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There is no real cure for the common cold - the cold is a viral infection, and it is impossible to simply "get rid" of it. Antibiotics do not work against viruses and in general should anyway not be taken unless absolutely necessary; and there are no antiviral drugs that are known to work against the type of virus that causes colds. A cold will just take its natural course, and the body will fight off the infection within five to eight days, depending on the severity of the infection.
There are however remedies that you can use during this period to make the cold less troublesome and uncomfortable.
Steam inhalation is one of the most effective cold remedies, as it helps clear up the nasal passages, thus relieving the frustrating congestion that tends to accompany a cold. Simply heat around a liter of water and pour it in a basin.
Place a towel over your head, lean over the basin and breathe in and out for a few minutes. Always be careful when doing this - first check that the water and the steam rising out of it are not too hot, or you will scald yourself. It is also advisable to avoid using a metal container, as it will get hot and you will invariably touch it.
Gargling with warm salt water also helps - the nasal secretions during a cold usually end up irritating your throat, and gargling provides some relief. Ginger is also very useful, and can be added to tea or taken with honey, which is also an excellent treatment for the cold. If you prefer to take the ginger with honey, you should crush it to extract the juice, and then add this juice to around a teaspoon of honey. You can also use both ginger and honey in plain black tea - brew the ginger with the tea, and add the honey at the end.
One remedy that is not yet conclusively proven but can be tried is zinc. Zinc lozenges are easily available at any drug store, and are thought to help relieve the symptoms of a cold. Right now, evidence as to the effectiveness of this treatment is conflicting, but there is no harm in taking zinc lozenges, as long as you do not do so indefinitely. In any case, if your cold lasts for longer than ten days, you should visit a doctor for treatment.
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