Cut your cold short by trying one of these 6+ home remedies

Summertime is fast approaching, and most people think of cold and flu season as being over. A summertime cold is not unheard of, though, so being prepared to combat a sore throat, stuffy head and congestion is just being wise.
Finding simple ways to remain comfortable as your body fights can be relatively easy. Take a trip to your kitchen and see what you have on hand. Here are 6+ ways you can fight a summertime cold from the comfort of your home.
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1. Salt water. Irrigating your nose with salt water helps open the airways so your can breathe, according to WebMD. Make a simple saline rinse from 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 8 ounces of warm water. If you have a bulb syringe on hand, simply squirt the water in one side to clear your passages and let it run out the other.
2. Steam. If chest congestion joins your nasal congestion, Medical News Today says to inhale steam. You can make it more effective by adding 3 to 7 drops of eucalyptus oil to a pan of boiling water and then inhaling the steam.
3. Chicken soup. Nothing tastes so good as chicken soup when you're sick. The Mayo Clinic says there is actually some science as to why. The steam is great to inhale as you eat it, keeping your sinuses open. The heat from the soup feels good on your throat going down, and the soup has lots of vitamins in it from all the vegetables.
4. Gargle. To help soothe your sore throat, WebMD recommends gargling. You can make your own from 1 tablespoon of raspberry leaves or 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 cups of hot water. Allow the raspberry leaves to steep. Once your tea is ready, add 1 teaspoon of honey.
5. Honey. According to Medical News Today, taking a spoonful of honey before bed can help quiet your cough. A caution is put out to not give honey to a child under one year of age.
6. Ginger. Healthline reports that ginger can help with a sore throat and cough. Make a ginger tea from a couple slices of ginger in a cup of hot water. Once the ginger has steeped, strain it out and drink the tea.
7. Echinacea. Echinacea, according to the Mayo Clinic, appears to help shorten the length and severity of a cold. To make it most effective, you need to start the echinacea when you first notice cold symptoms appear. Take the herb for seven to 10 days.
8. Vitamin C. Vitamin C is not a cure-all for a cold, but Healthline reports that it may help shorten the life of the cold. Consume extra citrus fruits when sick, add some lemon to your tea or take vitamin C supplements.
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Just because you can't avoid a cold doesn't mean you have to suffer. Keep a few of these ingredients on hand so you're prepared for the next cold season.
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RemedyDaily.com does not give medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.