I just had to repost this because I was coming down with something last week.
As much as I tried, I could not outrun a cold this year. I woke up in
the morning with a scratching throat. That was the first sign. Later I
developed chills, fever, and aches all over. I decided to try natural
remedies, but in the end surrendered to Tylenol Cold Head Congestion
Daytime. Maybe I did not try hard enough, but I feel much better now.
Here are natural remedies for a cold.
Natural remedies for the common cold
a. Cayenne(Capsicum sp):
Chilies,
especially Jalapeno, are proven antiviral and most effective against
cold. However, your stomach needs to tolerate the chilies to treat your
virus infection! So, get into the habit of eating more chilies to
develop better tolerance.
b. Echinacea (Echinacea sp):
This is the best herb to take during the early stages of cold. Although, it’s not an antibiotic and doesn’t kill germs, it stimulates the production of white blood cells, which fight off the virus. (This has actually worked for me in the past. I buy the tablets with goldenseal added.)
c. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra):
Elderberry has been used for centuries as a (natural remedy for cold and flu). It de-activates cold and flu viruses by preventing them from replicating. It’s best taken at the first signs of a cold.
d. Garlic (Allium sativum):
This truly natural antibiotic destroys foreign bacteria with the help of a substance called allicin. Garlic is best when fresh.
e. Ginger (Zingiber officinalis):
Ginger,
either freshly grated or powdered, taken as a tea induces sweating and
elimination. It boosts the immune system and respiration. It provides
relief for virtually all cold symptoms, like fever, sinus congestion,
sore throat, stomachache and nausea.
f. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis):Hyssop has some properties that make it valuable in treating colds.
g. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis):
Lemon
Balm is often found in cold formulas for feverish conditions. It’s an
excellent remedy to take in the wake of a cold to nurture the nervous
system and to expel feelings of lethargy. It’s best used when fresh. (I grow this in my herb garden.)
h. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita):
Peppermint is most effective for colds and flu. It should preferably be used fresh. (I grow this in my herb garden, as well.)
i. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium):
Yarrow
is one of the best herbs for dealing with fevers. For colds, it is best
combined with other herbs, such as peppermint and elderberry. Yarrow is
easy to grow and plants are freely available.
Here is some more advice
1. Zinc:
The mineral zinc, available in over-the-counter lozenges, nasal sprays,
and gels, may work by preventing the formation of proteins needed by a
cold virus to reproduce. Despite the hoopla about zinc for treatment of
colds, scientific studies are scarce, says Jack M. Gwaltney, MD,
professor emeritus of internal medicine at the University of Virginia
and a longtime cold researcher. Zinc lozenges, they conclude, have no
effect. One well-designed study reported a positive effect on treating a
cold with zinc nasal gel. But the study results have not yet been
replicated, Gwaltney says.
2. Vitamin C: For
decades, believers in vitamin C have said taking this vitamin supplement
can nip a cold in the bud. The claim is partially triggered by lab
studies that find vitamin C affects resistance to virus in animal
studies. But in people? Experts disagree on this slightly, but lean
toward the negative. But when it is taken daily as a preventive
treatment - not just after that first sniffle - it can very slightly
shorten cold duration, by about 8 percent in adults and by about 14
percent in children.
3. Echinacea: The herbal
supplement Echinacea, like Vitamin C, sparks controversy among cold
experts. Advocates say it's an immune booster with antiviral properties
and other benefits, so it's good at preventing colds. However, two
recent studies on the natural remedy have yielded conflicting
conclusions. In one 2007 study, concluded that Echinacea decreases the
odds of developing a cold by 58 percent and reduces its duration by 1.4
days. But a previous study, showed no benefit from the herb in either
reducing the severity of a cold infection or preventing a cold.
4. Chicken Soup:
Advocates of hot chicken soup, long offered as a cold remedy, say it
may help soothe inflammation that can make the symptoms worse. The
problem with proving scientifically that chicken soup works, says
Gwaltney, is finding a legitimate placebo food to study against it in a
scientific way. Checken soup may have an anti-inflammatory effect on
easing symptoms of upper respiratory infections. But the report doesn't
prove chicken soup does anything for cold symptoms. Although chicken
soup may not actively fight a cold, it can help fight dehydration that
can occur when you have a cold or the flu.
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