Colds are a common annoyance in the winter. The coughing, stuffy nose and lack of energy can really slow you down. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are ways to reduce its severity and make it go away more quickly.

There are numerous over-the-counter cold remedies available at the drug store. Natural remedies usually have fewer side effects and more health benefits. Here are some natural remedies for colds and coughs.

Lemon Juice and Honey

Lemon juice contains lots of vitamin C, one of the best vitamins for the immune system. Honey soothes the throat and helps combat cough. Diluting the juice of a lemon in a glass of warm water and adding a teaspoon of honey makes a simple but effective cold and cough remedy.

You could also add a few teaspoons of lemon juice and honey to ginger tea. Ginger is great for the immune system as well. Drinking either of these recipes once or twice a day will help you fight off a cold and reduce your symptoms.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal. There are a number of ways that you can use it to fight off a cold.

* You can make garlic soup. This is done by boiling three or four cloves of garlic in a cup of water. Eat it once a day until your symptoms are gone.

* You can eat it raw. It is most effective this way, but some people can’t stand the taste. Juicing it and adding to other juices or the tea recipe above can make it more palatable. You could infuse it in vinegar or use it in a recipe that calls for raw garlic.

* Garlic tablets are a good alternative for those who just can’t stomach garlic. They are not as effective as regular garlic though.

Spicy Foods

If you are suffering from congestion there’s nothing like something hot and spicy to open up the nasal passages. Adding a sprinkle of cayenne pepper to any soup will help clear the sinuses and warm you up. If you feel up to eating a spicy curry is also great for this purpose.

Natural Supplements

There are numerous natural supplements that you can take to help get rid of a cold. Echinacea is an herb that stimulates the immune system and can shorten the duration of a cold. A large dose of vitamin C taken at the beginning of a cold may make symptoms less severe and taking the standard dose while you are sick may facilitate a quicker recovery. Doses higher than 2,000 milligrams a day, however, can be harmful.

Having a cold is no fun. Although you will have to wait for it to pass, there are natural remedies that can reduce both symptoms and duration. These remedies have fewer side effects and are often less expensive than the cold medicines sold at the drug store.