We all know how miserable the common cold can make us feel, but rather than reach for a cardboard box why not let nature takes it course and just try to relieve the symptoms with a natural cold remedy.

Having a cold is known as a contagious illness that affects our upper respiratory tract. There are 200 different types of viruses which can cause a cold. When this infection occurs in the respiratory tract it causes swelling in the walls of the upper respiratory tract and produces excessive mucus.

You can easily catch a cold through person to person contact, overcrowded places where the risk of infection is high, and by picking up used tissues of another person.

Symptoms of a cold may range from watery eyes to hacking cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache and fever. Most colds have an average duration of one week. If your cold is recurrent it may indicate that you have a lowered immune capacity, there is too much stress, or you don’t get enough sleep.

Here is a list of 10 natural cold remedies that you can try:

1. If you feel a cold coming on then try this natural cold remedy to stop it in its tracks. Crush a teaspoon of sea salt and mix it with a small amount of warm water (until dissolved). Gargle six or seven times a day with this solution. The sea salt will generally kill any germs that are lurking at the back of your throat and you can avoid going through the discomfort of having a cold.

2. If you have already caught a cold, try drinking hot liquids because it can relieve nasal congestion. Also drink at least eight glasses of water a day as this will prevent you from suffering from dehydration. It can even soothe your inflamed membrane that lines in your throat and nose. Drinking fresh fruit juices like pineapple, which is less acidic in the stomach and less allergenic than citrus, is a great help because it is richer in vitamin C. This will help in breaking down mucus and at the same time boosting the immune system to help in fighting infection.

3. If you have already caught a cold, don’t eat less nutritious food. Rather, you should stay away from processed food because it will only make your body’s resistance weaker due to the lack of essential nutrients. The best thing that you can do is to eat nutritional meals that are complete with vitamins and minerals which will aid your body in fighting the infection.

4. Eat garlic that is chopped, chewed or crushed because it is great for preventing and reducing the symptoms of a cold. The reason for this is because it contains a substance called allicin which helps the immune system fight infection.

5. You can also eat lemon because it increases the body’s resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of your illness.

6. If you are looking to make a natural cold remedy at home just blend together a 1/4 cup of honey with ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. This mixture is very effective for those suffering with a cold and a sore throat.

7. Give your body rest by having at least 8 hours of sleep. However, you need to make sure that you’re sleeping with a high pillow on your head. Resting can help your body regain energy and it also increases your immune system.

8. Avoid smoking because it only irritates the mucous lining of your nose and will just worsen your condition.

9. Take a steamy shower because it is a common form of steam inhalation which will help your nasal passages to loosen mucus that will give you a relaxing feeling.

10. Another natural code remedy is to use an aromatic diffuser. Afterwards, you can try to odorize your room through the aromatic diffuser. By doing this, the symptoms of your cold will be relieved. For best aroma therapy results, try using exotic essences such as ravensara and niaouli because these have antiviral and anti infectious properties. Use your aromatics as soon as you start feeling stressed and weak.

If you feel a cold coming on then get your self down to your local health food store and buy yourself some Bee Pollen. It really is a fantastic source of anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and enzymes and its healing properties are incredibly powerful. If you get stuck into the Bee Pollen then the chances are that you will stop the cold before it has a chance to

Otoplasty is a cosmetic surgery used to reshape the external ear. Otoplasty candidates opt for the surgery in the attempt to correct many different ear abnormalities including ears that flare out from the skull, over sized, asymmetrical, deformed or damaged ears, as well as microtic and absent organs. Otoplasty does not alter a person’s ability to hear; it is primarily preformed because the patient is dissatisfied with the appearance of their ears.

Ear reshaping surgery is often preformed because these organs tend to flare out from the head. This is due to an enlarged concha bowl which causes the organ to be overly prominent. This surgery is often referred to as ear pinning because following the surgery they appear to have been pinned back to the head. In reality, the surgeon makes an incision behind the organ and removes a small wedge of cartilage from the concha. The result is less prominent ears.

When someone feels they have over sized ears it is usually because they lack appropriate folding along the antihelix (the outer rim of the ear). The surgeon is able to reshape the antihelix by making precise and predetermined scratches on the front surface of the organ. These scratches weaken the cartilage allowing the surgeon to fold and reshape it appropriately through an incision made in the back.

