A dip in temperatures has resulted in the return of colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, leaving many throats and noses around the country sore and runny.
While sleep is crucial for strengthening your immune system, many cold symptoms can feel elevated when you are lying down.
Fortunately, Rebecca Swain, sleep expert from Winstons Beds, has shared surprising hacks that could help you fall asleep, including one that could cure your cold.
Swain said: “Trying to fall asleep when dealing with a cold can be difficult, but luckily there are a few things sufferers can do to ease the process.
“The body needs as much sleep as possible to recover, but this can be hard when poorly because symptoms like congestion worsen when lying down.
“There are many hacks to help get to sleep while ill including changing sleep positions and steaming the face to ease congestion.
“Many will be surprised that they can use unexpected items around the house such as socks and potatoes to aid symptoms and help get to sleep.”
The expert revealed that “wet sock treatment” could even help you get rid of the pesky symptoms.
Swain instructed to wear wet, cold socks to bed and let the body work during the night to warm the feet and dry the socks out.
She explained that this home remedy naturally stimulates the immune system and increases circulation to the feet which helps to decrease congestion in the head and chest.
While this might seem like the last thing you want to do when it’s cold outside and you feel ill, the sleep expert shared it could cure your cold.
If you’re struggling to sleep with your cold, the expert recommended steaming yourself to loosen up the mucus, staying hydrated and keeping the bedroom cold.
However, Swain also suggested an unusual remedy from the 14th century that involves placing sliced potatoes or onions in your socks to ease symptoms and remove toxins.
“It stems from the belief that onions could ward off the black plague and the principle of Chinese reflexology, which suggests that treating the feet benefits the whole body,” she added.