the virus. Hot liquids have a moderate effect of a decongestant, which helps to relieve nasal congestion. Taking herbal drinks, such as ginger tea, is doubly useful, because its heating effect has an antiviral effect.

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Avoid sweets

Neutrophils are a special type of white blood cells that absorb and destroy cold viruses and other invader substances. Neutrophils become weak and lethargic when you eat sweets. Thus, you need to stay away from sweets when you have a cold, and also as a preventive strategy in the cold season.

In one study, volunteers consumed 100 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to two cans of soda. When scientists took blood samples from volunteers, they found that after consuming sugar, neutrophil activity in volunteers fell by 50 percent. Five hours later, the activity of neutrophils remained significantly below normal.

All products that contain any form of sugar, including sucrose, fructose, corn syrup - can lead to a deterioration in the activity of neutrophils: malt breakers of the diet are sweets and sweets that have almost no nutritional value.

Other nutritional supplements for fighting colds

Vitamin A is vital for the entire mucous membrane of the respiratory tract during a cold or flu. It can be taken in the form of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, but at higher doses.

Amino acid lysine also has antiviral properties. Take 500 mg of L-lysine three to four times a day for one week - and signs of a cold will quickly recede.

Pantothenic acid supports adrenal function, which is often compromised when you have a cold. It also helps to minimize nasal congestion and fatigue. Take 250 mg pantetonic acid three times a day for one week.

Bioflavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties and help ease the course of the common cold. Take 500 to 1000 milligrams of bioflavonoids every hour for eight hours at the first sign of a cold.

Recommended dosage of drugs against colds

A person with a cold can use the following vitamin supplements, mineral and vegetable, to help reduce the duration of the common cold and reduce the severity of the symptoms:

• Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, 1000 mg every few hours during the day, until the bowels are fully healed.
• Zinc lozenges, with 3 mg of copper, every few hours, up to 70 mg daily during the course of the common cold and 30 mg per day as prevention.
• Garlic, 2 capsules or slices three times a day

• Vitamin A, 25,000 IU per day (up to 50,000 international units of vitamin A three times a day for no more than five days.) (Avoid this vitamin during pregnancy)
• 2 capsules of Echinacea three times a day (or as a tincture, 15 drops four times a day)
• To eliminate pain in the throat, take one zinc tablet every two to three hours or as needed.
• To eliminate nasal congestion, use steam inhalation with the addition of eucalyptus oil in water.

Products that can activate the immune system

Researchers find a positive relationship between the immune function and the components in food. If you or your children suffer from a cold, you need to make sure that they eat a lot of immunostimulating products.

Garlic can activate your immune system, increasing its resistance to infections and stress. To obtain the immune strength from garlic, you need to crush the lobules with the flat side of the knife before adding them to your food. This relieves garlic juice, which has a great potential of immune properties.

Cheese and other dairy products contain linoleic acid, a natural component of milk fat, which has contributed to the growth of the immune response in animal studies.

Yoghurts and other fermented milk products contain probiotics, useful bacteria with immunostimulating benefits. Look at the "live active cultures", which indicate that probiotics have been added to them. Also check the labels of dairy products for the presence of vitamin D. Early studies show low levels of vitamin D, which may be associated with seasonal increases in cold and flu, as well as a higher incidence of respiratory infections.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and juices, can also help the immune system fight the cold.

Zinc is found in meat, chicken, peanuts and peanut butter, it plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system in the body

Products that cure colds

Fresh ginger root can help you when you are sick, causing sweating and reducing nausea and diarrhea. Make ginger tea easily by filling a teaspoon of ginger with half a liter of boiling water. Cover the tea with a lid and boil it over low heat for 10 minutes. Add lemon and honey to taste.

Chicken soup and hot drinks help alleviate the symptoms of colds. Of course the taste and wonderful flavor of chicken soup can be an important part of the positive effect of colds.

Healthy eating during the cold and flu season means getting a daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals and a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from all food groups.

Destruction of microbes with colds

The most important thing you can do to not get sick is to wash your hands. A common way to catch a cold is to rub your nose or eyes with dirty hands, so wash your hands often to protect yourself from infection.

Your hands can pick up germs from other people or from contaminated surfaces. Use warm water, soap and wash your hands for several minutes for best results.

Another good practice is to wash cups, cutlery and silver, as well as surfaces of home furniture such as door handles, taps and phones, with soap and water.

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Increase the effectiveness of the immune system

Even when your hands are clean, staying healthy means more than just avoiding germs. Healthy organs are easier to tolerate the fight against infection. To stay healthy and activate your immune system:

1. Get plenty of rest
2. Eat well-balanced food
3. Exercise regularly
4. Protect yourself from stress
5. Reduce bad habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol

Studies have shown that moderate physical activity has a positive effect on the immune system. Over time, this means less colds and other infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Alternative remedies for colds are very good. If the doctor has not prescribed you a chemical for the treatment of complications of flu and cold, alternative drugs will help to cope with the diseases.