The nose tingles, the eyes water. It's not far now to a proper cold. If you do the right thing now, you can ward off the cold! Find out how to do it here!
You don't feel like hiding behind meters high mountains of handkerchiefs? For chicken soup, tea and a stuffy or constantly running nose?
The good news: If a cold is approaching and hasn't broken out yet, you're just in luck. You can fight off the cold! The best thing you can do is act now, right away. Stopping the common cold can only work while it's still in its infancy.
If it has already broken out, you can only use the Relieve symptoms with home remedies.
Typical signs of a cold coming on soon include a slight scratchy throat, runny or itchy eyes, cold fingers and toes, and general malaise.
Do you recognize yourself? Let's stop the cold before it really breaks out!
Table of contents
You can ward off a cold with these symptoms
Before you try to ward off the common cold, you should be sure that one is coming on. There are a few very clear signs that you will have a very runny or stuffy nose, cold and cough within a day at the latest.
Ignoring the body's signals because we are under stress or don't have time to be sick is what most people do. Often there is too little time in everyday life to listen to ourselves.
The problem is that if you don't listen to your body, you'll catch it later. From a small cough we then breed a big cold, not infrequently also with chills.
At the same time, our body shows us exactly what it needs. Just before we get sick, we feel down and tired - we should sleep. We can't concentrate - we should rest. And we are cold - we should warm ourselves.
Learning to be in tune with your body will help you recognize the symptoms even sooner next time.
The pathogens hit our mucous membranes in the first step - i.e. in the nose, throat and mouth. Therefore, our body starts with the first defense reactions, which we perceive as symptoms. From the first signs, the countdown starts, because now the pathogens spread strongly within a short time.
These are the typical signs that you have a cold coming on:
- Scratchy throat
- Tickle in the nose
- Watering eyes
- Headache
- Cold hands
- Cold feet
- Shiver
- Slight irritability
- Concentration problems
- Loss of appetite
By the way: you have the loss of appetite because digestion requires a lot of energy. Your body now needs this energy for defense and prevents a feeling of hunger from arising.
But if you already have to sneeze really hard, have an elevated temperature and chills, then it is no longer possible to avert the cold. It has caught you in every respect.
The most important step now is called: Strengthen the immune system. Whoever has a strong immune system has, he will not catch a cold. Plenty of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise contribute to a strong immune system.
The most important vitamins for the immune system are vitamin C, B12, D3, K2. Together they are not only a good booster against colds, but also against fatigue and when you feel groggy.
9 effective ways to ward off the common cold
If everyone around you is sneezing and coughing or you notice the first symptoms, you need to act immediately. The sooner you implement these tips, the better it is.
This will help you fight off a cold:
- Warm the body
- Rest and sleep
- Drink a lot
- Suck cough drops
- Garlic and onion
- Nasal rinsing
- Inhale steam
- Neck wrap
- Wash hands and dispose of tissues
Heat can stop the common cold
Steam inhalation, lots of tea, a cozy blanket, a hot water bottle or soup - no matter what you choose, heat is especially good for our bodies now.
Those who wish can also make a warming bath for colds with DIY additives take.
Heat opens the blood vessels. And that makes it easier for the defense cells to access the mucous membranes.
This way you support your immune system in fighting off colds.
But this only works if you act early enough. If the mucous membranes are already swollen and the nose is closed, it is too late for that. Once the mucous membranes are offended, you can no longer stop the course of events.
Attention: Therefore, you must never suppress sneezing!
Rest and sleep
Plenty of rest and a good night's sleep are important not only when you have an infection, but also when you're just coming down with something. Take it easy and try to get plenty of sleep. Your body must now mobilize all the energy it can get to fight the pathogens.
When you sleep, your immune system is working at full speed. So if you have the chance, find the nearest sofa right now, cover up tight and treat yourself to a load of sleep.
If that's not possible, go to bed as early as possible in the evening. But before you head off to dreamland, quickly carry out the following measures. This will give your body the best possible support during sleep.
Drink quite a lot can avert the common cold
Flush the viruses out of your body. The more you drink now, the better it is. This will keep your mucous membranes moist and make it difficult for the viruses to settle.
Dry mucous membranes make it very easy for viruses.
The most suitable are Herbal teaswhen they are warm or lukewarm. The best way is with a spoonful of honey. Caution: Never put the honey in the hot tea, but wait until it is lukewarm. The heat destroys the healthy ingredients.
I mix cold herbal tea with honey and fresh lemon. I prepare a liter of it and drink it within an hour.
Sage and peppermint teas (disinfectant), thyme tea (expectorant) or chamomile tea (soothing) are especially good.
Soups of all kinds also help you get enough fluids in your diet - especially Chicken soup is said to work wonders against colds. Drinks or foods that are too hot or cold are not a good idea. They irritate your throat.
