(Note: These brief tips are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical care.)

Jump to the following topics:

1. There is no "cure" for a cold.
2. Some guidelines for preventing colds.
3. Some guidelines for ending colds.
4. Some guidelines for treating specific symptoms.

There is no "cure" for a cold. However, we can do many things to lessen the symptoms, and to prevent the cold from evolving into a more-serious illness.

Some guidelines for preventing colds.

1. We can create a health-enhancing environment in our home.
   • We can keep the relative humidity at a minimum of 30% to 40% by setting out open containers of water, or by making steam (from a humidifier, or a pot on our stove).
   • In winter, we can stay warm with a higher thermostat setting and heavier clothes. At night, we can use an electric blanket and pajamas.
   • We can kill the germs in your home with various cleaning products (e.g., Lysol).
2. We can minimize our contact with sick people. A cold is most contagious during its first one or two days. If we must be near an ill person, we can wash our hands often, and keep our hands away from our eyes or nose (because germs can easily enter at those places). Cold viruses are unlikely to be transmitted through the air or through dry objects, but they do linger on damp items like wet tissues, towels, eating utensils, and drinking cups.
3. We can be knowledgeable and intuitive regarding our need for nutrition, sleep, fresh air, healthful living (e.g., no smoking, etc.), exercise, etc.

Some guidelines for ending colds.

1. We can relax and avoid stress. I rarely have colds, because I have learned to recognize the very early symptoms. As soon as I notice the symptoms, I lie down, to allow my body to use all of its energy for fighting the viruses; I don't even divert the small amount of energy which would be required for reading, or watching television. I simply lie in bed for an hour or two; then I feel fine. If I continue to work for even a few hours past this preliminary stage, the cold occurs and it stays with me regardless of how much rest I get at that point.
2. We can use the proper cold medicines. Some guidelines for medicines:
   • We can be conservative. Most cold medicines give more treatment than we need. (Even aspirin is subject to overdose; the symptom is a ringing sound in the ears.)
   • We can use single-symptom medicines. Since symptoms usually occur one-at-a-time (e.g., a running nose and then a sore throat), use a medicine for that specific problem when it happens; multi-symptom medications are over-treating you by attacking symptoms which aren't present at that moment.
   • We can try the generics, which contain the same ingredients as the name-brand varieties.
3. We can take vitamin C in the form of oranges, orange juice, pills, or capsules.
4. We can apply heat for relaxation and blood circulation. Heat can be applied with a heating pad, warm towels, or a hot-water bottle.
5. We can eat less food, so the body's attention and energy can be directed toward healing rather than digesting.
6. We can drink a hot beverage every couple of hours, to avoid dehydration and to relieve the throat and nasal area.
7. We can try some herbal remedies. Many herbs are not "crackpot" items; their value has been tested for centuries, and they are now the basis of some modern medicines. For the treatment of a specific symptom, get the advice of an herbalist or a knowledgeable health-food store clerk. For example, general cold ailments might be controlled with garlic, spearmint, or cayenne -- in capsules, tea, or another form.
8. We can beware of complications. If a cold is particularly intense, or if it lasts more than a few days, we can ask a doctor if  the "cold" symptoms are actually the signs of pneumonia, tonsillitis, bronchitis, or another illness.

Some guidelines for treating specific symptoms.

1. Coughing. For chest congestion, home remedies include: menthol (rubs or cough drops), the drinking of liquids, and the inhaling of steam. If the coughs are violent (and the phlegm is greenish-yellow), we might have bronchitis. Pneumonia symptoms include a fierce cough, chest pains, chills, and a high temperature. The treatments include:
   • Suppressants (antitussives). They stifle the part of the brain which causes the coughing. Do not use suppressants if you are coughing up phlegm, which the body wants to expel along with the bacteria which it carries.
   • Expectorants. They free up the mucous, so that we can cough it out.
2. Sore throat. Most sore-throat remedies don't kill the viruses or help us to heal; they merely lessen the pain. Home remedies include: increasing our home's humidity, gargling with salt water (one teaspoon in a glass of water), eating spiced foods (which can warm up the throat), and drinking hot tea. If the soreness continues for more than two days, we can visit a doctor, to determine whether we have strep throat or another illness which requires special attention; the symptoms of strep include a sudden sore throat without a cough and without a running nose.
3. Fever. Drink a glass of water every two hours, to replace the fluid that is lost via perspiration. See a doctor if your fever continues.
4. Head cold (running nose). Antihistamines can be effective, but they can cause drowsiness which might interfere with our driving or our concentration at a job. Oral or spray decongestants stop the flow of mucous by contracting muscles in the nasal area; however, after a few days, those muscles become exhausted so the medicine might become ineffectual. Tissues are better than handkerchiefs, because tissues are discardable (along with their germs). Home remedies include chicken soup, hot tea with honey, spicy foods (mustard, chili pepper, garlic -- to open our sinuses), and the inhalation of steam. Avoid meat and dairy products which might cause more mucous in the body. Two warnings:
   • Although a running nose is annoying, it allows mucous to carry off the bacteria; decongestants stop this process and trap the bacteria in the sinuses, causing the possibility of a sinus infection.
   • Oral decongestants are dangerous for people who have high blood pressure.