Posted by Djanaphine Lavoir
on February 16, 2024
There is no scientific proof that chicken soup can cure a cold or flu or speed up recovery, but its ingredients contain nutrients that support your immune system. It’s also a comforting food that provides hydration and may help you feel better overall.
There is also some evidence that the nutrients in chicken soup may slow the movement of neutrophils in your body.
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps protect your body from infection. When they’re moving slowly, they stay more concentrated in the areas of your body that most need them. This may contribute to healing.
Try this recipe for chicken soup. You’ll need chicken, carrots, celery, and an onion. Alternatively, consider bone broth, which may also have health benefits.
If you’re using canned soup, opt for low sodium soup varieties.
Ginger has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Uses includeTrusted Source reducing muscle pain and managing nausea.
Make tea by simmering a few slices of raw ginger root in boiling water.
As well as providing hydration, it may soothe muscle pain, ease a sore throat, and reduce nausea if present.
Honey has a variety of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Drinking honey in tea with lemon can ease sore throat pain. ResearchTrusted Source suggests it may also act as a cough suppressant.
You should never give honey to a child younger than 12 months, as it may contain botulinum sporesTrusted Source. While they’re usually harmless to older children and adults, infants’ immune systems aren’t able to fight them off.
Garlic contains the compound allicin, which has antimicrobialTrusted Source and possibly antiviralTrusted Source properties.
Adding garlic to your diet might reduce the severity of cold symptoms. According to some researchTrusted Source, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place.
More research is needed into the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic, but adding more garlic to your diet probably won’t hurt.
Native Americans have long used the herb and root of the echinacea plant for medicinal purposes.
Its active ingredients include flavonoids, chemicals that have many therapeutic effects on the body. For example, flavonoids can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.
EvidenceTrusted Source indicates echinacea may help prevent a cold but is unlikely to shorten it. One 2020 studyTrusted Source suggests that taking echinacea may help treat common cold symptoms in children.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that plays manyTrusted Source important roles in your body, including supporting the immune system.
Good dietary sources of vitamin C include:
- citrus fruits
- red peppers
- green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli
Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may reduce phlegm when you’re sick. Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help.
Vitamin C in the diet or as supplements is unlikely to prevent a cold, but some evidenceTrusted Source suggests it may improve symptoms and may slightly shortenTrusted Source the time a cold lasts.
Can vitamin C prevent or cure a cold?
Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria and yeast that are present in your body, some foods, and supplements.
They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy and may reduceTrusted Source your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection, as well as how long the infection lasts. However, more studies are needed.
Probiotic yogurt may benefit your immune system as well as providing protein and calcium. Look for products that list live bacteria on the label.
Gargling with salt water may help preventTrusted Source upper respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms, for instance, by easing sore throat pain and nasal congestion.
A saltwater gargle can reduce and loosen mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens.
To try this remedy at home:
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water.
- Swish it around your mouth and throat.
- Spit it out.
Using a saline spray or a neti pot may help relieveTrusted Source nasal congestion with a cold, and it might help with some symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection.
However, be sure to useTrusted Source only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water and to wash a neti pot thoroughly between uses. Not doing so could introduce microbes that could lead to potentially serious infections.
Ointments containing camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol, such as VapoRub, may reduceTrusted Source a nighttime cough.
One or two dabs before bed can help open air passages and help improve:
- congestion
- sleep
- coughing
Use it up to 3 times in every 24 hours. VapoRub is not suitable for children under 2 years, and ask your doctor before using it on older children.
Some essential oils can help manageTrusted Source the symptoms of a cold, flu, and other respiratory conditions. This is due to their microbial, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory properties.
Examples include:
- eucalyptus
- peppermint (menthol)
- Frankincense
- thyme
- tea tree
Use a diffuser or add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath.
Increased humidity may help reduce dryness and inflammation in the nose and throat.
A humidifier in your bedroom or elsewhere in your home may help you feel more comfortable. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also help relieve congestion.
For the same effect without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom.
Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be changed daily to stop mold and other fungi from growing. Also, when it comes to children, it is safer to use a cool-mist humidifier.Trusted Source
Some studiesTrusted Source suggest that elderberry supplements may help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and flu.
However, more research is needed.
Sometimes, you can reduce a child’s fever by giving them a warm — but not hot — sponge bath. Warm baths may also help reduce cold and flu symptoms in adults.
Adding Epsom salt and baking soda to the water may reduce body aches.
Boosting your immune system probably won’t help if you already have the flu, but it can protect you from other bouts and more severe symptoms in the long term.
Tips include:
- getting at least 7 hoursTrusted Source of sleep at night
- following a varied and nutritious diet
- getting regular exercise
- follow guidelines for flu vaccinations
Read more about habits that can help boost your immune system.
How do you cure the flu or a cold quickly?
It’s not possible to cure the flu or a cold, but rest, hydration, and home remedies — such as drinking ginger tea, using a humidifier, and diffusing essential oils — may help relieve symptoms.
What home remedy can I use for cold or flu?
Natural remedies that may help ease flu symptoms include honey, ginger, echinacea, elderberry, and probiotics.
What is the fastest way to cure a cold or flu?
There is currently no cure for the cold or flu. It usually passes in 3–7 daysTrusted Source with rest and home or over-the-counter remedies. The cold can be caused by different viruses and, similarly to the flu, tends to run its course in a week or two.
What are the stages of a cold or the flu?
Most viral illnesses go through an incubation period, in which the virus multiplies in your body, but you don’t yet experience symptoms.
Afterward, there’s a period with symptoms that may worsen before they get better, and you are contagious during this time. Once symptoms disappear, you are in recovery and no longer contagious. How long each phase lasts depends on the specific illness.
Learn about how long it will take before you’re over your cold and the stages of a cold.
There is currently no way to cure a cold or the flu, but various dietary choices, supplements, and other home remedies may help relieve symptoms. Speak with your doctor before trying any supplements to make sure they’re appropriate and safe for you.
A small amount of evidence:Trusted Source suggests some remedies may shorten the duration of the illness, but more research is needed.
To reduce the risk of getting a cold or flu, take steps to strengthen your immune system, such as eating healthy, sleeping well, and exercising. Having all recommended vaccinations is also an essential step.