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SALT LAKE CITY — Viruses referred to as "the common cold" become quite common in the United States in the months between early autumn and late spring.
There are about 200 different virus strains that can produce a cold, and the average person catches several every year. Symptoms are relatively mild and include sneezing, fatigue, sore throat, headache and a stuffy or runny nose.
Though these symptoms usually last only a few days, they can be quite miserable to deal with. Here are some home treatment that can make your cold more bearable.
For congestion:
- Use a Humidifier. I recommend using a humidifier in your home at all times during the cold dry months. If you have a family member with a cold, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water to make the air mistier so it can be inhaled more easily. You can also add a ½ teaspoon of Vicks drops to a warm humidifier to help clear the airway.
- Aromatherapy. Inhaling a steaming mixture of lemon oil, thyme oil, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil can also help clear congestion.
- Vicks on your feet. Most people know rubbing Vicks VapoRub on your chest after a warm shower helps to ease chest congestion, but another way to use Vicks is to put it on your feet at night under some socks. While there is no concrete medical evidence that it works, many people report it helps to alleviate nighttime coughs.
- Carmex instead of Vicks. For a stuffy nose or head congestion, rub Carmex under your nose. It is less irritating than Vicks VapoRub and has a similar effect of clearing nasal passages.
For sore throat:
- Zinc-infused cough drops. Try cough drops with zinc in them. When you feel a sore throat coming on, start taking a cough drop every two hours to prevent it from getting worse.
- Gargling. Gargling with a mixture of water, salt and turmeric powder or astringents — such as alum, sumac, sage, and bayberry — can also ease a sore throat.
For ear aches:
- Vicks in your ear. For mild earaches, use a small amount of Vicks VapoRub on a cotton ball and put it in your ear for several hours several times a day. This will help reduce the pain, but it will not clear up a possible infection. If the pain does not go away, you should see your doctor.
Overall treatment of cold symptoms:
- Over-the-counter medications. Medicines such as Mucinex DM, Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Theraflu can help relieve your discomfort; children's Triaminic seems to work the best for young patients. Be sure to use caution when taking Nyquil, as it should not be taken with certain medications you may be prescribed for other ailments. It can also become addicting.
- Herbal remedies. There are several herbal supplements you can take to help reduce cold symptoms. A combination coneflower and goldenseal seems to help some patients, though there is no documented evidence of their effectiveness in the medical community. Other useful herbs that seem to reduce cold symptoms include yarrow, eyebright, garlic, and onions.
- Homeopathic remedies. Most homeopaths recommend taking microdoses of Viscue album, Natrum muriaticum, Allium cepa or Nux vomica to relieve cold symptoms. If your cold gets worse or lasts longer than several days without improvement, you may need to seek additional medical interventions.It's important to remember that despite the misery it can cause, the common cold is sometimes a very good thing. Being exposed to common viruses is what builds up our body's immune system. People who limit their exposure to germs run the risk of always being sick in some manner because their bodies have built no immunities.
At the same time, if you are a person with immunity problems — such as a transplant recipient or cancer patient — a common cold could be deadly. In this case, it is important to stay in close contact with your doctor.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