Sucking candy helps against colds
Lozenges keep your mucous membranes moist. This makes it difficult for viruses to settle. By sucking, you strengthen the defense function of your mucous membranes.
You simply swallow possible pathogens with the saliva into the stomach. Here, the stomach acid takes care that you can ward off the cold.
I got myself some lozenges with Icelandic moss. They taste a bit like earth and are not particularly tasty, but they keep the mucous membranes moist.
Speakers and singers use them before performances so that the voice does not fail.
Sage candies or other herbal candies are also good for this. If you already feel a first scratching in your throat, take a sore throat tablet right away as a precaution.
Garlic and onion
Both garlic cloves and onions are a natural antibiotic. The allicin and sulfur compounds in garlic are a good way to kill pathogens.
You don't necessarily have to eat the garlic pure. Squeeze a clove, mix it with olive oil and salt it a little. With a piece of bread it can be eaten quite well.
The same applies to onions, by the way. In them, the sulfides and the high vitamin C content have a very strengthening effect on our immune system.
Flush the cold viruses from the nose
Viruses love your nose. Time to get rid of them. Cold viruses particularly like to collect in the mucous membranes of the nose.
If you manage to keep the number of viruses very low, you can ward off the common cold.
Get yourself a nasal douche. It flushes the viruses out of your body. The salt water has a mild disinfecting and decongestant effect. And it moistens your mucous membranes. It also clears your cilia of mucus and promotes their function.
Experts even recommend rinsing the nose twice a week as a preventive measure during the cold season. This way, you can ward off colds and other colds even before the first symptoms appear.
Better than a simple nasal douche works a Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation*. Not only can you use it to treat blocked noses, but you can also do something for your body when sneezing and coughing. The inhaler cleanses the airways, decongests the mucous membranes and helps the cold to heal.
You are much more flexible than with a simple nasal douche. The device is also suitable for children and has different attachments. Read the best times the over 850 reviews for the Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation* on Amazon. They are all very positive. Incidentally, the device is currently on offer!
This DIY ginger shot is a wonder weapon for colds!
Inhale steam
The alternative to nasal irrigation is inhaling water vapor. It moistens the mucous membranes and supports the body in the fight against the invaders.
If you use mint oil and Eucalyptus oil* into the water bath, you stimulate the blood circulation of the nasal mucosa and promote the body's own defenses.
Neck wrap
Does the neck already scratch easily? Then a wrap with a damp cloth can help. If the wrap is moist, it draws heat from the body, which can inhibit inflammation. The cold contracts the vessels and has a decongestant effect. With a warm wrap, you supply heat to the body and thus promote blood circulation.
Place the cloth on the neck and wrap another dry cloth around it. Secure the cloths with a scarf.
Wash hands and dispose of tissues
Wash your hands regularly now. It is the best thing you can do in the fight against cold viruses. On the one hand, not to pass on the viruses to others. And on the other hand, to get rid of them yourself.
Washing your hands regularly is a good way to ward off the common cold.
To remove cold viruses from your hands, you need to wash them with soap and water for at least 30 seconds. Whether you choose cold or warm water, the little buggers will simply be washed down the drain.
I got myself a disinfectant dispenser. This has the advantage that I can operate it with my elbow when I have a cold and so I don't have to touch it with my contaminated fingers.
Keep your hands out of your face. The farther they are from your head the better. Mouth, nose, eyes are perfect for the pathogens to enter your body.
Use paper tissues only 1x
Almost everyone makes this mistake: using the handkerchief several times. This is good for the environment, but rather bad for your health.
The cold viruses that you removed from your nose when you blew your nose end up back on your hands and nose. A vicious circle. Throw away the handkerchief immediately. And wash your hands with soap and water every time you blow your nose.
Recipe: Immune Booster Drink
How about a magic potion that boosts your immune system? You can easily put it together for yourself. It warms you from the inside and gives you strength.
For one cup you need:
- 200 ml water
- 1 tsp fresh ginger
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp honey
Pour hot water over the ginger and let it steep for 5 minutes. Add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and honey.
Important: Lemon juice, honey and apple cider vinegar must not be added to boiling or very hot water. At a temperature above 40 ° the valuable nutrients are lost!
You can prepare such a drink 3x a day and drink it slowly and sip by sip.
Why do I always get sick on vacation?
Barely a few days off and already the first infections announce themselves. We all know this only too well. Especially those who have a lot of stress at work are affected. A high workload over a long period of time leads to the fact that the body can not switch off.
If you have a vacation, the body shuts down and the stress hormones are reduced. Now the body's defenses weaken and susceptibility to pathogens increases.
Our conclusion
If you want to ward off a cold, you need to maintain good hygiene, drink plenty of fluids and keep your mucous membranes moist. Start with these measures as soon as a cold announces itself. If you are early enough, you can avert and stop the cold.
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more
