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Rest, drinking fluids, and medicines are important if you have a cold. Vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, elderberry preparations, beetroot juice, and probiotic drinks can also help symptoms disappear earlier.

There’s no cure yet for the common cold, but you may be able to shorten the amount of time you’re sick by trying some promising supplements and practicing good self-care.
Stroll the aisles of any drugstore and you’ll see an impressive range of products claiming to shorten the length of your cold. Few of them are backed by solid science. Here’s a list of remedies known to make a difference in how long colds last:
Taking a vitamin C supplement isn’t likely to prevent a cold. However, studies show that it may reduce the duration of colds. A 2013 review of studies noted that regular supplementation (1 to 2 grams daily) reduced the duration of a cold in adults by 8 percent and in children by 14 percent. It also reduced the severity of colds overall.
The
Here’s the key: Don’t wait until you feel the symptoms coming on: Take the recommended dose every day. Taking vitamin C when a cold starts may not have much effect on how you feel or how long the cold hangs on.
Close to three decades of research on colds and zinc have yielded mixed results, but a
It’s important to note that the dosages in these studies, 80 to 92 mg a day, are much higher than the daily maximum recommended by the
If you’re taking antibiotics, penicillamine (Cuprimine) for arthritis, or certain diuretics, talk to your doctor before taking zinc. The combination could reduce the effectiveness of your medications or the zinc.
Reviews of studies in 2014 and
A 2012 study that showed positive benefits of echinacea for colds had participants taking 2400 mg daily over four months. Some people who take echinacea report unwanted side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. Talk to your doctor before trying echinacea to confirm it won’t interfere with any other medicines or supplements you’re taking.
Black elderberry is a traditional remedy used to fight colds in many parts of the world. Although research is limited, at least one older
A more recent 2016 placebo-controlled, double-blind
Elderberry syrup is cooked and concentrated. Don’t confuse it with raw elderberries, seeds, and bark, which can be toxic.
A 2019
Because beetroot juice is high in dietary nitrate, it increases the body’s production of nitric oxide, which can help protect you against respiratory infections.
If you’re prone to kidney stones, watch out for beetroot, which contains oxalates. These are known to contribute to kidney stone formation.
Although studies on probiotics and colds are limited, at least one
Probiotic bacteria vary from product to product, so check the label to know which one you’re buying.
The
While it can be tempting to try and boost your immune system with exercise, it’s probably best to take it easy for a few days. In fact, if you don’t get enough sleep day to day, you may be
If your child is having trouble getting good sleep to beat a cold, try honey, one of the most relied-on remedies for treating cold symptoms. A
Cold symptoms like coughing, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, and headache can make it hard to function during the day and hard to rest at night.
Decongestants, pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, cough suppressants, and antihistamines can treat symptoms so you feel better faster, even if the viral infection lingers. Check with a pediatrician before giving your child any over-the-counter medicine.
Drinking plenty of fluids is always good when you’re trying to get rid of a cold. Hot tea, water, chicken soup, and other liquids will keep you hydrated, especially if you have a fever. They can also loosen congestion in your chest and nasal passages so you can breathe.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol, though, because they can leave you dehydrated, and they can interfere with the sleep and rest you need for recovery.
When to go to the doctorColds that don’t go away quickly can lead to other illnesses like pneumonia, lung infections, ear infections, and sinus infections. See your doctor if :
- your symptoms last longer than 10 days
- you have a fever over 101.3°F (38.5°C)
- you begin vomiting violently
- your sinuses ache
- your cough begins to sound like a wheeze
- you feel pain in your chest
- you have trouble breathing
At the first sign of a cold, most of us want to make sure the sniffles, sneezing, and other symptoms go away as quickly as possible.
If you take vitamin C regularly, your cold symptoms may disappear earlier. And there is some scientific support for trying remedies like zinc, echinacea, elderberry preparations, beetroot juice, and probiotic drinks to prevent or shorten the duration of a cold.
The best way to beat a cold fast is to rest, drink lots of fluids, and treat the symptoms with medicines that relieve pain, coughing, and congestion.