Does anyone know of any natural cold rememdies besides honey and lemon?

Question

I like to minimize the drugs that I take and this erradic weather has helped me catch a cold. I cannot take over the counter decongestants.
Thanks,
Debra

I placed it here because I value those here's opinions and because I know there are those here who specialize in alternative medicine.

Answer 1

What about some wonderful chicken soup?Lipton chicken noodle is a good alternative to home made.It does have real chicken broth. A little whiskey in that hot lemon and honey would clear the virus out a little faster. Lots of vitamin C is a good thing. If you have a humidifier, this would also help. Vicks is another old remedy that I hated as a kid that really helps. But really, the chicken soup with real broth is the most helpful. May the Lord bless you! Lots of fluid helps to liquify and eliminate secretions when you are congested.

Answer 2

Hey Debra
Ah, the cold - we're passing one around the office, it was my turn to have it last week. :)

I totally understand you're wanting to minimize taking drugs for your symptoms.

I know you said besides honey and lemon - how about lemon without the honey? (I don't care for the combo myself). Take a lemon and cut it in quarters - squeeze a quarter into a glass of spring water (I then just put the whole chunk in there and let it soak like a tea-bag) and drink a few glasses a day. You get the necessary fluids, an extra boost of vitamin C which helps strengthen the immune system, and this helps to drain your sinuses.

Fresh pineapple helps to break up congestion.

And garlic - the most important helper - has natural anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. (Cooking it diminishes the effectiveness.) What I do is chop up a clove of raw garlic and put it on a piece of bread with butter (which will counteract the potent flavor of the garlic) and eat this a couple times a day. (Keeps the vampires away too! LOL)

With these three natural remedies and a good night's sleep or two, I feel much better in just a couple days.

Hope you do too!

Bettie - someone just told me this weekend about rubbing Vicks Vapo-rub on the bottom of your feet to alleviate cold symptoms, I'd never heard of that before. Have you tried this? Does it work on relieving sinus pressure, congestion, sore throat - the works? Of course when someone told me it was after I had a cold which was pretty much gone at that point. Was curious if it was worth trying next time.

Answer 3

A good balanced diet (i.e. proper nutrition), lots of fluids (proper hydration) and lots of sleep (allowing your body to use the nutrients to heal itself) is the only known way to CURE a cold, the rest is just symptom management.

Managing symptoms can make you feel more comfortable but it can actually make you worse. (because when you feel better and mask the symptoms you are tempted to just carry on with your usual schedule and not take the time for extra rest)

As far as managing symptoms there are already many good suggestions. Honey and lemon are good but also things like ginger, garlic and capsicum (in moderate quantities) can help.

Chicken soup is famous for its ability to cure colds, probably because of the warmth, some protein, possibly some garlic and vegetables (with vitamins). Any healthy food in a moderate amount will help.

There are lots of things you can do to mitigate symptoms but if you want to get well, the bottom line is rest.

Answer 4

I've used a kind of little menthol inhaler, it looks like a tube of lipstick but you inhale through it with each nostril and it blasts some mentholated stuff into your nasal cavity; for a while it can at least give you the illusion that you're not as congested.

Also for allergies specifically, try to obtain local honey, which has been cultivated in your area. Supposedly the honey having been derived from plants including those that put out the bad pollen will help your immune system acquire resistance to them.

Answer 5

Eucalyptus oil inhaled. Do not swallow it. Hi dose of NATURAL vitamin C (not the man made compound) can be found in Herbal shops, V.E. Irons I believe produces a superior product line of supplements you may want to consider. Echinatia with honey works for me too. I also suggest Essential Oils for many ailments, but some are VERY expensive. These oils have a 'frequency' to them and ROSE OIL has one of the highest, but it is extremely costly. It kills many viruses and infectious basteria on contact and smells great too.

Collodial Silver works great for any virus or baccteria as well. BUT, there are a small percentage of people which have a particular skin type which absorbs the silver and turns them gray or even blue, no kidding, but it is small, even with them the viruses and baccteria are destroyed.

Oxygenation of the blood is good for that as well, though more dangerous, Hydrogen Peroxid, can be used.

THE BEST, Vinager mixtures.

Answer 6

I always use Zicam to shorten the cold. If it feels like it is reeking havoc on your sinuses, I suggest using oil of oregano. You can buy it at any health food store and it is about $23 for .45 fl.oz. I buy one by the name of Oreganol because it is certified wild (best). A little goes a long way! Just about 3-4 drops under your tongue every 3-4 hours. Drink plenty of water or you could get a nasty headache (headache is symptom of toxins building up, water to flush them out). I swear by the stuff! It got rid of my ear infection and I used it along with silver spray to get rid of my daughter's strep throat. Even my pediatrician said to continue using it! I hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon!

Answer 7

Hot soup.
Otherwise, everything I've heard of includes honey and lemon.

My husband rinds a clove of garlic and lets it sit in about 2 tablespoons of honey for a few hours, then takes a spoonful every 4-6 hours. He's usually much better after the 1st spoonful.

My son likes to make himself a cup of tea and sweetens it with honey, orange juice, and cinnamon -he swears it helps.

Answer 8

Mint tea with ginger is good, the ginger helps to clear sinuses, however do not eat a tablespoon full of wasabi of raw fresh horseradish.

Some of these suggestions will help with a cold however they are all only temporary. Who ever cures the cold will be a rich rich person.

Answer 9

I cannot take most over the counter meds (I have diabetes), but I can use Mucinex (the plain one, not the decongestant or cough ones) and a saline nasal rinse. They work great for me! Get some rest and drink plenty of water. I will pray you feel better soon.

Answer 10

This sounds dumb, but I had read sauerkraut helps; I'm fighting a sinus infection and tried one helping; it does seem to be much less severe this time. Wonder if it's the vinegar? Zinc is good, but be careful; you can overdose on it. Everyone's comments about steam and fluids are correct.
Get well soon!