Getting sick due to a common cold or seasonal flu is a pretty common condition and the cause for the same is usually airborne viruses. You can experience symptoms like a head cold, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, muscle soreness, and others. Fever, body aches, nasal congestion, and chills are some other, more serious symptoms that can hamper everyday life and make you feel horrible until the condition is cured completely. There are over-the-counter medications available to treat the symptoms. In severe cases, your doctor will also prescribe antiviral medications.

However, in addition to those, there are several home remedies that can relieve these symptoms and bring you back to your normal state. It’s recommended to try these natural and safe remedies after visiting the doctor.

Home remedies to treat cold and flu
The following natural remedies for cold and flu are proved to be highly effective and safe without any side-effects:

Treat a stuffy nose with warm salt water
Rinsing your nose with warm salt water clears the congestion and also removes virus particles and bacteria. You can mix a few ounces of baking soda with ¼ teaspoon of salt into warm water and squirt that water into each nostril via a bulb syringe. This method will drain the water from nostrils, clearing the congestion after repeating a few times.

Gargle with saltwater
It’s a great remedy to treat sore and scratchy throats as it clears the area of viral fluids and reduces inflammation. Mix up to ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass with 8 ounces of warm water and gargle at least 3 times a day.

Ginger shots
Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial remedy that fights congestion, nausea, common cold, and fever without any side-effects. Prepare ginger juice or purchase one from a local juice center and consume it twice a day. You can also eat ginger to treat the symptoms of cold and flu.

Take a hot bath
A hot water bath or shower can clear nasal congestion and relax your body. It also washes away the virus and bacteria that cause flu and fever. You can add Epsom salt and baking soda to water and soak yourself in the bathtub to alleviate body aches and fever. Adding a few drops of essential oils like rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, or lavender will give a soothing effect. For children, warm sponge baths will do the trick.

Apply salve under the nose
Applying a dab of mentholated salve under the nose is one of the best natural remedies for cold and flu. It will open the breathing passages. You can also apply eucalyptus, menthol, or a bit of camphor to create a numbing effect that relieves the pain of nose rubbed raw.

Apply hot or cold packs
Hot and cold packs are available from a drugstore or can be prepared at home. Heat a damp washcloth in a microwave and apply it to the congested area. Alternatively, you can also apply cold packs to the area to relieve the symptoms.

Consume honey
Honey is one of the powerful and natural remedies for cold and flu that is loaded with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking lime tea with honey is an excellent remedy to ease sore throat and throat pain. It’s also an effective supplement to treat coughs and fights cold symptoms faster.