1 Eat hot chicken soup. Researchers have found that hot chicken soup increases the flow of mucus. Although they are not sure if it's the aroma or the taste, researchers believe that chicken soup helps make your nose run, decreasing the amount of time the cold germs spend inside your nose. Chicken soup was first recommended for colds over 800 years ago.

2 Drink a lot of fluids. When the mucus that lines your throat is moist, the mucus traps viruses and sends them to the stomach, where digestive acids break them down, destroying them. Six to eight cups of non-alcoholic liquid is enough, although some researchers recommend doubling your fluids because you can loose a quart or more of fluids each day when you're sick.

3 Have some garlic. Not only will garlic zest up a meal and keep vampires away, it will also boost your immune system, because garlic contains allicin. Allicin is released when you crush the cloves and is responsible for giving garlic its flavor and aroma. Allicin fights colds, the flu, and other infections by breaking down into smaller chemicals called sulfur compounds. Sulfur compounds jump start your immune system, helping your body get rid of harmful toxins and microorganisms naturally.

4 Eat spicy food. Spicy foods that contain hot peppers, curry, or chili powder help to get mucus flowing, which may help unplug your nose and make your cough more productive.

5 Some doctors recommend taking 500 mg of vitamin C, 4 times daily along with 24 mg of Zinc gluconate every 2 hours to speed up recovery from a cold. WARNING- Taking more than 1200 milligrams of vitamin C each day may cause diarrhea in some people.

6 Take aspirin at night to relieve aches and pains.

7 Over the counter cold tablets, cough syrups, and nasal decongestants may also provide temporary relief. Remember to only use them in moderation and do not expect them to cure a cold.

Scientists now see another way to prevent colds, by blocking the cellular receptor sites that the viruses need to enter the cell, replicate, and cause illness. Researchers discovered that there appears to be one or two major receptor sites which the rhinoviruses attach to. They reasoned that if the major receptors were blocked with a special antibody, they could prevent cold infections up to 90 percent of the time. When the antibody was tested, it delayed the onset of a cold and reduced its severity. Although it did not prevent the cold, scientists believe that in the future it may be possible with further development.

In conclusion, anyone who has a cold should stay at home in isolation if possible in order to stop the spread of the virus. This will also give you a chance to rest and recuperate. Consult your doctor if the cold lasts more than ten days, if you have symptoms that suggest the infection has spread beyond the nose and throat, or if you get bronchitis or ear infections often. If you experience earache, pain in the face or forehead, a temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 34 degrees Celsius, and a combination of persistent hoarseness or sore throat, shortness of breath, wheeziness, and a dry painful cough you should see your doctor immediately.

Tags & Keywords : common col, the cold