All the while we're not suffering from a cold or the 'flu most of us don't give a thought to prevention. That's only human. But when we are struck down with the dreaded common cold or 'flu virus then we're desperate to find a quick cure to get rid of the sniffles, the shivers, the head aches and all the other unwanted baggage that accompanies it. And that's only human, too. We'll take a glimpse at a highly unusual but effective way of keeping colds and 'flu away in a moment, but first let's look at a couple of remedies that you probably haven't come across before. Both focus on the fact that when the cold or 'flu germs enter your body they immediately lodge themselves in the membranes of your nose. Your immune system then resists them by releasing inflammatory mediators. These in turn cause excessive mucus gland secretion, which blocks the sinuses, leading to a runny nose and all the other unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the 'flu.
So if you want to take direct action against the virus or germs that are attacking you, the battleground is inside your nose. But conventional medicine tends to ignore this obvious fact, preferring instead to concentrate on drink potions, pills, and similar oral treatments. This oblique, or indirect, way of tackling the problem means, among other things, that even if the remedy works it takes longer than the remedies we're about to consider. The first one makes use of an everyday household substance you've almost certainly heard of - sodium bicarbonate. Pour a little warm water into a dish and add a level teaspoon of your sodium bicarbonate. Stir it well and then immerse your nose and surrounding parts of your face into it. Slowly breathe the water up your nose until it reaches the point where it begins to overflow into your mouth. Then expel it and rinse your mouth out.
Be careful not to add more than a teaspoonful to the water, and that the dish is of a size that enables you to fit your face into. If the mixture is too strong it will sting your nose for a while. A little trial and error will tell you how warm the water should be, which is warm enough but not hot. Do this three times a day, and it should see off even the heaviest of colds well ahead of time. The next method is to fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Tilt your head back and spray it into your nostrils. It will bubble up and help to kill the bacteria in your nose. Hold for a few minutes and then blow your nose into a tissue.
Incidentally, you can then use the mixture to disinfect your bathroom without harming your septic system, unlike bleach and most other disinfectants. Just spray shelves, window sills, handles, and anything else where germs are liable to be found. So those are the two methods either of which you can try next time you feel yourself going down with the 'flu or common cold. But before that happens, you may like to try a little cold and 'flu prevention each day. This is similar to the first remedy I outlined just now, but instead of breathing up a mixture of warm water and sodium bicarbonate you breathe up moderately cool, mildly salted water. Do this once each morning and you stand an excellent chance of avoiding any common cold and 'flu germs that may come your way.
Tags:Cold Flu Symptoms Causes of Colds and Flu Cold Flu Treatments What Are Some Names of Communicable Diseases Parents Stress When Is a Cold Contagious How Many Days Is Bronchitis Contagious