Top 9 Immune Boosting Natural Remedies For Colds
Natural Remedies For Colds – Just of late I have been surrounded by so many people with colds – asking what can I do to get over this quickly?
A cold is really your body’s way of saying, “SLOW DOWN! I need a break!” So, slow down, take the day off and rest. You’ll body will thank you by recovering and rejuvenating itself and you’ll be back to your busy schedule in no time!
So here are some of the remedies out there. They are easy to do, affordable and minimal side effects.
1. Immune Support – Zinc at the first sign of a cold shortens the severity and duration. Other fantastic herbs are echinacea, Andrographis, garlic, oregano, horseradish, elderberry. These are available in combination or alone in lozenges, capsules, tablets or liquid.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – Make an ACV tea to sip and/or gargle. Use 2 tablespoons ACV, 1-2 tablespoons honey, preferably manuka (to taste), 4 tablespoons lemon juice and a little hot water to dilute. It’s potent but the stronger it is, the faster it will work (of course you can change the amounts of everything to your liking). Use it 3-4 times a day (less is ok too but the more you do it, the better the results).
3. Ginger – Ginger helps bring down inflammation, clear congestion and support the immune system. Drink 2-3 cups of fresh ginger tea daily. Freshly grated ginger root (about 2 teaspoons) in a cup of hot water is best. If you have licorice root tea add this as well. It’s great to soothe sore throats. You could also add some minced garlic to supercharge it if you are up for the challenge. Click here for natural flu-fighting tea recipe.
4. Rest – Get lots of rest and sleep. Your body needs time and energy to fight off the germs and recover. You’ll find the duration of your colds are greatly reduced when you really stop and rest. Take the day off (not everyone wants to share your germs). If you really keep pushing yourself, your cold will only last longer.
5. Eat Healthy and Light – The more energy your body uses to digest food, the less it has for the immune system. So eat healthy and light like soups, teas, fresh fruits and veggies (no sugar, no dairy, no gluten). Chicken soup (broth, veggies, warmth and all) boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation of the lungs (which causes congestion/coughs). Fruits and veggies high in Vitamin C are oranges, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, strawberries, dark leafy greens, papaya, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
6. Just say NO to sugar – Sugar weakens your immune system, so prolongs and intensifies your cold……so STEP AWAY. Stick to the good stuff and recover quicker.
7. Eucalyptus Oil – This can be done as a quick steam in the shower (just shake a few drops at either end of the bath or shower) or if you have more time, a more intense steam treatment. Put 4-5 drops of eucalyptus oil in a glass bowl. Add boiling water, cover your head with a towel to trap the steam in and inhale deeply next to bowl for 5-10 minutes. Repeat twice a day. The steam will open up your nasal passages so you can breathe better.
8. Neti pot – Every morning and night, fill the neti pot with a small amount of salt (about 1 teaspoon) in warm water to wash out sinuses. The salt kills bacteria and the warm water flushes out the nasal passages. Nasal irrigation can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms. There are also saline nasal sprays if this doesn’t appeal.
9. Increase Vitamin D – This will reduce your risk of catching a cold in the first place. Sunlight and fish are great sources of D.
Natural Remedies For Colds – When you’re sick, your body works hard to fight off that infection. It needs more energy than usual. Make rest your top priority. Stay home from work or school, and put your daily routine on hold until you feel better. – WebMD
