by M.J. Holliday

Created on: December 12, 2010

Common cold symptoms can make life miserable. Sneezing, coughing or physical contact with the cold virus can easily spread infection from one person to another.

A cold is also known as nasopharyngitis, acute viral rhinopharyngitis or acute coryza. The culprit behind the common cold is usually a rhino virus or corona virus.

The common cold is the most frequent infectious disease affecting humans. Adults get about two to four colds a year, and children may have six to twelve.

A cold settles in for a few days of nastiness and typically runs its course within seven to ten days. There's no simple cure for the common cold, but there are some easy home remedies to relieve the misery of cold symptoms.

Common cold symptoms may include:

• sore throat

• runny nose

• congestion

• coughing and sneezing

• body aches and pains

• brain sluggishness

• fatigue

• fever

• headache

• chills

• loss of appetite

• insomnia

Influenza and the common cold may have similar symptoms, but unlike the flu, a cold doesn't attack the lungs. The flu may also affect the digestive tract, causing upset stomach and diarrhea.

Here are the best natural ways to treat a cold and relieve common cold symptoms.

1. Steam

Use steam to help clear congestion and mucus, or to soothe a sore throat. To make an improvised facial sauna, fill a bowl or sink with steaming hot water. Drape a towel over your head and breathe in the steam. Steam helps clear the chest and sinuses, and relieve a raw throat. Steam is also an effective way to clean dirt and oil from skin pores, so the bonus of stream treatment is healthy, glowing skin.

For added benefit, use a chest rub such as store-bought Vicks, or essential oil of eucalyptus (below). Steam can burn, so don't put your face directly over boiling water in a kettle or on the stove.

2. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus can soothe a sore throat, clear the sinuses and relieve congestion. Cineole (eucalyptol) is the active ingredient in eucalyptus. As an essential oil, cineole refreshes the mind and works to treat the misery of cold symptoms. Eucalyptus is commonly added to cough drops and lozenges.

Oil of eucalyptus can be used as a rub to relieve the joint pain and aching muscles, or as a chest rub to clear congestion. As an oral supplement, eucalyptus oil must be diluted. Like many medicinal plants, eucalyptus is an effective herbal remedy in small amounts, but ingesting too much can be toxic to humans.

3. Herbal Tea

Hot, fragrant

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