We all know the nasty sensation of coming down with a cold: when you feel like your head is stopped up, when your nose is constantly running, and when nothing tastes right.
Most of what we call colds are technically known rhinitis, and are caused by various micro-organisms settling on nasal or throat surfaces, and the body's reacting to them. When your nose is running, your body is trying to get rid of those organisms.
The important thing is to let the body get rid of the junk. People are always trying to avoid sneezing, runny noses, and congestion. But the problem is that they are often treating the symptoms, and not the problem itself. Water treats the problem. Make sure you have plenty of water to let the body do its job.
One of the reasons the old advice ("Rest, and get plenty of liquids!") was good advice was you could have time to let the body work on getting rid of whatever is causing problems. If you take something to stop your runny nose, all you've done is give yourself a dry (and usually sore) throat, and prevent the body from blowing out what's causing the problem.
It's not easy to conduct a business meeting if you're nose is constantly running. It's not easy to teach if you're constantly sneezing. But those are some of the ways your body is trying to cure you. If you possibly can, take some time off, rest, and you will recover much faster.
Your body will be going through a great deal of water, and you need to replenish it frequently. It's easy to forget how much liquid goes out in a runny nose (and probably not something you want to ponder a lot, either!) And every time you sneeze, your body loses water. So a good rule of thumb is for every time you sneeze or blow your nose, drink some water. Every time. Now the problem is that most folks just don't feel like eating when they have a bad cold. Neither do they feel like drinking. So you may have to fool your body into thinking that you're drinking something special that's not just the water it needs.
The easiest way is to slice a lemon (or lime) and put a slice into your glass. Unlike sugar and other things we are prone to add to water, the trace of lemon adds nothing but taste: no calories, no caffeine, and no carbohydrates.
Another trick is to heat the water. That's right: serve up plain, hot water in a special cup, and maybe jazz it up with lemon, too.
And as long as you're drinking your quota of 20 glasses of water a day, there's no reason you can't enjoy some other liquids. Hot broth, juices (though not too much: your body needs a rest from digesting, too!) and hot teas can be enjoyable, and help alleviate the boredom.
If you're drinking tea, you might want to go with herbal, decaffeinated teas. I have nothing against caffeine, when used in moderation, and I drink caffeinated tea almost every day. But when you are sick (whether from a cold, or from something else) allow your body to clear out some of the corridors. Don't give it the extra task of dealing with caffeine ... at least not now.
The important thing is to keep consuming liquids. Your body may be cleansing out some toxins, and it needs fluids to do that job. Monitor factors such as the color of your urine. If the urine is a dark or brownish color, you need more liquids. (A rule of thumb is that urine should be a light straw color. If it's darker, immediately drink down 2 glasses of water).
Jim Huffman, RN specializes in natural and alternative healing therapies. His first book is 'Dare to Be Free: How to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your Nursing Career,' and is aimed at helping other nurses find satisfying, dynamic careers. His website is http://www.NetworkForNurses.com and his health blog is at http://www.shababa.blogspot.com
Have you been diagnosed with genital warts caused by the... Read More
Let us see if Ganoderma which has been discribed as... Read More
Serotonin is not just for depression--it's potent for pain relief... Read More
These are practices that I do whenever I am trying... Read More
Thyme is a herb that has been cultivated for centuries... Read More
1. Clean and Fresh AirBacterial allergens and other pollutants constantly... Read More
Everyone has a variety of bacteria in their mouth. Some... Read More
We all know the nasty sensation of coming down with... Read More
When I was 12, one of my best friends was... Read More
My first yoga retreatI never wanted it to stop. It... Read More
Are you aware that one of the most important indicators... Read More
If you're anything like me, then you've got a certain... Read More
Smokers love excuses. Nothing makes them happier than, 'I can't... Read More
In my workshops we use energy techniques that involve tapping... Read More
For hundreds of years, we've known that 'Laughter is the... Read More
"Magnetic bracelets reduce the pain of osteoarthritis." Those are the... Read More
You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you... Read More
It has long been said that caffeine is not good... Read More
Modern Living, Complex Health ProblemsIn our post-modern industrial polluted stress-filled... Read More
With allergies on the increase and sensitivities to synthetics becoming... Read More
What's the big deal with oregano? Many of you have... Read More
Motion sickness is a normal response to real, perceived, or... Read More
The near extinct bois de santal has a sensual and... Read More
Hemorrhoids are conditions where there is a swelling of the... Read More
For most of my life I considered myself fairly healthy.... Read More
Understanding what holistic medicine is:Holistic Medicine is a wellness-based approach... Read More
Royal Jelly is a milky substance produced by the worker... Read More
Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"... Read More
Essential Oils are the heartbeat of the plant kingdom, and... Read More
Even a single family member who is senile or afflicted... Read More
HERBAL PRODUCTS are comprised of herbal care remedies, such as... Read More
The Way Essential Oils Effect the Etheric Body or Psycho-spiritual... Read More
There are two main types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis and... Read More
1. Eat protein at every meal: One of the most... Read More
Hello!Alan Allard here?You have my respect for taking action to... Read More
Places Suitable for Use of Aromatherapy Products: living room, bedroom,... Read More
We've all heard of massage and many of us have... Read More
Here are more constipation remedies using vegetables. Use vegetables every... Read More
When a person has a stutter or a parent realises... Read More
Effective January 1, 2005, California law requires all mattresses contain... Read More
Essential Oils are the heartbeat of the plant kingdom, and... Read More
If you want to use hypnosis for therapeutic reasons, there... Read More
It seems that nearly everyone I know has been either... Read More
This title to a book by Rudolph Ballentine deserves more... Read More
Acupuncture treatment for arthritis and joint pain has been with... Read More
Last week the media circus surrounding the flu vaccine reached... Read More
Vegetables like fruits and their juices have healing properties because... Read More
Disturbed vibrations occur in the body as a precursor of... Read More
One little-thought-of application for hypnosis is to help people stop... Read More
Your husband always seems tired. Your son is always hungry.... Read More
Problems with sinuses, give rise to headaches, so you have... Read More
Complementary Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines... Read More
One of the least known and least practiced aspects of... Read More
Since the late 1960's, wheatgrass has become frequently discussed in... Read More
There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people... Read More
Modern Living, Complex Health ProblemsIn our post-modern industrial polluted stress-filled... Read More
Arthritis dates back to prehistoric times and is seen all... Read More
Raindrop Technique is a procedure for applying therapeutic grade essential... Read More
You've probably tried everything you can think of to ease... Read More
This article first appeared in The Sept. 2004 issue of... Read More
Over two hundred years after this momentous event the world... Read More
Since the dawn of civilization, man has always turned to... Read More
The Nature Elementals, most commonly known as Faeries, are the... Read More
Being a caregiver is stressful and difficult. It involves contradictory... Read More
In Japan, in the early 1920s, Mikao Usui developed Reiki-ho... Read More
Herbal Therapy, also referred to as Herbalism, is one of... Read More
Alternative Medicine |