Natural cold remedies

Coughs, cold and Flues are a pain at any time of the year.  I personally find that pharmaceutical remedies have very little effect on me.  So I've complied a list of natural alternatives that I find do help.  However, it is important to remember that illness must be recovered from - there is no quick solution.  You just can't wish it away; no matter how much you may try.  The best thing to do is allow it to past on through.


Coughs and sneezes.

If mucus comes out, get into a tissue and into a bin as quickly as possible.  This is the quickest way to help heal your body.  The longer infected mucus stays in lungs/sinuses the more severe the infection can get.

Honey and lemon tea. Or Honey, Lemon, and Ginger if you prefer.

This best when using freshly squeezed lemons and real honey, preferable from your local region.  The lemon is acid enough to kill the bacteria in throat (This is why lemon is traditionally served with fish), and provided a nice shot of vitamin C to boost the immune system.  Honey, more then just making this mixture palatable, has anti-bacterial properties and has been show to sooth inflammation.  Ginger soothes nausea, and has anti-viral qualities.  Perfect mixture for counter acting sore throats.

Salty water.

Gargling a mixture of salty water every 3-4 hours is a quick way to keep a sore through clean.  The taste is very unpleasant but it is effective.  The salt water serves to kill microbes while the gargling motion helps remove mucus that may be covering bacterial infestation.

Eucalyptus oil.

Eucalyptus is a handy decongestant if you can get hold of it.  Apply a small amount to the bottom of your nostrils or burn some in an oil burner.  This will simultaneously sooth sinuses and act as an expectorant.

Garlic.

Eating loads of garlic on a regular basis will boost immune function.  However this more of a preventative measure.  Eating it while sick will help you immune system cope but not enough to be noticeable.  It also had anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Echinacea.

Like Garlic, this another herb that helps boost immune function.  It has been shown to be particularly good for staving off colds an flues.  However, this is also a preventative measure.


 Astragalus


This little example of Chinese herbal lore is another good preventative measure.  Like Garlic it can boost the immune system and is often recommended for people with weaken immune systems.


Willow Bark capsules.

Willow Bark is a natural pain killer.  This is a good all-rounder, whether you are taking them for colds or for migraines.

Hot Steamy Showers.

Ordinarily, the Thought of filling the bathroom with steam horrifies me as complete disregard for the environment.  This concern aside, filling your lungs with steam in the shower is the perfect way to loosen up the mucus in the airways and sinuses - encouraging the infected mucus to literally leak out, taking the bacteria with it.

Fruits and vegetables.

Eating fruits and vegetables is important for general health.  It is even more important to eat healthy when ill, even though this is the last thing most of us want to do.  Fruits and vegies will provided lots of vitamin C for immune function and, by eating a variety, all the minerals/vitamin that support vitamin C absorption.

Fish and Shellfish

These are naturally higher in Zinc then most vegetables.  Zinc is important mineral to the absorption of vitamin C (but not the only important factor).

Sleep.

Sleep is so very underrated.  When I'm sick I can sleep up to 18 hours a day.  I wake up better for it.  Sleep is integral to healing of any sort.

Caffeine.

Caffeine, despite the fact that it is added to so many pharmaceutical drugs that supposedly help us fight colds, is something that should actually be avoided while you are ill.  It will over stimulate your body, leaving you worse for the wear.  Worse, the body will struggle to remove it from your system, taking away valuable energy from the immune system while it is trying to fight infection.

Junk Foods.

Again, these are something you want to avoid.  Heavily processed foods are harder for the body to break down, stealing energy from the immune system.  Quite often these foods also come with a range of preservatives and other nasty chemicals which serve to confuse the body even more.  Really Sugary foods have even been shown to feed bacterial infections.

Fresh Air

This is an important way to clear infections from you room/house.  People often forget that is a room is closed up it is just recirculating the same air.  This means it is also circulating any spores of infectious diseases that have been carried into the room.