Nothing is more annoying and weakening to your body than the onset of the common cold. It can begin with a sore throat, congestion and an overall feeling of discomfort.
You may also suffer from a higher than normal temperature, headache and loss of appetite. The intensity of suffering also depends upon your general health and the weather.
Mom’s homemade chicken soup has been used for generations to successfully alleviate the symptoms of a cold, but there are other home remedies that are also effective.
Some Suggested Remedies Include:
- Vitamin C – Taking Vitamin C on a regular basis will help to prevent the common cold. If you already have a cold, take large doses of this vitamin to lessen the symptoms and shorten the time you’re ill. I’ve heard it suggested to take 1,000 mg per hour for the first few hours. Cut back when you start experiencing loose stools. This works best if you can begin the regimen as soon as you notice symptoms of a cold.
- Watch your diet – Drink plenty of liquids – especially water and hot herbal teas, as well as fruit and vegetable juices. Avoid foods with starches and excessive sugar. Also avoid cheese, meat and eggs, but eat lots of vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts.
- Ginger Tea – Hot tea made from ginger root and leaves and a bit of sugar added to hot water is an excellent remedy for a cold. It soothes the throat and helps to reduce fever. You can make it with fresh ginger, or purchase some tea bags.
- Lemon – Loaded with Vitamin C, lemon juice helps the immune system to resist all illnesses and decreases the toxicity of the common cold. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a glass of warm water (and add a spoonful of honey) to realize the best results. My own Mom always made this warm lemonade for us whenever we had colds.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic contains oil and beneficial antiseptic qualities that help with respiratory problems. It also flushes toxins from the body. Make a soup by boiling about four cloves of garlic in a cup of water – or use garlic oil – and ingest it two or three times per day.
- Apple cider vinegar – An effective remedy for a stuffy nose associated with the common cold can be made as follows: Prepare a solution of equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water, and heat it in a saucepan. When the solution begins to boil, lean over the pan and inhale the fumes.
Later on, you can dilute the vinegar solution with a lot more water, add some honey, and drink it as another version of the warm lemonade mentioned above. My Mom called this concoction “sangarie” (her pronunciation of sangria).
Factors That Make You Vulnerable:
Environmental factors such as dust or pollen in the air and drastic changes in temperature have a lot to do with the likelihood that you’ll catch the common cold. How healthy you are overall can also be a determining factor in how susceptible you are to catching a cold.
You can also be more at risk if you’re tired, stressed, or suffer from depression or sleep deprivation. Keep healthy habits such as a balanced diet, plenty of sunshine and rest and relaxation. Also guard against becoming chilled, and you’ll be much more successful in keeping the common cold at bay.
