It’s was widely thought that you can get a cold by getting wet or cold. In fact a cold is a virus, just like flu, but milder. The only link between getting wet and getting a cold is that it’s possible your immune systems become less able to fight the cold virus and therefore you are more susceptible to catching it.

Colds and coughs go hand in hand as both are linked to the respiratory tracts in your body. It’s probable you get a cold first which then develops into a cough a few days later. Like flu, colds and coughs are contagious and the virus is spread through airborne water molecules that you breathe in and by touching a surface that has the virus on it.

To prevent a cold spreading its best to stay away from crowds as much as possible, but as cold symptoms usually appear after you are infected, it’s likely you would have already passed it on before you even know you have a cold yourself. Fortunately they are generally more annoying than they are serious and usually only last a few days.

It is always said that prevention is better than cure and the same is certainly true of the cold virus. Indeed there is no effective cure for the cold virus. There are thousands of strains of virus and they constantly change so even if a vaccine was found, it would only be effective against one or two strains.

Look in any pharmacy or on the shelves of many stores and there are hundreds of cold and cough remedies all vying for position. The most any of them can do is help to relieve the symptoms associated with a cold. The problem is that much of the remedies are actually drugs and they all contain pain relievers so they have to be taken with caution. There are many choices of alternative medicines available to help with colds and cough. They are understood to be equally effective at relieving symptoms, but are safer to use and therefore often best suited to give to young children. As with regular drugs, alternative medicines do not cure a cold or cough, simply help you feel a bit better.

The strength of your immune system is what determines, to some degree, the likelihood of you getting a cold or cough. The stronger your immune system the more the chances are that you can fight off the cold virus. The strength of your immune system depends on several factors and is generally helped by having a healthy diet that contains plenty of fruit and vegetables.

However, there are other things you can do to help strengthen your immune systems. Talk to any alternative or complementary practitioner and he or she will tell you that eating garlic and ginger will help. They both contain properties that are anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Combine the two – not necessarily at the same time – and you are likely to minimize the chances of catching a cold or cough.

Traditional Chinese medicine offers a wide range of relief and medication for dealing with troublesome coughs and colds. Visit www.SolsticeMed.com for detailed information on Chinese cold remedies.

Traditional Chinese medicine offers a wide range of relief and medication for dealing with troublesome coughs and colds. Visit http://www.SolsticeMed.com for detailed information on Chinese cold remedies.

Author Bio: Traditional Chinese medicine offers a wide range of relief and medication for dealing with troublesome coughs and colds. Visit www.SolsticeMed.com for detailed information on Chinese cold remedies.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: cold, cold and cough, cold and cough remedies, natural remedies