Well, no! Certain home remedies to treat summer cold can help. These are better, inexpensive, and highly effective. So, what are you waiting for? Sit back and read on.
Summer Cold Causes
Unlike the winter cold that is caused by the rhinovirus, summer colds are often caused by another group of viruses known as the enteroviruses. The infection spreads when you come in contact with an infected person or object, or when you consume water that has the virus in it (1).
Summer Cold Symptoms
Everyone experiences a wide range of symptoms during a summer cold. The most common ones are:
Sneezing A stuffy, runny nose A scratchy and sore throat Coughing Congestion
If you experience high fever and rashes, consult a doctor immediately (1, 2). Find below the remedies to get rid of summer cold with natural ingredients found at home.
How Do You Get Rid Of A Summer Cold?
Home Remedies For Summer Cold
1. Saline Spray
1 teaspoon sea salt A cup of water A pinch of baking soda A saline spray bottle
Repeat this once or twice a day. Saline water acts a nasal decongestant and clears up the crusty and/or built-up mucus from your nostrils (3). Do not substitute sea salt with table salt as the latter contains additives and can cause further irritation in your nose.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar A glass of water
Mix the vinegar and water and drink this mixture. You can add some honey for taste to this concoction. Drink 1-2 glasses of ACV water every day until the cold clears up. ACV creates an alkaline environment in the body, and this helps to kill the viruses and bacteria easily and quickly (4).
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C tablets Take this supplement every day. Consume as advised on the box. Vitamin C enhances the body’s immune response to the viral infection. As a result, the virus will be quickly eliminated from the body (5).
4. Ginger
1/2 inch ginger root A cup of hot water 1 teaspoon honey
Have 2-3 cups of ginger tea in a day. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties (6). It will reduce the inflammation in your nasal passages and lessen the excessive mucus that is being produced. The warmth of the tea will also soothe your nasal passages.
5. Echinacea
Echinacea capsules or tincture Ingest the herbal supplement as directed on the bottle. Take about 900 mg of the herb divided into 2-3 doses over the day. Commonly known as the purple coneflower, Echinacea increases the number of white blood cells in the body. This is beneficial for treating infections such as colds, flu, etc. as the WBCs are responsible for fighting the infection causing microorganisms (7).
6. Turmeric
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon turmeric A glass of hot water
Repeat every 3-4 hours. Turmeric is the go-to herb in Indian households when it comes to treating any infection. And rightly so, because this herb acts as an excellent antimicrobial agent. It also reduces inflammation and aids quick recovery from the illness (8).
7. Herbal Tea
1/4 cup coriander seeds 1/4 cup fenugreek seeds 1/2 tablespoon cumin seeds 1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds 1 cup water 1 teaspoon honey
Drink warm herbal tea twice a day. Herbal spice tea works as an effective home remedy for summer cold. These herbs act as decongestants and give relief from the summer cold symptoms. They also possess antimicrobial properties and can eliminate the infection causing virus from the body (9, 10, 11, 12).
8. Essential Oils
A few drops of eucalyptus essential oil A bowl of hot water A towel
Alternatively, you can also use cyprus essential oil, tea tree essential oil, peppermint oil, or thyme essential oil for the steam inhalation. Do this once or twice a day until you get relief from the summer cold. The antiviral properties of eucalyptus essential oil make it a wonderful remedy for treating cold. It also stimulates the immune system and alleviates inflammation in the nasal passages (13, 14).
9. Garlic
1 garlic clove 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
Blend all the ingredients and drink the liquid. Drink this concoction every day until the symptoms of cold subside. Garlic is antibacterial and antiviral. It also helps boost your immune system and flushes out toxins from your body (15).
10. Honey
2 teaspoons honey 1 teaspoon lemon juice or ginger juice
Mix the two and drink the mixture. Have this syrup 2-3 times in a day. Honey is antimicrobial in nature and contains compounds that kill the bacteria and virus that cause cold. It also has anti-inflammatory properties (16).
11. Red Onion
2-3 red onions 1/4 cup honey
Keep the bowl covered and store in a cool place. The same syrup can be consumed for 2-3 days. Ingest the syrup twice a day. The syrup made of red onions works great to treat your summer cold because onions possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (17).
12. Milk
A glass of milk 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
Drink this twice a day. If you combine milk with turmeric and ginger, it can help you get rid of the symptoms of cold like headache, runny nose, watery eyes, etc. The combination works as a decongestant that also possesses antimicrobial properties.(18)
13. Cinnamon
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder 2 cloves A glass of boiling water
Have this syrup 2-3 times in a day. Like the other herbs mentioned in the remedies above, cinnamon also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that relieve cold and its symptoms (9).
So, there we have it! This article includes the best home remedies for summer cold. Get the herbs out of the kitchen pantry and kick the cold out. Enjoy summer to the fullest! If you know of other such home remedies, do share them with us in the comments box below. Tips & Precautions • Chicken soup has nutrients and vitamins to treat cold. It also serves as an antioxidant to accelerate the healing process. Make a thick soup of vegetables and chicken. Drink it at least twice a day to combat cold. • Pepper contains capsaicin, which gives relief from congestion. Sprinkle some pepper on your food and let it clear up your sinuses. • Wash your hands before you eat or drink anything. • Try not to touch your face, especially around the nose, mouth, and eyes, as much as possible when you are in a public area that may be contaminated with various viruses, bacteria, and fungi. • Consume foods rich in vitamin C as it boosts your immune system and helps the body fight the infection faster. How long does a summer cold last? On an average, a cold lasts between 7-10 days. Is it good to sweat when you have a cold? This is a common myth and holds no logical explanation. People usually say that you can sweat out a cold or a fever, but medicine says otherwise. It does not make any difference. Why do summer colds last so long? This is based on several factors, including age, health, and genetics. However, your cold is likely to clear up faster if you take better care of yourself and employ cold-care remedies. But do make an appointment with your doctor if your cold lasts more than two weeks. Is sunlight good for a cold? Yes, adequate sunlight exposure can help you fight cold and flu. Getting more sun can help prevent flu infections (10). Is summer cold contagious? Yes. It spreads through tiny droplets in the air emitted from a person’s nose and mouth when they cough, sneeze, or talk.
