Cold Snap: How To Avoid A Cold?

In winter, the cold weakens the immune defenses and makes our bodies more vulnerable to viruses. To prevent a simple chill from turning into a full-blown rhinopharyngitis, it's important to act quickly. We will give you three tips to avoid catching a cold after being exposed to the cold.

Drink an anti-cold herbal tea.

Warm drinks are a well-known trick for warming up after being exposed to the cold. If you feel chilled or are experiencing the early signs of a cold, such as a runny nose or sore throat, prepare a herbal tea specially formulated to boost your natural defenses.

Tonic herbs and spices that can help prevent a cold include:
• Thyme with antiseptic properties.
• Invigorating and antiviral cinnamon.
• Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and stimulating ginger.

To alleviate the initial symptoms of a cold and sore throat, simply infuse one of these ingredients with a slice of lemon and sweeten your infusion with a spoonful of antiseptic and soothing honey. Drinking this type of anti-cold herbal tea is a sovereign remedy for warming up and supporting the body against winter fatigue.

Take a bath with essential oils.

Another tip to warm up in case of a chill and prevent the situation from turning into rhinopharyngitis is to take a hot bath or, if you don't have a bathtub, a foot bath.

Even if you don't have a bathtub at home, you can still follow this advice by taking a foot bath since the extremities of the body are particularly sensitive to cold. This good reflex will not only warm up your cold feet but also revitalize your entire body by adding essential oils such as Scots pine, ravintsara, or eucalyptus.

You can also use these same essential oils for self-massage on the kidneys or the arch of the foot. Dilute 3 drops of essential oil in a tablespoon of vegetable oil and use this mixture to perform a self-massage on your feet or lower back.

Note: Chinese medicine recommends always keeping the kidney and lower back region as well as the soles of the feet warm. To avoid catching a cold, one should never walk barefoot at home! On the contrary, it is advisable to always wear warm socks and slippers indoors or covering shoes outside.

3- Drink chicken broth.

Another tip in case of a chill is to drink chicken broth. Not only will this soup warm you up, but it will also provide the minerals and trace elements your body needs to fight viruses.

A balanced diet and good hydration contribute to "nipping a cold in the bud," or at least reducing the duration of symptoms. Drinking plenty of fluids (water, broth, or herbal tea) helps eliminate toxins and thin secretions in case of a stuffy nose or phlegmy cough.

Moreover, even if a chill can lead to a loss of appetite, it is advisable to eat a balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamin C, as well as lean proteins, in the form of fish or white meats like turkey and chicken.