10 Ways to Naturally Avoid Colds and Flu by Christine Agro

Take EchinaceaĮvidence is mixed on the effects of echinacea on the common cold, but some experts say it can be helpful. 'Chicken soup is nice for the common cold because it loosens up your mucus,' says Norman Edelman, MD, a professor of preventive medicine, internal medicine, and physiology and biophysics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a senior scientific adviser for the American Lung Association. And there's some truth to what your grandmother has been telling you all these years. The adage about chicken soup being good for a cold is practically as old as the common cold itself. These pots are filled with a saline (salt water) solution and are inserted into one nostril while the user tilts his or her head to the side to allow the solution to flow up the nasal passage and out the other nostril. Try a Neti PotĪnother way to prevent nasal dryness is with a neti pot, a nose-rinsing device found in drug and health-food stores (just make sure the device is clean and you’re using it properly to ensure that it’s safe and effective, according to the FDA). Be sure to follow the instructions to keep it clean if you are using it infrequently. You can also help keep nasal and throat passages moist by using an air humidifier, particularly in the winter months when heating makes the air inside your home very dry. But be sure to avoid caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, as they can cause dehydration. Good hydration helps moisturize the lining of the nose and throat, which makes mucus easier to clear. Here are 10 cold remedies to try at home that will have you feeling better before you know it. Soothing the common cold can be as easy as gargling with salt water and spooning down the chicken soup. It turns out that your grandma was on to something.

10 Ways to Naturally Avoid Colds and Flu by Christine Agro