Monday, June 6, 2016

Top 10 Simple And Easy Home Remedies For Cold And Cough

Home Remedies For Common Cold. Many people say there’s no cure for the common cold. While it is true that it can’t always be prevented, there are cures for the symptoms that come with a cold.

Home Remedies For Cold And Cough

What Is Common Cold?


A cold is a kind of infection that can be caused by different types of viruses. Some of the common symptoms of a cold are headache, runny nose, cough, high fever, itchy eyes, sore throat, body aches and so on. It is important to treat a cold before it leads to other infections like strep throat, bronchitis and pneumonia. Many natural treatments offer effective relief from the various symptoms of a common cold without any side effects.

Top 10 Home Remedies For Common Cold


1) Garlic
2) Honey
3) Spice Tea
4) Ginger
5) Chicken Soup
6) Red Onion
7) Salt Water
8) Vapor Rub
9) Humidity
10) Warm Baths


1.  How Garlic Helps In Preventing Common Cold?

Garlic’s antibacterial and antiviral properties can be very helpful in getting rid of cold symptoms. Garlic is good for the immune system and helps open up respiratory passages, and also helps flush toxins out of your body.

Mix together one crushed garlic clove, two teaspoons lemon juice, one teaspoon honey, and half a teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chilli powder. Consume it daily until the symptoms subside. Boil four to five chopped garlic cloves in a cup of water and add one teaspoon of honey. Drink it two to three times a day. You can also eat raw garlic or use a few drops of garlic oil in your food and drinks.

2. Honey For Cold - Honey And Lemon Cold Remedy


Honey can be of great help in soothing an irritated throat as well as shortening the lifespan of a cold. The high amount of nutrients and enzymes in honey help kill bacteria and viruses that cause colds.

The simplest home remedy is to consume a mixture of one teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of honey. Take it every two hours to get immense relief from your cold and sore throat. If you prefer, you can simply swallow a spoonful of raw honey.

3. Spice Tea For Cold

Spice tea is a highly beneficial Ayurvedic remedy to get rid of common cold. 

Dry roast and grind a quarter cup of coriander seeds, one a half tablespoons each of cumin and fennel seeds, and a quarter teaspoon of fenugreek seeds.

Now, boil a cup of water. Add one and a half tablespoon of this spice powder and one and a half teaspoon of rock candy (misri). Let it simmer for three to four minutes. 

Add two tablespoons of milk. Bring the solution to a boil and then strain it. Sip it slowly while it is hot. Drink this spice tea daily until the symptoms subside.

4. How Ginger Helps In Preventing Common Cold?


Ginger can be helpful in treating common cold and its symptoms due to its antiviral, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Eat raw ginger or drink ginger tea several times a day. 

For enhance the effectiveness of ginger tea, add a lemon juice and honey to it. You can also make a paste of ginger, cloves and salt and eat one-half teaspoon of it two times a day.

For a runny nose, mix equal amounts of dry ginger powder, clarified butter (ghee) and jaggery (gur), a natural sweetener. Consume this mixture daily in the morning on an empty stomach.

5. Chicken Soup Remedy For Cold

Chicken soup has many essential nutrients and vitamins that help treat common cold symptoms. The high antioxidant properties in chicken soup speed up the healing process. In addition, it will boost immunity and restore strength in your weary body. For best results, make homemade chicken soup using organic vegetables and chicken.

6. How To Use Red Onions For Cold?


Those suffering from a cold can get relief from homemade red onion syrup. To make the syrup, you will need red onions and honey or brown sugar. Slice two to three red onions horizontally. 

Put one slice of onion in a bowl and add raw honey. Repeat the process until the bowl is full. Cover the bowl and leave it for 12 to 15 hours. When you open the bowl, there will be thick liquid like syrup. 

Drink a spoonful of the syrup several times a day to get relief from sore throats and other symptoms of a cold.

7. Salt Water Remedy For Common Cold

Gargling with salt water reduces and loosens mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens. To try this remedy at home, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water. Swish it around your mouth and throat. Then spit it out.

8. How Vapor Rub Helps In Controlling Cold?

You might not like the smell, but some old-fashioned topical ointments, such as vapor rub, appear to reduce cold symptoms in children older than 2 years, according to a study published in Pediatrics.

Just one or two applications before bed can help open air passages to combat congestion, reduce coughing, and improve sleep. Vapor rub is gaining traction among some doctors who encourage parents to avoid giving over-the-counter cold medicines to young children because of unwanted side effects.

9. How Humidity Helps Reduce Cold?

Influenza thrives and spreads more easily in dry environments. Creating more humidity in your home may help reduce your exposure to this flu-causing virus. 

Increased humidity may also reduce nasal inflammation, making it easier to breathe when you’re sick. Temporarily adding a cool mist humidifier to your bedroom may help you feel more comfortable. 

This is especially true in winter, when dry indoor heat can exacerbate your symptoms. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also stimulate your breathing.

