As the weather changes from day to day, sometimes it's impossible to avoid catching a cold or the flu. However, that doesn't mean we have to suffer terribly. Since the only way to get better from a cold is to go through the process, many natural remedies (疗法) have helped to reduce the symptom (症状) of the common cold.
If you feel the cold, you should drink something warm. Add honey and lemon to hot water or tea. You will keep warm while you're drinking tea. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger (姜) has been used for over two thousand years. A cup of ginger tea helps to increase the blood move and make you sweat through your body.
Garlic (大蒜) is a super food. Garlic helps to fight off germs (细菌) when eaten daily. It can reduce the number of colds you get each year and shorten cold symptoms. If you don't mind eating uncooked garlic, it's best to eat a few pieces every three to four hours when you feel the first signs of a cold.
It's no secret that salt gets rid of germs. For a sore throat, mix about half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and use as a mouthwash. Whether it's for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Japanese enjoy umeboshi, sour and salty apricots (杏子) that help keep the doctor away. Using a neti pot is an old practice from India that helps people breathe better. As a mixture of salt and water pours into the nose, the germs are cleared away.
Although cutting an onion can make you cry, it's good for a blocked nose. People in Mexico and Spain eat hot peppers to get their sense of smell back temporarily during a cold. Of course, you'd better be ready to experience a wave of heat! In Korea, kimchi is a popular side dish that keeps people healthy.
It's made from pickle vegetables, red hot sauce and sometimes garlic and ginger.
It is common to have a cold, and Mother Nature's remedies will be there for you to lower your pain when you need to fight against that cold!