This method generally does not require permanent sutures. In some cases of over sized ears, surgeons will remove cartilage. This is mostly done through an incision behind the organ but sometimes it may be necessary for the surgeon to make incision on the front surface. When this is necessary, the surgeon will make the cuts within the folds so that scars will be hidden and appear minimal.

In the case of damaged organs or those that have been deformed or absent from birth, a combination of these methods may be used. Building up of the cartilage may also be necessary. This is done by removing material from another area of the body and incorporating it into the new organ. Small pieces used in ear shaping surgery are most commonly taken from the ribs or the other ear.

These types of otoplasty are extensive and only be preformed by qualified and experienced plastic surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, or ENT’s. The results generally favorable, but perfection should not be expected. It is very difficult to reshape a highly deformed or damaged ear, and even more difficult to create a new one and have it look natural and normal. But the results are generally preferred to the preexisting condition.

When trying to correct uneven or unbalanced ears, otoplasty can be effective. But is important to remember that slight asymmetry is normal and that perfection should not be expected from surgery. Rarely are both ears seen at the same time and so otoplasty should only be performed when the imbalance is severe.

Otoplasty is generally preformed on children ages 5-14. Most ears are fully grown by age five. Adults may have the surgery done with minimal risks, however optimal results are achieved when the patient is young and the cartilage is still extremely pliable. Another benefit of having the procedure at a young age is that children may avoid more of the teasing and name calling that often accompany prominent or deformed ears.

Otoplasty, or ear reshaping surgery, not only corrects large “bat” ears, but addresses a wide variety of issues including earlobe tears, asymmetry, and cartilage deformities.

Not many people put much thought into their ears, with the exception of those who have heard the taunts of “Dumbo” or “elephant” ears. Many ear deformities can easily be concealed by a clever hairstyle; however, some might be so severe that surgery is required. Otoplasty, or ear reshaping, is cosmetic surgery that resizes, shapes, or repositions one or both ears.

Otoplasty is a term that encompasses many different cosmetic procedures for ear shaping. The most common is ear pinning, also known as pinnaplasty. This procedure addresses ears that stick out too far from the side of the head, which often makes them appear larger and distracts from the rest of the face. Many children undergo this procedure successfully; however, as children get older they often grow into their ears, and it becomes unnecessary.

The procedure is fairly simple with few risks and complications. After numbing the area (general anesthetic is often used beforehand) the plastic surgeon will create incisions behind each ear. The cartilage in this area is then repositioned and molded. Plastic stitches are placed to hold the new shape and position and then the skin is stitched up and dressing is applied. The results are ears that stick closer to the side of the head, eliminating the “Dumbo” effect.

Another form of ear reshaping gaining popularity is correction of sagging ear lobes or large holes leftover from ear stretching. Women who often wear large or heavy earrings find that over time the hole will become stretched, making it difficult to keep an earring held in place. The lobe may also become stretched, creating an unpleasant appearance.

Younger generations who have experimented with large gauge piercings also find that as they age they dislike the sagging, stretched lobe that is left behind or the skin may have torn creating unsightly rips. In all of these cases, a cosmetic surgeon can help reconstruct the lobe and either eliminate the appearance of the hole or tighten it so earrings can be worn properly again. This is another fairly simple procedure with few risks and complications.

Misshapen cartilage or noticeable asymmetry can also be addressed by otoplasty. Cosmetic surgeons can reshape the cartilage and reposition the lobe to create a more balanced appearance. Although no two ears are possible to be matched exactly, major improvement can be made to where any imbalance is not readily detectable.

Risks and complications for any otoplasty include infection, bleeding, removing too much cartilage, scarring, and swelling. There is also the chance of dissatisfaction with the results, but revision surgery is normally possible to make further corrections when necessary. Full recovery generally requires at least one week if not two before returning to work and other normal activities; however, some people find they feel comfortable enough after only four to five days.

Consult with a board-certified and qualified plastic surgeon to find out more about available procedures and surgical details. They can provide you with before and after photos of past patients as well as an in-depth explanation of what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.