Below are some of the home remedies that are may be beneficial in treating cold and coughs.

1. Amla

Regular intake of amla will prevent the common cold. If, however, a cold has already appeared, large doses of this vitamin C will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. This a good home remedy for cold.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar is a powerful anti-inflammatory and its acidity might help kill bacteria that cause some cold and sore throats.

Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of warm water. gargle with a mouthful, spit it out then drink a mouthful./ Continue this until the mixture is gone. Rinse your mouth out to prevent the vinegar from eroding your teeth enamel. Repeat the gargle every hour as long as your sore throat persists.

Vinegar mixtures can also be used to ease inflamed nasal passages. Mix natural apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts. Boil this solution in a pan, when the fumes rises lean over the pan and inhale the fumes. Prepare a solution using 4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and Pine Essential Oil, 3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and 7 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Inhale vapors of this solution by putting it on a cotton ball or an aromatherapy diffuser.

3. Bitter Gourd Roots

The roots of the bitter gourd or karela plant are used in folk medicine to cure a cold. A tablespoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal quantity of honey or tulasi leaf juice, given once every night for a month, acts as a wonderful medicine for colds.

4. Cinnamon, Sage and Bay

Cinnamon and Bay contains compounds believed to reduce congestion. Sage is a anti-inflammatory that can be used to ease sore throats. Steep one-half teaspoon of cinnamon and sage with a bay leaf in six ounces of hot water. Strain, then add a tablespoon of lemon juice which can help reduce mucus buildup.

5. Garlic

Garlic contains allicin which has been shown to reduce the severity of a cold. Eat four cloves of freshly crushed raw garlic three times a day until you have recovered.

Garlic soup is another age old remedy to reduce the severity of a cold, and should be taken at least once daily. The soup can be geared up by boiling 3 or 4 cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Garlic or lasuna contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, besides several other medicinal qualities. The oil contained in this vegetable aids or facilitates to open up the respiratory passages. In soup form, it flushes out all toxins from the respiratory system and thus helps bringing down fever. 5 drops of garlic oil combined with a teaspoon of onion juice, and diluted in a cup of water, should be drunk two to three times a day. This has also been found to be very efficient in the treatment of common cold.

6. Ginger

Ginger is another excellent herb that is a good remedy for colds and coughs. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory that contains gingerols, which provide pain reducing and sedative effects. Chew a piece of freshly peeled gingeroot when you feel a cough acting up. Chew until the ginger loses its kick.  Ginger is also a good anti-nausea agent and is also an efficient remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. Ginger  can be used to make a tea, or broth. Cut 10 grams of ginger into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water, then strain and add 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar or honey to flavor.  This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, arranged by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiling water before adding the tea leaves, It may be taken 2 times a day. 

7. Horseradish and Honey

Horseradish can help loosen mucus that often accompanies a sore throat, while honey coats the throat. Grate one teaspoon of fresh peeled horseradish into two teaspoons of honey. Consume one teaspoon every two hours.

Lady's fingers are highly precious in treating irritation of the throat and a constant dry cough. This vegetable is rich in mucilage and acts as a drug to allay annoyance, swelling, and pain. About hundred grams of lady's fingers should be cut into pieces and boiled down in about half a liter of water to make a decoction. The steam issuing from this decoction may also be inhaled once or two times a day to relieve throat irritation and a dry cough. 

9. Lemon

Lemon is beneficial in all types of cold with fever. Vitamin C-rich lemon juice increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. Lemon also decreases mucus build up that often accompanies a sore throat. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoon of honey should be added to it. This should be taken once or twice daily.

10. Lemon, Honey and Olive Oil

Honey and olive oil coat and soothe sore throats while the lemon decreases mucus build up, increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. Heat one cup of honey, half a cup of olive oil and the juice of one lemon over a medium flame for approximately five minutes.  Stir for 2 minutes. Consume one teaspoon every two hours. 

11. Licorice Root

Licorice root relieves the pain of irritated mucus membranes. Use fresh licorice root to make a hot tea. use as long as your cough persists. Caution: Do NOT use licorice root if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems.

12. Sage

Sage is a anti-inflammatory that can be used to ease sore throats. Add one teaspoon of dry sage to six ounces of boiling water. Seep for three to fie minutes, strain, then gargle and swallow.

13. Turmeric

Turmeric or haldi is an effective remedy for colds and throat irritations. Half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder mixed in thirty milliliter of warm milk and taken once or 2 times a day is a useful prescription for these conditions. This a good home remedy for cold.

To clear the nasal passages inhale turmeric fumes. Tie some turmeric in a clean cloth and light it. Boil some water and allow it to cool, now add ¼ teaspoon table salt to it. Put 2 to 3 drops of this solution in your both the nostrils before meals and going to bed.

14. Tamarind and Pepper

Tamarind-pepper rasam is also considered an effective home remedy for a cold practiced in South India. Dilute fifty milligram tamarinds in 250 ml of water. Boil the diluted tamarind i.e. imli water for a few minutes with a tablespoon of hot ghee and 1/2 a teaspoon of black pepper powder. This steaming hot rasam (soup) has a flushing effect, and should be taken thrice daily. As one takes it, the nose and eyes water and the nasal blockage is cleared instantly.

15. Vitamin C

Regular intake of vitamin C-75 mg for adults and 35 mg for children-will prevent the common cold. If, however, a cold has already appeared, large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. It is believed that one to two grams (1000 mg to 2000 mg) per day is approximately the optimum amount of this vitamin for this purpose. Swallow one or two 500mg tablets of vitamin C at the appearance of the first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking one to two 500 mg tablets daily.

Below are some of the home remedies that may be beneficial in treating the flu

• Take Vitamin C to boost immune system and increase the number of white blood cells
• Take Zinc lozenges, it boosts the immune system as soon the symptoms develop.
• Take colloidal silver to kills viruses.
• Take Garlic capsules to decrease growth of the virus.
• Cat's claw shortens the duration of the flu.
• Take arsenicum album if thirsty but feel better drinking warm fluids, lack of appetite, body aches, and feel worse during the night.
• Take bryonia if cough, throat and chest pain, dry mouth and lips, very thirsty.
• Take eupatorium perfoliatum if you have pain in your bones and eyeballs.
• Take Gelsemium if feeling chills, aches, fever, not thirsty.
• Nux vomica is used when a simple cold has develop into influenza.
• If the fever is too high, take catnip tea and ½ tsp. of lobelia tincture every 4 hours. Do not use if pregnant or breast-feeding and do not give to a child less than one year old.