The common cold is a stubborn ailment, for which there has yet to be a cure. Everybody gets them, but we still haven’t come up with a surefire treatment. We try over the counter medicines, which temporarily relieve some symptoms but often leave us with unwanted side effects. We ignore our colds and live our busy lives anyway, only to come home feeling worse than we did in the morning. We suffer for a week or two, and in worse cases, more. Is there anything we can do to relieve the pounding headache, the runny nose, the sore throat?

Taking a bath is a fast, easy, inexpensive home remedy that works better than most. The heat from the water increases circulation, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes a tired body and spirit. Steam - a common treatment for colds, often used in the form of humidifiers - is wonderful for your your sinus passages, your chest, and your throat. Steam clears the sinuses, soothes the throat, and brings moisture to your entire body, making you feel much better. As you sweat while you’re in the tub, your body is ridding itself of impurities and getting rid of toxins. Your body’s temperature actually rises just a bit, making you warm from the inside out. Taking a bath is also good for allergies, which generally has similar symptoms to a cold.

To make the most out of your bath, be sure to run the water on the hot side (but not too hot!), close your shower curtain to keep the steam in, and add some bath salts to further cleanse your pores and bring relief to your poor cold-ridden self. Bath salts infused with peppermint and eucalyptus (think Vick’s VapoRub) are especially effective in soothing sore throats and opening sinuses. They are also very good for chest congestion and the subsequent coughing that goes along with it. Drop a large handful or two of minty bath salts into the water and breathe the fragrant steam, inhaling deeply. The scents inside each grain of salt will be released as the salts soak, and will float up to meet you inside the particles of evaporating water within the steam. Little by little, you will feel a difference as your sinuses begin to open and clear up.

If the steam lessens, drain your tub while simultaneously adding hot water. When it’s warm enough again, close the drain and drop in some more bath salts. Do this a few times and you’ll feel much better. The bath will also relax you and get you ready for a deep, uninterrupted sleep, which is essential for healing. Take a bath every day while your cold runs its course, and of course be sure to have plenty of chicken soup and orange juice. In fact, keep a glass of orange juice by the tub. You’ll feel better in no time!