Natural remedy for common cold prescribes for a proper diet therapy in Naturopathy. The treatment should begin with by putting the patient on a fast for two days.

Diet Therapy for Common Cold
Nothing should be taken during this period except warm water mixed with lemon juice and honey or fruit juice and hot water. A liquid diet of fruit juice in large amounts is essential to neutralise the acid condition of the blood and hot drinks are required to help clear the kidneys. Pineapple juice in particular is highly advantageous. A warm water enema should be used on a daily basis to cleanse the bowels during this period.

The short juice fast may be followed by an exclusive fresh fruit diet for 3 days. In this regimen, the patient should have 3 meals a day of fresh fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges, pineapple, peaches, melon or any other juicy fruits in season. Bananas, dried or stewed or tinned fruits, should not be taken. After the fruit diet, the patient should gradually intake a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely;
a) Seeds, Nuts and Grains
b) Vegetables and
c) Fruits

It is advisable to avoid meat, fish, eggs, cheese and starchy foods for a few days. The patient should toughen the system as a whole by taking a diet which supplies all the vitamins and minerals the body needs. Vitamin C protects one against infection and acts as harmless antibiotics. It is found in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, sprouted Bengal and green grams.

Home Remedies for Common Cold

•Lime is the most vital among the many home remedies for common cold. Lime juice should be diluted in a glass of warm water and a teaspoonful of honey should be added to it. It forms an ideal remedy for a cold and dry cough.
•Garlic soup is a very old medication to reduce the severity of cold. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties besides a number of other medicinal virtues.
•Garlic oil combined with onion juice, diluted with water and drunk several times a day, has also been found in several studies to be enormously effective in the cure of the common cold. The volatile oil in garlic flushes out the system of all toxins and thus helps bring down fever.
•Ginger is also an excellent food remedy for colds and coughs. Ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water; it should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it.
•Ginger tea, prepared by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding tea leaves, is also an effective remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold.
•Turmeric, with its antiseptic properties, is an effective remedy for cold and throat irritations. Half a teaspoonful of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 gms of warm milk is a useful prescription for these conditions. Turmeric powder should be put into a hot ladle. Milk should then be poured in it and boiled over a slow fire.
•In case of a running cold, smoke from the burning turmeric should be inhaled. It will increase the discharge from the nose and will bring faster relief.

Water Therapy for Common Cold
A hot water bath, is recommended as it helps relieve much of the congestion in the chest and nasal membranes. Hot packs or fomentations are excellent for treating chest and head colds. Steam bath, hot foot bath and hot hip bath are also useful as they kindle perspiration. Steam inhalation will help alleviate the congestion of the nasal tissues. Gargling with hot water mixed with salt is beneficial for a sore throat. Cold chest packs should be applied two or three times a day as they will relieve congestion of lungs and help in eliminating the accumulated mucus. Other useful measures in the treatment of common cold are mild sunbath, fresh air and deep breathing, brisk walks, sound sleep, adjustment of one"s clothes and habits to the requirements of the season, so as to invalidate the effect of weather fluctuations.

Yogasanas for Common Cold
Yogasanas like Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, and Yogamudra in Vajrasana, Yogic Kriyas such as jalneti and vamandhouti and pranayams such as Kapalbhati, Anuloma-Viloma and Suryabhedana are beneficial in the treatment of the common cold.

Related Articles
Indian Naturopathy
Common Cold
Nature Cure Treatments
Common Ailments