Cold. Cough complaints are part of a cold. A soothing cough syrup based on medicinal herbs will serve you well.
What is a cold?
A cold is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, sinuses and throat. A cold is caused by infection with a virus. Adults catch a cold 3 times a year on average, children 8 times a year on average.
What are the symptoms of a cold?
Symptoms of a cold occur 2 to 3 days after the infection and include:
- Snot in the nose and throat,
- Stuffy nose,
- Sneezing more often,
- Pain in the throat,
- Cough,
- Headache.
There is usually no high fever, except in small children. Persistent high fever in children is always a reason to consult your doctor. A cold normally lasts a week. If the symptoms of a cold have not disappeared after 10 days, something else is going on and it is advisable to see a doctor.
How do you get a cold?
Cold viruses are transmitted via moisture droplets in the exhaled air that is inhaled by others. This causes irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose and pharynx. A stuffy nose, sore throat and coughing are often the result. Coughing in particular can be very annoying. The incubation period (period between the infection and someone becoming ill) is 2-3 days.
Does catching a cold cause a cold?
Scientifically there is no evidence that catching a cold also causes a cold. Catching a cold can reduce resistance, making you more sensitive to the virus that causes a cold.
Why are colds more common in autumn and winter?
New cold viruses emerge in autumn and winter. The climate/weather conditions are ideal for these viruses. That is why people infect each other more at that time of year.
What can you do to prevent a cold?
There really isn’t much you can do to prevent a cold unless you live like a hermit. However, one should stay away from people who have a cold as much as possible.
What can you do to reduce the symptoms of a cold?
Normally a cold goes away on its own. There are some means to reduce the symptoms. Nasal drops for a stuffy nose and throat lozenges for a raw throat. Steam with eucalyptus or chamomile and paracetamol for possible fever and headache. Steaming is not suitable for children due to the risk of burns. For cough complaints you can use a soothing cough syrup. Other medications are not really necessary.
Herbal cough syrup
Nature has given us plants that are excellent for this purpose. Below you will find a recipe for an excellent cough syrup for children and adults.
In which cases is it better to go to the doctor?
- In children
- In children who appear ill or lethargic.
- In children under six months of age who have a cough or earache.
- In adults
- In old people over 75 years old who appear ill.
- If the following complaints persist for more than five days: pain in the upper jaw or toothache, pain while chewing or pain that worsens when bending over.
Recipe
Supplies:
- 25 grams licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra radix)
- 20 grams horehound (marrubium vulgare)
- 200 grams of sugar.
- 1 lemon.
- 500ml water.
Preparation
Soak 1.5 tablespoons of licorice root in 500 ml of water for 24 hours. Then strain the water and bring it to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of horehound and the juice of the lemon. Let this mixture steep for an hour. Then sift the whole thing again. Finally, add the sugar and bring to the boil and let it cook until the sugar has dissolved and let it boil for 2 minutes. Let it cool completely and the syrup is ready. The syrup is best kept cool in a tightly closed bottle.
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