Common cold is a problem faced very often by children and adults. We get affected by cold when there is change in the climate or due to contaminated water or polluted air or through some allergy. There are some easy way to cure this commoncold at home. We need always go for allopathic medicines for simple ailments like common cold. We have many home remedies given by our paati vaithiyam.

Dry Ginger for congested nose when affected with common cold

Ginger always plays an important role in ayurvedic and siddha medicine. For common cold , dry ginger comes to our rescue for easy home remedy.
Boil sukku powder (Dry ginger powder) or eucalyptus leaves in one litre of water & inhale the steam to get relief from congested nose. Make sure to cover yourself with a blanket.(like Vethu pidikarathu or aavipidikarathu).
Vethu pidithal is a procedure followed by people in India for some ailments. This is done by heating water in a large vessel. Then take the vessel off the stove and keep it a safe place where children will not disturb you.Then sit near the vessel, cover yourself and the vessel with a blanket. Keep your face above 1 and 1/2 feet above the hot water where you could feel the water vapour from the hot water. You can continue doing this until you are comfortableinside the blanket.

Lemon and honey as remedy for cold

Lemon juice and honey also gives an effective relief from cold. Take a lemon,cut into half and squeeze it to get fresh juice. Mix a spoon of lemon juice and honey and take it. This will flush out the phlegm from the body and will a fastrelief.

Remedies for nagging cough and chest congestion

1. The ingredients used are black pepper, betel leaves and water. Boil 3 cups of water with 2 fresh betel leaves and 4 crushed peppercorns, till the water is reduced to half. Strain and drink every morning and night with a teaspoon of honey.
2. Finely chop the cabbage and add little salt and pepper and eat it to get a relief from congestion at chest. Also cabbage soup is good during cold and congestion.
3. For adults who have severe chest congestion, here is an easy trick to release the phlegm: Dry roast wheat bran in a frying pan and tie in a thin cloth. Apply the poultice to the patient?s chest.

Remedies for congested nose

• Take fresh black pepper. Grind it coarsely. Heat a pan and add this coarsely ground pepper powder. Inhale the fumes that come out of the pepper.
• Tomato soup is commonly given for those who are affected with cold and congested nose. In a pan, add 2 finely chopped tomatoes, 2 pods of crushed garlic, a teaspoon of cumin seeds. Let it boil for few minutes. Then put off the stove. Strain the liquid and add fresh ground pepper powder to the soup and add the required salt. Use pepper powder according to the tolerance level of the person. The pepper and the tomato together gives better relief.
• Sneeze out to some extent to remove the congestion. Do not sneeze in.
• Add a teaspoon of ajwain(omam in tamil) in hot water and inhale the steam coming out of the hot water.