When it comes to treating the common cold, you won’t find a single treatment available. This is possibly due to the fact that there is no sure treatment for this illness, but rather the ones that we are using can relieve us of the symptoms or at least reduce the duration of the illness. It is possible that these treatments or steps can be taken to prevent cold from happening in the first place, but there is no denying the fact that at some point in our lives, we experience having a cold.

That being said, let’s find out which cold remedies actually work, and which ones don’t:

Sleep

Those who tend to sleep less than 7 hours per day are highly likely to be susceptible to the common cold because of a compromised immune system. If you want to avoid having this illness in the first place, it would be a good idea to make sure that you are getting decent hours of sleep every day.

Probiotics

Although this may not be the first treatment that you will go for when you have a cold, it appears that those who took probiotics have lower risks of acquiring colds, but not all the studies surrounding probiotics showed benefits. Also, some who have ingested probiotics reported bloating. Look for lactobacillus strain for probiotics.

Saline nasal drops

Another example of cold remedies that work is to use saline nasal drops as well as sprays even as they help alleviate stuffed nose and congestion even. Babies who are having a hard time breathing because of their cold can feel relief using this treatment. Just put a few drops of saline into one nostril, then use a bulb syringe on the other nostril to draw out the solution while cleansing congestion.

Zinc

There are mixed results with regards to taking zinc supplements to combat the cold. There are some studies that show that taking zinc syrup or lozenges can reduce your cold’s lifespan by one day, especially when you take it within a 24-hour period after detecting the symptoms of this illness. Also, consuming zinc may come with dangerous side effects too, so you should talk to your doctor first before you use any zinc supplements for your cold.

Vitamin C

Taking vitamin C supplements may not help that much when it comes to preventing colds, but it can shorten the lifespan of the symptoms.