Cold or common cold is a respiratory tract infection and is usually a harmless condition. It is extremely contagious and everyone in this world gets affected by this disease. This is known to be a viral infection of upper respiratory tract and almost 200 viruses have been detected to be responsible for this infection. As per Ayurveda it is a result of enhanced kapha dosha along with some Vata and Pitta Dosha.

Causes of Common Cold

Infection: Study showed that more than 200 viruses are found to be responsible for the common cold. A few of them are rhino-virus, parainfluenza, and syncytial.

Rhinovirus accounts for 30 to 35% of total viral cold attack. More than 100 types of Rhinoviruses are identified which mainly grow inside nostrils as the temperature (91°F) of that environment is extremely favorable for Rhinoviruses.

Some other viruses which account for around 10 to 15% of all adult colds are mainly coxsackie virus, echo virus, influenza viruses type A and B, paramyxo virus, etc.

Scientists could not detect the responsible viruses for as many as 30 to 50% of viral cold attacks.

The effect of weather: Too much cold weather could dry up nose enhancing Vata dosha which in turn could imbalance other two doshas resulting in common cold. This contagious condition could also arise due to direct flow of wind and exposure towards dust.

In hot weather many people have a habit of drinking and eating chilled food items. This could disturb the respiratory tract causing common cold.

Quick change of exposure to different climatic conditions or environments could also result in common cold. Coming out from the air-conditioned room to the heat or vice-versa could impact the health, thereby creating common cold.

Transmission of cold: Being highly contagious cold transmits easily from one person to anotherthrough air. If a patient of cold sneezes he would release some mucus droplets into the air and if someone inhales those droplets he or she would get affected by cold.

Other reasons: Modern study has revealed that some allergic conditions which affect the nose and throat and psychological stress might result in common cold.

Symptoms of Common Cold

• Runny nose, sore throat, headache, and cough
• Congested nose and head associated with sneezing
• Swelling of sinus and difficulty in breathing due to mucus build up in nose
• Feelings of heaviness throughout the head and neck
• Watery eyes and too much salivation
• Sometimes mild fever with irritating throat and nose

Complications of Common Cold

Cold is a harmless infection which gets healed up on its own within a few days. However sometimes common cold could become a source of bacterial infection at the middle ear or sinuses. If the patient is facing problems like high fever, swollen glands, and severe sinus pain it is advisable to visit doctor. Some of the most common complications include otitis media, sinus infections, earache, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, pyrexia, pharyngitis, and rhinorrhoea.

Common Cold Prevention

• Wash your hands with disinfectants or medicated soaps to evade rhinovirus infection
• Do not touch your nose or eyes with your hands frequently which might invite viral infection
• Always use facial tissue of handkerchief while sneezing or coughing
• Try to avoid the contact with cold affected patients
• Cleaning nostrils with disinfectants would help to clean out viruses and prevent spreading of infection
• Stay warm and dry and try not to work hard when you have got cold
• Avoid direct flow of air from a fan or an airconditioner

Diet

• An ideal diet should consist of plenty of fluids that would be helpful in flushing out toxic matters from the body. Take ample fresh fruit juices and water.
• Avoid tea and coffee as they have diuretic properties.
• It is advisable to avoid dairy products as they promote the release of histamine which is responsible for the congestion of chest, nose, and sinus.
• High-fat containing food items such as red meat, pastries, and cheese should be limited.
• Vitamin C is known to fight against common cold. It helps in enhancing immunity against viral infection and also detoxifies the liver.
• Hot vegetable soups and herbal tea containing ginger, tulsi, and lemon are extremely effective for common cold.

Cure for the Common Cold

• Prepare a nasal drop by mixing ¼ tsp of table salt in 4 ml tepid water for your stuffy nose
• Mix a few drops of garlic oil with 1 tsp onion juice and 1 cup of water and use this garlic juice for common cold.
• You can take ½ tsp ginger juice with ½ tsp honey three times a day to stay away from common cold.
• Prepare a fine powder of the mixture of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper, and cinnamon (1 tsp each). It is an extremely effective cure for common cold.

Sore Throat Remedies

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum): It is extremely useful for cold and cough and other respiratory tract infections. Tulsi improves the natural resistance power by stimulating the production of antihistamine agents. It mitigates Kapha dosha and rejuvenates total respiratory system.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Ginger is known to be a natural anti-inflammatory and antihistamine agent. The active constituent of this herb is zingerone which is extremely useful for scrapping up phlegm and relieving chest congestion.

Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This amazing herb is quite useful for treating upper respiratory tract infections including cold and cough. It contains a glycoside glycyrrhizin which is found to suppress dexamethasone-induced histamine release. It is a powerful demulcent which helps in soothing sore throat and in getting relief from cough.

Sore Throat Remedies

Cure for the Common Cold
	Ginger Herbal Capsules are formulated with pure extracts of ginger preserving its optimum medicinal aspects. These are immensely useful for respiratory tract infections, especially cold and cough.
	Licorice Herbal Capsules are prepared from the high quality Yastimadhu extracts are quite useful in healing up cold, cough, and other respiratory tract infections. Being completely natural these capsules are free of any side effects.
	Holy Basil - Tulsi Herbal Capsules are extremely effective natural supplements for cold and cough. These are formulated with pure tulsi extracts and therefore completely natural and safe to use.