If you feel that cold symptoms are on the way, you will think that there is nothing you can do to prevent it. However, a little garlic may give your immune system the right boost to ease the complications of this malaise. While the term "cure" may sound a bit over the top, you can use this plant to help relieve cold or flu symptoms faster and feel better!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use Garlic to Soothe Cold Symptoms
Step 1. Find out about its properties
A recent study looked at the effectiveness of this plant on 146 people over a 3 month period. Subjects who took a garlic supplement experienced cold symptoms in 24 cases, unlike 65 in which it was not administered. Furthermore, in the first group of participants, the presence of symptoms was reduced by 1 day.
- According to another study, those who took garlic developed fewer symptoms and recovered more quickly, possibly because a subset of immune cells increased in people who were given just over 2g of garlic per day. in the form of a supplement.
- Most researchers believe that the sulfur compounds in garlic, aka allicins, are responsible for the anti-cold effects. However, other elements, such as saponins and amino acid derivatives, are also thought to play an important role in reducing viral load, although how they work is unclear.
Step 2. Bear the smell
Numerous people hate the smell of garlic. The same substances that seem effective against the cold virus are also responsible for the typical smell of this plant. So, to relieve cold symptoms, you will need to brace yourself and put up with it.
The good news is that, in any case, you will be forced to stay at home, give up work and school for a few days, and avoid contact with other people. You should also rest and drink a lot. This means that if garlic smells bad, it could mostly bother you and your family. It's a small price to pay if you want to recover faster
Step 3. Eat it raw
If you can, always start with fresh garlic. Peel it and use a garlic press or a knife blade to press it. Eat about 1 raw clove every 3-4 hours. Just peel and eat!
- If you really can't stand the taste, tone it down by mixing it with orange juice.
- You can also add it to lemonade. Put it in a mixture consisting of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 170-220 ml of water and mix.
- You can also add raw garlic in a water and honey solution. Honey has antibiotic and antiviral properties. Pour 1-2 tablespoons into 180-220ml of water and mix.
Step 4. Use it in the kitchen
Although raw garlic seems to be the best solution, cooked garlic also contains allicins that can maintain their effectiveness. Peel and mash a few cloves or chop them, then let them rest for 15 minutes. This will allow the enzymes to "activate" the allicins contained within.
- Use 2-3 cloves of garlic with each meal when cool. If you eat lightly, add mashed or chopped to the vegetable or chicken broth and cook as usual. If you eat normally, try cooking it with vegetables or adding it to rice while cooking.
- When you feel better you can also enrich the tomato or cheese sauces with some crushed or chopped cloves. Rub it on red or white meat and cook it as usual.
Step 5. Make garlic tea
Heat can also promote decongestion. Bring 700 ml of water and 3 garlic cloves (cut in half) to a boil. Turn off the heat and add 170g of honey and 120ml of fresh lemon juice with seeds and peel as they contain a huge amount of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Filter the herbal tea and sip it throughout the day.
- Keep what's left in the refrigerator and reheat it as needed.
Step 6. Use a garlic supplement
It can be a great method for those who hate the taste of this plant. To reduce cold symptoms, take 2-3 grams per day, in divided doses.
Method 2 of 2: Detect and Treat the Common Cold
Step 1. Learn about the common cold
It is usually caused by the rhinovirus which most commonly infects the upper airways, but can also affect the lower airways and sometimes the lungs. It mostly spreads between March and October.
Generally the incubation period is short, only 12-72 hours after exposure to the virus, which occurs in the vicinity of subjects who, having already contracted it, cough or sneeze
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms
Nasal dryness or irritation is the first symptom, often accompanied by a sore throat characterized by irritation or itching.
- These symptoms are usually followed by nasal discharge, nasal congestion and sneezing, and worsen within 2-3 days after the first symptoms appear.
- Nasal secretions are clear and watery. They can become denser and take on a greenish-yellow color.
- Other symptoms include: headache or muscle aches, shiny eyes, pressure on the face and ears due to sinus congestion, decreased perception of smells and tastes, cough and / or hoarseness, vomiting following cough, irritability or restlessness and low fever. They typically occur in infants and preschool children.
- A cold can be aggravated if you develop ear infections (otitis media), sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs with congestion and cough), and worsening of asthma symptoms.
Step 3. Treat a cold
Since there is no cure for the common cold, try to relieve the symptoms. It is usually recommended to:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink plenty of it. Liquids include water, juices, and chicken or vegetable broth. In fact, chicken broth is great against colds.
- Gargling with warm salt water: they help relieve a sore throat.
- Use throat lozenges or sprays if your cough is so severe that you can't rest well.
- Take pain relievers or cold medications, following the instructions in the package insert.
Step 4. Evaluate if the discomfort is severe enough to warrant a medical examination
Most of the time there is no need for a doctor. However, don't hesitate to call if you or your child experience any of the following symptoms:
- Body temperature above 38 ° C. If your baby is under 6 months old and has a fever, call your pediatrician. For babies over 6 months, it is necessary to consult the doctor when the fever exceeds 40 ° C.
- If the symptoms last more than 10 days.
- If the symptoms are severe or unusual, such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing.
