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Health & Wellness · Apr 19, 2022 edition

Three Reliable Home Remedies for a Cold

From the Genius House Hacks archive.

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April and May are still the tail end of cold and flu season, with plenty of people suffering from sniffles, sore throats, and stuffy heads. If you're sick with a common cold that doesn't need a medical professional's attention, here are a few reliable home remedies to get you back on your feet.

Quiet a Cough With Ginseng Tea

For a cough that won't quit, sipping a cup or two of this earthy brew can put an end to a coughing fit and shorten the duration of your illness by days. Compounds called ginsenosides relieve the throat swelling that contributes to a cough, while also powering up virus-fighting immune cells.

Relieve Sinus Pressure With a Homemade Rinse

Flushing your sinuses with a salt-and-baking-soda rinse twice daily reduces congestion by rinsing away the compounds that cause nasal swelling. Mix 1 tablespoon of kosher salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 4 cups of boiled, cooled water, then use a neti pot or spray bottle to rinse morning and night.

Soothe a Sore Throat With Honey

A spoonful of honey offers sweet relief for a scratchy throat — its natural antibacterial compounds reduce throat pain better than some over-the-counter cold medicines. Add a spoonful to a cup of the ginseng tea above for a double dose of relief.

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