Take a day or two off from work or school if you can. This is good for your health and also prevents the virus from spreading. If you regularly exercise, take a day or two off. Your body needs that energy to recover. Try lighter exercises like a walk instead.
If you feel thirsty and your urine is dark yellow, then you’re getting dehydrated. Drink more water to fix that. Avoid alcohol and caffeine until you’ve recovered. These can both cause dehydration.
Never swallow saltwater. Don’t let children under 6 gargle with saltwater. They may not gargle properly and could swallow the water.
Dry air could also make you more susceptible to colds when you’re healthy, so if you live in a dry environment you could run a humidifier all the time. [6] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source
Warm liquids might also make your nose run because they loosen mucus, so keep some tissues handy. Remember to stick with caffeine-free teas or coffee because caffeine could dehydrate you.
Raw honey is better than processed honey because it’s free of chemicals and contains more nutrients. Don’t give honey to children younger than 1. Their immune systems aren’t as strong and they could catch a botulinum infection from honey.
If you boil the water, be careful not to burn yourself. While some instructions say to put a towel over your head when you inhale steam, this isn’t a good idea. Covering your head concentrates too much heat on your face and could irritate your skin or eyes.
Only use sterile saline solution in a neti pot, and never use tap water. Non-sterile water could cause an infection. Always clean your neti pot after each use.
The average person needs 75-90 mg of vitamin C each day, but boost your intake to 200 mg when you feel a cold coming on. [13] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, bell peppers, orange juice, and leafy green vegetables. You can also get it from a vitamin supplement.
Common echinacea doses are 300 mg for powder or pill forms and 1-2 ml of liquid. Follow the dosing instructions on the product you use. [15] X Research source
Zinc usually comes in lozenge or liquid form to kill virus cells in your throat. Zinc nasal sprays are associated with serious side effects like permanent loss of smell, so don’t use these products.
You could also make elderberry tea for a similar effect.
It’s safe to eat 2-5 g of fresh garlic per day, equal to about 3-4 cloves. [19] X Research source
