Many children and adults encounter viral disease every fall. Although the most important thing is of course prevention, if you already have common cold (rhinitis), the ship has sailed. Therefore, in today's article we will focus primarily on alleviating the accompanying phenomena of cold. Rhinitis itself cannot be cured, but we can at least get rid of its unpleasant symptoms and get some relief. We will also focus on the difference between viral and bacterial rhinitis and will also recommend some grandmotherly advice.
Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes
Rhinitis (common cold) is typically manifested by watery or purulent discharge from the nose, sneezing, or a feeling of stuffy nose. The mucous membrane begins to congest, swell, and restrict the passage of the nose. Its cells then work up a storm and create a large amount of secretions dripping out of the nose. A stuffy nose is often accompanied by other symptoms such as mild headache, burning eyes or, photophobia. Children also show mildly increased body temperature, which in more severe cases can rise to fever levels.
You may encounter rhititis of viral and allergic origin. Rhinitis of viral origin is most often caused by so-called rhinoviruses, of which there are more than two hundred species, and they are very widespread. They enter the nose from the surrounding environment during breathing and settle on the mucosa, where they begin to multiply and cause inflammation. No less unpleasant is rhinitis of allergic origin, which is caused by external allergens. The most common allergens are spring pollens and grasses, which cause hay fever. However, allergies to feathers, dust, animal fur, or dust mites are also very common.
While allergic rhinitis requires a specialist to test the patient using various allergens, in the case of common viral rhinitis no medical examination is required. A physician´s visit is recommended in case of runny nose in newborns or postnasal drip (leaking of secretion into the throat) in infants and younger children. These patients are at risk of ear infections associated with a cold - an excellent prevention against this complication is to suck out nasal mucus, for example using a nasal aspirator with vacuum cleaner adapter. Thanks to regular sucking out the mucus, the nose is really cleaned, and the secretion does not settle in the sinuses, where it could cause mischief.
Untreated common cold lasts seven days, a treated one a week
You should use nasal drops for a maximum of 3 to 5 days!
In short, the body must cope with rhinitis on its own. However, you can help it alleviate the symptoms of rhinitis and overall feel relieved when ill. The most important thing is to drink enough fluids, preferably tea or water, and further, to increase the intake of vitamins that strengthen the immune system. Tangerines, oranges, apples, or lemon in tea will help alleviate the symptoms of common cold. You can relieve the stuffy nose with some of the nasal drops that are available without a prescription because the drops reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane and suppress the production of mucus. It may happen that blowing your nose frequently causes skin irritation in the nose area - you can also treat this with a soothing face cream.
Don't flip through the pages of cookbooks for a long time but play it safe and cook the broth. Hot chicken broth will boost your spirits, relieve a stuffy nose, and generally give you energy and optimism. The second option is garlic soup or some garlicky food - our grandmothers already used garlic as an essential medicine against viruses. A hot shower bath will also help relax your nose and body; it will have the same beneficial effect on your sinuses as it does on your psyche.
If you suffer from a cold for more than five days, you should slowly wean off the nasal drops so that they do not cause the opposite problem - a blocked nose. But you can replace them with a saline solution that you can either make at home or go to the pharmacy to buy it. It reduces the swelling of the nasal mucosa in the same way as nasal drops, and in addition, it relatively safely rids you of all dirt and microorganisms that may remain in the nose. You are thus sure that a viral cold will not turn into a bacterial one.
Viral rhinitis can turn into bacterial
If rhinitis lasts more than 7 days, the infection has probably turned bacterial. In the damaged and weakened mucous membrane, bacteria have proliferated, which the nose can normally cope with on its own, but after such a weakening, it cannot. A change in the causative agent of the illness will be reflected in a change in the nature of discharge.
Viral secretions are clear and transparent, but bacterial secretions of an infected person is dense and contains yellow or green mucus, therefore, it is sometimes referred to as yellow or green cold. Sometimes a green cold can be accompanied by a cough or a higher body temperature. In worse cases, it is then accompanied by general inflammation of the nasal cavities or inflammation of the nasopharynx. If you have a cold lasting more than 7 days, you should see a doctor who can start antibiotics at this stage.
Rhinitis in children and infants
A cold can be quite a dangerous disease for infants and newborns. A stuffy nose prevents them from breathing, but also from sucking breast milk, so it is recommended to suck out nasal mucus since the first day. Thanks to the suction of the mucus out, the nose is beautifully cleaned and the infant can at least for a while be calm and breathe or feed contentedly. With a cold in toddlers and older children, you can apply nasal drops, regularly suck out mucus, keep the child warm and take care of an increased intake of fluids and vitamins. If rhinitis lasts more than 7 days, you should see a doctor, as it may indicate a transition to the bacterial phase or an allergy.
Experience and grandmotherly advice for home treatment
Onion dreams
If you have blocked sinuses and want to get rid of your cold, prepare an onion feast before bed. Cut an onion in half and massage with it your soles of your feet to rub as much of the onion juice into them as possible. Then put on warm socks.
Then slice the second onion and place it on a plate in the bedroom. Snuggle up in a blanket and enjoy onion dreams. In the morning, the sinuses should begin to clear.
Inhalations
Warmth is generally good for common cold, so you cannot do anything wrong by inhaling the following mixture, even if you do not pay much attention to grandmotherly advices. Mix one tablespoon of black currant, one tablespoon of elderberry, one tablespoon of cumin, a little dried oak bark and 5 cloves of garlic. Allow the resulting mixture to simmer in half a litre of water and pour into a bowl. And inhale while still warm under a towel. You can also inhale “Vincentka” mineral water in a similar way.
Ginger tea
Peel and grate or slice fresh ginger. Let it boil briefly in water and set aside for 5 minutes. Then strain and drink as a tea with lemon and honey.
Our tip: For the autumn sleet, prepare the A miracle syrup of ginger, honey, cloves and lemon. You can simply savour it as a preventative, add it to tea instead of honey, or simply mix it with water as a syrup.
However, you will also appreciate it as a quick "tea" whenever needed. Just put a few teaspoons in a mug, depending on how strong the syrup is, and pour warm water over it directly at a temperature that you can drink. Cheers!
Ginger in honey
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In Ginger in honey of a sweet and at the same time slightly spicy taste you will find 2% of ginger root, i.e., the part hidden underground from which the plant grows. It is literally a gift for us – all the power and beneficial substances are concentrated in ginger. Not without the reason, the whole plant is called medicinal ginger (Zingiber officinale).
From the experience of our customers:
Janec
Martina
Irena
„Propolis tincture does not irritate the nasal mucosa - I use it for a runny nose or just stuffy nose, which it releases beautifully, and rhinitis is cured within 2-3 days. I also use it for my daughter (1-year-old) whose baby drops didn't work; I can't use anything else for my rhinitis, as my nose has bled after all the drops. Also excellent for vocal cords and sore throat.“
Sandra