10. Warm Baths To Reduce Common Cold

Sometimes, you can reduce a child’s fever by giving them a warm sponge bath. Warm baths can also reduce cold and flu symptoms in adults. 

Adding Epsom salt and baking soda to the water can help reduce body aches. Adding a few drops of essential oil, such as tea tree, juniper, rosemary, thyme, orange, lavender, or eucalyptus, may also have a soothing effect.
Sources: Remedies For Cold | Home Remedies For Cold

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Top 10 Best Home Remedies For Swimmers Ear Infection

Welcome to Top 10 Home Remedies. Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. It occurs in the tube that connects the opening of the ear to the eardrum. Medically, swimmer's ear infection known as otitis externa. 

The water left inside the ear canal after swimming, bathing or showering becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which is the main cause of an outer ear infection. 

Causes Of Swimmer's Ear Infection


It can also be caused by a fungus or virus but that is less common. Other causes include aggressive cleaning of the ear canal, excessive use of headphones or a hearing aid, and an allergy or irritation from jewelry, hair spray or hair dyes.

Symptoms Of Swimmer's Ear Infection


Mild symptoms of swimmer’s ear include swelling, redness, pain or discomfort, pus or fluid discharge, itching and muffled hearing.

Moderate or advanced progression of the infection can cause severe pain in the face, head or neck along with more intense itching, more extensive redness in the ear, feeling of fullness inside the ear, blockage of the ear canal, swollen lymph nodes and a fever.

The infection is not contagious, and usually it is not a serious issue if treated promptly.

However, any delay in the treatment can lead to complications, such as temporary hearing loss, a long-term infection, deep tissue infection, and bone and cartilage damage.

For a mild infection, there are many simple home remedies that can help reduce the infection and allow the ear canal to heal.

Top 10 Home Remedies For Swimmer’s Ear Infection



1. How To Use White Vinegar For Swimmer's Ear Infection

White vinegar is one of the most effective remedies for swimmer’s ear. Its slight acidic nature helps fight the infection by cleansing the ear and removing traces of bacteria.
  • Combine equal amounts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.
  • Lie on your side with the infected ear facing up.
  • Use a dropper to put 2 or 3 drops of the solution into your ear.
  • Wait 5 minutes, then get up and tilt your head to allow the solution to drain out of your ear.
  • Repeat this remedy 2 or 3 times a day.

2. Keep Ear Dry To Avoid Swimmer's Ear Infection

Be it ear discharge or a severe infection, it is important to keep your ear as dry as possible. Any moisture in the ear will serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. To fight the infection, it is important to keep the growth of bacteria in check.

  • After exposure to moisture from swimming or bathing, dry your ears thoroughly with a soft towel or cloth. Tilt your head to the side to help water drain out of your ear canal.
  • You can also use a blow dryer to dry your ears. Put the blow dryer on the lowest setting and hold it at least 1 foot away from the ear.
  • To prevent getting water in your ear canals when bathing, coat 2 cotton balls with petroleum jelly and put 1 in each of the outer ears.

3. Warm Compresses The Infected Ear

If there are signs of pus formation or fluid discharge from the infected ear, try warm compresses. The heat will promote the flow of fluid and ease the pain.

  • Soak a washcloth in hot water and wring out the excess water. Put the moist washcloth over the infected ear for 2 minutes, then tilt your head to promote fluid drainage. Take a break for 10 minutes and repeat the process as needed.
  • Alternatively, put a heating pad wrapped in a towel on your bed. Lie down and put the infected ear on this heating pad for a few minutes at regular intervals.

4. How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Swimmer's Ear Infection

Another effective remedy that you can try at home is hydrogen peroxide. This natural antibacterial agent helps dry out the fluid in the ear and eliminate the infection.
  • Get 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from the market.
  • Lie down and use a dropper to put 3 or 4 drops of it into the affected ear.
  • Remain in that position for a couple of minutes.
  • Then, tilt your head to allow the fluid to drain out of your ear.
  • Repeat this remedy a couple of times a day.

5. How To Use Garlic For Ear Infection

Garlic is a good remedy to fight off ear infections. Its antimicrobial properties and natural pain-relieving qualities help kill the bacteria responsible for the infection and reduce the pain associated with it.
  • Crush a few garlic cloves and add them to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Heat the oil until the garlic turns brown. Strain it and allow the oil to cool. Put 2 to 4 drops of this oil in the infected ear. Do this once or twice a day.
  • Also, consume 2 to 3 raw garlic cloves daily to speed up the healing process.
  • Note: Do not use this garlic oil if fluid is draining from your ear.

6. Breast Milk Remedy For Ear Infection

The use of breast milk is a popular remedy for ear infections. The natural antibodies in it help fight the infection quickly. It also alleviates swelling and pain.

  • Lie down on your side with the infected ear facing upward.
  • Using a dropper, put a few drops of breast milk into the infected ear.
  • Wait for a couple of minutes, then tilt your head to drain out excess fluid.
  • Repeat every few hours as needed.