Everyone knows that a common cold has to run its course, and during this difficult period, a saltwater gargle can be very effective in relieving your symptoms and easing your discomfort. Not only that, it can also help you get through the cold and flu season in a healthier way.
If you have a common cold, people often experience headaches, scratchy throats, and stuffy noses. Gargling with salt water can effectively relieve these symptoms.
Dr. Philip T. Hagen, author of the book "Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies," says that a saline solution can absorb excess fluid from inflamed throat tissue, causing less irritation to the throat. Dr. Hagen says that salt water can remove thick mucus from the mouth, which contains many irritants, such as fungi that irritate the throat.
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published a randomized survey in 2005 in which researchers recruited 400 healthy volunteers and tracked them for 60 days during a relatively cold flu season. Some of the volunteers were instructed to gargle with salt water three times a day. The researchers wrote: "By the end of the study, the number of volunteers who gargled with salt water and developed a respiratory infection was 40% less than those who did not gargle. Among volunteers who had already caught a cold, those who gargled with salt water also had significantly milder bronchial symptoms."
Many other studies have also found that gargling with salt water can effectively combat cold symptoms such as a sore throat.
The book "Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies" states that for the best results from a saltwater gargle, you should dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, gargle, and then spit it out. It only takes a few seconds, but the effect is significant.
If you want more relief for your sore throat and cough, you can try mixing lemon and honey in warm water and drinking it.