8 natural remedies for colds

As you read these lines, about 5 percent of the world's people are battling a cold, and chances are you'll be caught this winter, too. But to make recovery as easy as possible, we reveal it to you 8 natural remedies for colds.

Make a hot ginger poultice

Compresses on the forehead, eyes and face in general can help to open up blocked sinuses. Try with exchange of hot and cold compresses - wear hot for 5 minutes and cold for 5 minutes. This is what a New York physical therapist recommends in her book Tell Me Where It Hurts and I'll Tell You What to Do Peggy W. Brill. For pain, use ginger tea or water in which fresh ginger has been soaked. This one is supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties and is said to inhibit the production of cytokines that cause pain and swelling.

Nibble horseradish

Want a quick way to clear a stuffy nose? Try good old horseradish that can clear your sinuses. Add it in your favorite sandwich or mix one tablespoon of it into salad dressing. "Our nose and throat have glands that produce a liter or two of mucus, and we swallow this without realizing it," Ashley Wood, a registered nurse and contributor to Demystifying Your Health, told Best Health. "Because mucus helps filter the particles we breathe in, it often happens that bacteria or viruses get 'stuck' and cause inflammation of the membrane in the sinuses, causing the mucus to thicken."

Nibble on the garlic

"Garlic is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates the multiplication of white cells and the production of antibodies in the immune system," says acupuncturist Elizabeth Trattner. "We can eat whole cloves added to food every day, but don't rely on garlic powder at all. This has no active compounds.”

Use cayenne pepper

Capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper and hot peppers, is said to help the sinuses open, which means you can breathe easier. It should be as well helped with the pain, says Trattner. Use cayenne pepper as a spice or have a spiced tea - add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to a cup of tea.

Drink peppermint tea

One of the tastier ways to unclog a stuffy nose is definitely drinking peppermint tea. Warm tea combined with the soothing menthol found in peppermint can quickly ensure that you breathe easier.

Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids and staying well hydrated can thin the mucus in the nose, making it easier to unclog the nose. That release the pressure you feel in your nose. Warm liquids are said to help quickly open congested sinuses, so sip warm tea in addition to water.

Use a humidifier

"Dry air can dry out and irritate the nose and sinuses, which leads to inflammation, and mucus can no longer flow naturally," says Wood. "A humidifier is a great way to lighten things up and add some moisture to the air again. A warm shower also helps.”

Give your face a soothing massage

No matter how strange it sounds, you can massage the sinuses with your fingers improves blood circulation in the area and relieves pain, says Trattner. According to her, you have to press hard with your index fingers on the outer edge of the nostrils at the end of the nose. You're holding 30 seconds, release and repeat three or four times.