It’s officially wintertime for those in the Northern Hemisphere, which means along with ice skating, snowmen, and hot chocolate, it’s also cold season. Colds are a nuisance, and can make you feel dreadfully sick, but there’s not much you can do about it — or is there? Here are some cold treatments that may help you get back on your feet a bit faster.

Stay Healthy

According to The Mayo Clinic, there is no specific treatment for the virus that causes a cold, but there are ways to treat the nasty symptoms associated with the virus. The site reported that one of the most effective ways to reduce cold symptoms is to ensure you maintain peak health in other ways, such as getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.

Read: The Common Cold And 4 Illnesses That Can Be Treated By Chocolate Consumption

Treat Symptoms

Most colds are characterized by sore throats and stuffy noses, and while you can’t beat the source of these ailments, you can soothe their discomfort.

Throat lozenges contain a variety of ingredients, ranging from menthol and peppermint oil, to honey and lemon. According to The Health Site, these ingredients, when mixed with saliva, can help to coat the throat and reduce soreness and dryness. Menthol is particularly good at treating not only throat soreness but also the congestion also commonly associated with a cold. For a natural way to soothe a sore throat, try gargling with saltwater, or sucking on ice chips.

Stay Hydrated And Warm

Lastly, it helps to stay warm and moisturized during a cold to help alleviate the symptoms while your immune system fights off germs. Drinking hot teas or eating soup can help to alleviate congestion and increase mucus flow in stuffy noses. What’s more, according to The Mayo Clinic, warm liquids and soups also help to reduce the amount of time that the cold virus is in contact with the lining of the nose, thus speeding up the recovery process.

Hydration is important when you have a cold, and drinking water is not the only way to ensure your body gets adequate amounts. Using a cool mist vaporizer or a humidifier during a cold can also help alleviate congestion, and while not necessarily “curing” a cold, it can make it more bearable.

See Also:

Common Cold vs. Seasonal Allergies: How To Tell The Difference And Treat The Symptoms

Could Body Heat Help Cure The Common Cold? Warmer Temps Kill Viral Infections Faster, Study Finds