are there any natural remedies that can help cure a cold?

Question

I have a cold and i really don't want to go to the doctors. it's just a normal cold.. stuffy/runny nose, congestion, drainage, sneezing.. anything i can do to treat it myself?

Answer 1

Doctors can't do anything for viral issues, which is what is sounds like you have.

Vit C is a great antiviral. 500 mg is standard dosage, take 2-3 times daily - spread out since Vit C is a water soluble vitamin and your body will excrete excess.

Mullein tea is great for respiratory anything. You can find it at your health food store or online at http://www.iherb.com (not affiliated, just like their service) Steep tea for 5-8 minutes.

Other good teas - Lemon, chamomile, peppermint.

Don't forget to add honey to your tea. Honey is a great anti EVERYTHING. Very beneficial. My daughter actually took just a tsp of honey straight last time she started to get a cold. She didn't complain about the cold again.

Garlic is also good. We make it into a butter (1 tbsp melted butter - 1 clove or more galric crushed into butter) We spread it on bread and grill it (don't toast, butter might ignite) or we put it on our favorite pasta. Some just pop a garlic clove, but we like the flavor :-)

Steam always helps clear things out and relieve congestion.

Lots of liquids. We also add 1 tsp of vinegar to apple juice. Vinegar (apple cider not white) is a great natural way to help your body deal with illness. It is okay in other juices, but tastes best in apple we think.

If you get quite congested and are concerned about infection, get some Grapefruit Seed Extract (also available at your health food store or iHerb) Make sure you get grapeFRUIT not grape seed extract. Put 10 drops in 6 oz of water and gargle for soar throat or swallow for other concerns. If you think ear or sinus infection, you can use it as diluted drops. My son-in-law was seen by an ER doc and told he had an ear infection. He declined the antibiotic prescription and used the GSE drops instead. We use it for throat infections also.

If the congestion is making you very uncomfortable, get some Robitussin PE (PE only, other formulations have too much in them you don't need). It and aspirin are the only OTC meds we do. It will help with the congestion by thinning the mucus so it can drain and keep out of your lungs also.

Finally, NO refined sugars. They are immune system suppressants and will counteract any good you are trying to do.

Answer 2

I've fought off colds & flus a few times with lots of really strong echinacea tea. I put 4 teabags in a kettle full, let it seep for a long time and then drink all of it. Echinacea cleans out your system but you have to drink a lot of it for it to work, and it has to be the tea, but make sure you get the caffeine free one because caffeine will deplete your system of vitamin C. Don't bother with the pills, they don't work, only the tea does.

There's no point in going to the doctor for a cold as there's nothing they can do since it's a virus. Vitamin C is only for BEFORE you get the cold. Once you have it, it's too late for it to help.

Answer 3

Your immune system is curing you right now. Its not the cold making you feel sick; its your immune system fighting the cold that is making you feel sick.

You are healing right now at this very moment.

Thus, eating chicken soup, drinking plenty of fresh juice with natural vitamin C is supporting your immune cells to fight the cold and heal more efficiently.

Over the counter cold and flu remedies are designed to help you get through the cold with less discomfort.

Just realize that when you have a 100 guys trying to break your door down, you'd better have 200 of them holding it up. This is where nutritional support comes in.

Case and point, I supplement with antioxidants and drink fresh juices and my entire family got sick from a normal cold. Its been 8 weeks of each of them getting it one by one.

I didn't.

Why?

I knew it was flu season and ate the proper nutritional tools to prevent it. So far so good.

If I do get it, then it will be a mild case I'm sure, so the bottom line?

Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.

Answer 4

Colds pretty well have to run their course, but there are things you can do to be less miserable.

Eat chicken soup.
Drink hot lemon and honey, or hot bouillon: The steam will help your nose, and the honey and salt your throat.
If you can handle it, eat raw onions and hot spicy foods: There's something about the chemical that causes the 'heat' that germs don't like. And it will clear your sinuses!
Use steam in general such as from a hot shower: That will help with the congestion.
Wash your hands frequently so you don't re-infect yourself, or infect other members of your family.
And sleep as much as you can.

Feel better!

Answer 5

Try eating at least 5 fresh organic oranges a day,and taking about 5 cloves of garlic a day.(Putting it on toast is easier to eat) it usually knocks out colds in 2-3 days.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Chinese herbs that 'release the exterior' will resolve a cold very quickly. Airborne is based on the classic Chinese herb remedy Yin Qiao, and will alleviate the symptoms of a cold quickly. It will also prevent a cold if you have been exposed. Many of the herbs in this formula have anti-viral compounds.

Answer 7

Drink a lot of hot/warm water (not iced or cold). Drinking a lot of water will not only keep you hydrated by will pass the virus through your body quicker (since you will be peeing a lot). Keep yourself warm.. especially your feet when you're indoors and when you go out, keep your head warm (as most of your body heat escapes from your head). Up your body's immunity by taking vitamin C once a day and stay away from cold foods such as ice cream.

Answer 8

Nothing will cure the cold, but try to get rest and drink fluids. Orange juice is usually good because it suppresses some of the symptoms of a cold.

Answer 9

You might want to try Echinacea Tea. You can either infuse dried echinacea herbs in hot water and steep it for about 7 to 10 minutes, or use the ready-made Echinacea tea bags that you similarly soak in hot water for the same amount of time. Read more here:

Answer 10

Lots of rest is most important. Stay home. Drink lots of tea with honey. I always eat tons of oranges this time of year for the Vitamin C. It helps me. I swear.