The 3 most effective home remedies for cold and flu

You don't need over-the-counter treatments to battle a cold or flu. These home remedies will quickly get you back on your feet.

Congestion is one of the most uncomfortable symptoms associated with a cold or the flu. Luckily, there are a few home remedies that can combat it. One easy thing to do is send steam into your nasal passages. To do this, pour just-boiled water into a bowl. Then, drape a towel over both your head and the bowl to trap the steam. Inhale deeply, but be careful not to get too close to the bowl or you may scald your skin. Keep breathing in the steam for five to 10 minutes. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus or thyme oil to the water to boost the treatment's healing powers. This easy remedy should help clear your nasal passages.

Chicken soup is a common cold and flu treatment, but here's something your mother never told you: the best way to use chicken soup as a cure is to put spices in it. You can use pepper, hot curry powder, chili powder or any other spice that makes your eyes water and your nose run. Studies show that chicken soup helps improve the performance of the cilia, the tiny hairs in the nasal passage that help ward agains infection. There's also been some research that shows that chicken soup can improve the motion of white blood cells, which fight disease. Eating chicken soup when you're sick may be cliché, but it really does work.

Ginger and garlic both provide relief when you have a cold or the flu. Ginger is an antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates your interferon, which helps fight viral infections. It also has gingerols, which are a natural cough suppressant. Drinking ginger tea is a great way to make yourself feel better quickly when you have a cold or the flu.

Garlic also has a multitude of properties, which relieve cold and flu symptoms. It's an antioxidant with antiviral and antibiotic capabilities, as well as a decongestant that can help relieve upper respiratory congestion. Garlic may be a pungent, but feeling better is worth the bad breath.

When you have a cold or the flu, you're always looking for ways to get better faster. These easy home remedies will help you get back on your feet quickly.