Common cold virus, Common cold facts, prevention and natural remedy

The common cold is probably among the most irritating of all the common, relatively harmless ailments. The runny nose, congestion, and constant coughing and sneezing can indeed be extremely frustrating, and there are people who would much prefer to have a serious disease than a common cold, although this of course would depend on the disease and is probably an exaggeration anyway. In any case, there is unfortunately nothing you can do to cure a common cold.


The common cold is a viral infection that does not respond to any treatment, and must simply be allowed to take its own course. Fortunately, the infection tends to be mild and disappears on its own within a week, so no treatment is really needed.

There are however, a few things that you can do to ease the symptoms.


One general rule is to drink plenty of fluids so that you stay well hydrated. Meanwhile you should avoid alcohol, caffeine, and colas, as these tend to dehydrate the body, and avoid tobacco as well. On the topic of what you should and shouldn't consume - hot chicken soup is excellent for a cold. It is nourishing, goes down easily, and helps decongest the nasal passages.

For the nasal congestion, steam inhalation is also an excellent remedy. Simply heat up some water and pour it into a small basin, preferably adding a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to it, and then inhale the steam that rises from the water. Do this for at least ten minutes, but be careful not to burn yourself. A cold usually ends up giving you a sore throat as well, and a warm salt water gargle can help with this. In addition, one important way to minimize the severity of your cold and hasten the recovery process is to get plenty of rest.