Common Cold Natural Treatments: Facts Vs. Myths

A number of cold remedies have been used by most people around the world to manage the signs and symptoms of colds. Most of them are factual information and have a scientific foundation but the others are myths and can be an annoying waste of time, thought and worry. At least one member in each and every household must know the various home remedies for colds once yet another member catches it. But besides that, he or she must also know what remedy is effective and what is just pure myth. Here are some of the myths about colds that ought to be clarified.

Myth: Antibiotics are the powerful and effective medicines against cold.

Fact: Colds are caused by virus.

Antibiotics are medicines that act against bacterial infections by getting rid of the bacteria causing a disease. Viral infections like simple colds are not affected by antibiotics. Many uninformed mothers and guardians still believe that antibiotics are effective for colds. However, if a colds sufferer gets a bacterial infection with the colds, antibiotics could be now effective in making the patient feel better.

One more thing that people must know is that most viral infections like colds are self-limiting. That means they will eventually heal with time even without any medical intervention. Symptomatic cold remedies are enough to manage colds.

Myth: Vitamins and other health supplements can cure colds.

Fact: Even though vitamin supplements such as vitamin C can strengthen the immune system, taking them may not be effective in curing colds.

Although a person keeps on consuming vitamin C everyday, when he catches a cold, vitamin C tablets won't do anything to the virus. The virus will still cause symptoms and he can't do anything about it but to control his symptoms with the correct diet, hygienic measures, proper hydration, and other head cold remedies and then wait around until his colds are cured. However, zinc supplements have been proven to be beneficial in colds treatment.

Myth: When a person has a cold, he should not drink milk so there will be less mucus.

Fact: Consumption of milk doesn't lead to the large build-up of mucus.

There is no scientific basis about this myth and anyone with colds can drink milk just as much as he wants to. Mucus production may increase when one has colds but it is not, in any way, caused by milk.

Myth: "Start a fever and feed a cold"

Fact: The phrase "starve a fever" is totally a myth.

Food is required by any human to provide energy for the body and if a person has a fever and colds, the body metabolizes lots of energy reserves in the body therefore more food should be taken to stop further body weakness.

There are still more myths that many people still believe to be effective in treating colds. Here are few of the scientifically proven effective home remedies for a cold that patients can do to manage colds. First is proper hydration. A person with common colds should drink plenty of fluids to prevent nasal congestion and also keep the throat moist. Eight to ten glasses of water a day should be enough to keep the body properly hydrated. Second is nasal irrigation through saltwater rinse or nasal spray. This technique can help relieve nasal congestion effectively.

And the last is chicken soup. It is very effective since it has an anti-inflammatory effect and it lessens mucus production. Chicken soup has been one of the most helpful cold remedies that many mothers have been giving to their children in order to manage colds.

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