Natural Cold Remedies

Well, it's that time of the year when sore throats and coughs are spread though your home or the workplace. I have compiled a few Natural remedies that you can use to help ease your symptoms or ward off a cold. I apologize for not blogging the past few days, I have been fighting off a bad cold myself, but rest assured I took my own advice, and I have been feeling much better! In fact, I am enjoying a nice mug of Echinacea tea as I'm writing this.

Carrots: The Beta-carotene in carrots helps relieve headaches because it reduces inflammation in the brain and lets blood flow naturally.
Celery: Sometimes it's hard to rest and get some sleep when you have a cold. Celery has phthalides that have sedative properties, so munching on some celery can help you to sleep.
Cinnamon: This spice has many benefits, including helping with poor circulation. Cinnamon can also prevent infections, so sprinkle some into your food or tea and enjoy.  
Citrus Fruits: And any other food with a High Vitamin C content (like Strawberries, Kiwi, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, and Tomatoes). Eating these foods at the onset of a cold can help shorten the length and severity of the cold.

Echinacea:  This herb can help boost your immune system so your body can fight off the cold a bit easier. Also Echinacea can help prevent colds if you take it regularly. My favorite way to take it is by drinking Echinacea tea.

Garlic and Onions: Forget about bad breath, Garlic and Onions are great Anti-virals and can help to get rid of your cold. For best results, crush the garlic, and or eat raw (if you can). Adding to soup can also help since the warm liquid helps ease cold symptoms as well.
Ginger: Not only is ginger great for relieving an upset stomach, but it also helps relieve congestion, sore throats, and sinus pain. 

Honey: Not only can a spoonful of honey help sooth a sore throat, but honey is also an antibacterial agent, and can help get rid of some illnesses. Adding some honey to your tea can be very helpful when you have a cold and can help prevent complications from your cold. Many people get Ear infections, Pneumonia, or Sinus infections after getting a cold, and these are all bacterial. Honey can help prevent these things.
Lemons: Besides the Vitamin C in the lemon, this fruit can also make you sweat, and that can reduce a fever. Also Lemon Juice in your tea can help relieve a sore throat.
Miso: Also Yogurt containing live pro-biotic cultures. Eating these foods regularly can help prevent you from getting sick in the first place. If you already have a cold, I wouldn't suggest eating yogurt because it can cause mucus to become worse. (More about dairy below.)
Oats: Oatmeal is high in Zinc, and it can help reduce the severity and the length of a cold when eaten at the onset of a cold.
Red Meat and Poultry: This is the same as the Oats, Red Meat and Poultry are high in Zinc.
Salt Water: Dissolve salt in a cup of warm water and gargle to help relieve a sore throat.
Sleep: Getting plenty of sleep and rest lets your body use the energy for fighting the cold. If you push yourself while you are sick then your cold will likely last longer or be more severe because you are not letting your body use the energy to heal itself.

Soup: Eating hot soup (not a cream based soup, but a broth based one) can help relieve the symptoms of a cold such as congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and chills.
Spice: Spices like Ginger, Chili Pepper, Curry, and Horseradish can help the symptoms of congestion. Adding a little spice to your soup is a great way to relieve a stuffy nose.
Sunlight: Getting enough Vitamin D every day can help prevent colds. But make sure you do not get too much sunlight because you can get burnt. 

Tea: The warm liquid can help sooth a sore throat as well as congestion. It also has a calming effect and can relax you. Some teas are better for colds then others, but I find just having a warm cup of tea can do wonders for cold symptoms. Also, it sometimes helps relieve a slight headache, but I think that is because of the relaxation factor. I almost always go for Decaf tea, but that is a personal preference.
Thyme: This remedy can help with an irritating cough. Boil water and add dried thyme. After it cools add honey and stir. Taking a tablespoon of this every hour can help with coughs. Make sure you store it in the refrigerator.

Water: Make sure you drink enough water and stay hydrated. Drinking water helps flush the toxins out of your body, and can help you get rid of your cold faster then if you did not drink enough water.


Limit Dairy Products: Dairy can coat your mucus membranes and cause you to feel stuffed up, or make your throat feel worse. Drinking Milk while you have a mucus-y cold is a bad idea.

Cut Back on Sugar and Alcohol: Sugar and Alcohol both reduce the ability of your immune system to fight Viruses and Bacteria, making your body work extra hard to fight. Imbibing in too much of these can make your cold last longer, or feel worse.

Get Well Soon!