Cold Facts

Catching a cold is always a drag, but warm weather colds are especially uncomfortable. While the common cold comes in about 250 varieties, the good news is that there are several natural remedies, ranging from bed rest to catnip, that may help ease the discomfort.

It's also worth noting that there are ways to distinguish between the symptoms of a heavy cold and those of the potentially more serious influenza virus. The main symptoms to watch out for are aching limbs and muscles, dizziness and gastric upset: these are classic flu symptoms.

For a full service survey of colds and how to handle them, go to One Stop Cold Shop. While The Cold Shop advises that colds are best nursed along by alleviating symptoms with medications such as aspirin, vitamin C or foods high in vitamin C, it also says drinking lots of water may help speed healing. Other recommendations from The Cold Shop: catnip has proven useful in controlling nasal blockage and chamomile tea can clear sinuses and reduce fever.

Forget about "cures" such as blowing hot air up the nostrils, says the Web site. These are nothing but hot air.

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Check out how you can conquer colds at Say YES to Food: Health Builders.