Natural Cold Remedies

Everybody’s getting the sniffles. Getting a little sneezy, achy, sinus-y, and coughing up goo. It’s gross. People look at you like you’re three steps from the plague, or four steps from the grave, and you’re ready to take them with you. So, here are some natural, clever ways to reduce the symptoms and length of your cold.

At the first sign of illness; crank up the Vitamin C intake. We’re talking Vitamin C tablets, oranges, papaya, parsley,  blackcurrants, red capsicums, rose hip, and the mother-load; Kakadu plum.

Then, if you get crook. Try these remedies from www.puttingitright.com.au:

Old fashioned chicken and vegetable soup: Include in your soup plenty of vegetables that are high in Beta-carotene such as carrots, sweet potatoes, turnip greens and spinach. Adding herbs and spices can help bring relief and loosen up mucus. A pinch of Cayenne pepper in your soup can help to fight off some of the aches and pains as well as helping to reduce the fever. Maintain a healthy diet, especially at this time. Avoid sugary and fatty foods; concentrate on nutritious fruit and vegetables, soups, and oats.

Lemon: Lemons are well known for their healing properties, especially when it comes to colds and flus. Hot honey and lemon drinks are popular. This delicious drink can be made with hot water, adding honey and lemon to taste. However, for more effect try straight lemon juice, warmed with honey. Don't drink it straight down; swish it around in your mouth first. Other common additions to this lemon drink are garlic, ginger and or brandy.

Honey: Honey is an age-old remedy for so many different things. When it comes to colds, it can be used as a cough reliever and it has some anti-biotic properties. A teaspoon of honey on its own can be beneficial, or a cough mixture can be made up.

Garlic: Chop up 4-6 cloves of garlic and place them in a jar of honey. After a few weeks the garlic can be removed, leaving a great mix for coughs and sore throats. Garlic is a very effective tool against colds. It is a strong antimicrobial and antiviral agent. Include garlic in your soups and cooking when ever possible. Eat raw cloves, or put into drinks and food. Although, don’t boil or fry for too long or all the goodies will be cooked out of it.

Tea: Soothing teas for coughs and sore throats can be made out of herbs found commonly in your herb garden or spice rack. Sage and Marjoram have antiseptic qualities, while Thyme is antimicrobial. These herbs could be mixed together or taken separately. Take 1-2 teaspoons of the herbs in a cup of boiling water; allow steeping for 30 minutes. Drink warm. This tea is good for soothing coughs, sore throats and tonsils, while also killing germs.

Fluids: Drink plenty of water, not just tea. When the mucous membranes become dehydrated, they are more hospitable to viruses. A high liquid intake will help repel the virus and also help to flush out the system. Juices and sugary drinks should be avoided. A high sugar intake decreases the ability of the white blood cells to kill bacteria.

So is it sounding like Nanna’s remedy? That’s because it is. Logical remedies are often the best - lots of sleep, lots of water, stay warm, and sip on yummy herbal teas. Too easy.

Get better soon kids!