Natural Cold Remedies

Just as Spring begins to spring, so does cold season. Rapid changes in air pressure, temperatures and sun exposure all put extra strain on the immune system making your body more susceptible to colds. Newly growing plant particles can also aggravate your respiratory system, causing inflammation and a greater susceptibility to the bacterias and viruses. Children in particular are more susceptible to colds because of what they eat (more junk), school schedules that cause them to have to get up earlier then their natural cycles (imbalance of their natural internal cycles), greater exposure from peers and lowered immunity from shots, medications and all sorts of other chemicals constantly assaulting their little bodies. It isn't uncommon to see kids with perpetual runny noses until the weather begins to dramatically warm up. Poor little ones! You may be tempted to turn to over the counter medicines to help alleviate symptoms but these medications are not only filled with toxic ingredients (including dyes and high fructose corn syrup) but do not help your body heal, in fact, they actually can inhibit your body's own natural immune response. There are many natural cold remedies you can use that are more effective then OTC's, help to alleviate symptoms better and give your body the support it needs to heal more rapidly. These natural cold remedies also help you to avoid toxins and strengthen, rather then inhibit, your immune system.

The first step is to know what makes you susceptible to colds, which will give you an advantage to take natural precautions and preventative measures to boost your immune system and overall health. It is important to remember, as with any sickness,  it is not the germ causing your body to become sick, rather a weak internal environment. Decreased immunity, increased toxicity and deficiencies in key nutrients creates fertile ground for viruses and bacterias to flourish. The greatest step you can take to prevent colds and other sicknesses is to strengthen your own health and immunity naturally, even once a cold begins. You can read more about how to naturally strengthen your immune system in a previous blog post: Boost Your Immune System Naturally.

If you or your little one/s are suffering from cold symptoms, use these natural cold remedies to help alleviate symptoms while helping your body to heal more rapidly and completely. Not only will these remedies help you heal from a cold they will also help to alleviate symptoms, making you less miserable while you are sick.

Natural Cold Prescription

There is a "standard" natural prescription I give to my clients to beat colds naturally. Take this prescription every 3 hours while symptoms persist and for 2-3 days after your symptoms end.  This Rx helps to kill the invading virus, prevents it from spreading further, while increasing cellular energy production and immune system response.

• 1,000- 3,000 mg of Vitamin C (preferably Vitamin C crystals) (Children take 500 mg)
• 1 B-Complex Vitamin (Children take 1/2)
• 30 minutes of Sunlight or 2,000 IU's of Vitamin D3 (Children take 500 IU's) SUNLIGHT IS BEST!
• 30 mil. Echinacea Liquid Tincture
• 30 mil. Golden Seal Liquid Tincture
• 1 glass of Fresh Cold Virus Killer Juice Recipe here: Spring Cold Virus Killer Juice Recipe
• 15-30 mlg of Zinc lozenge
• Essential Oil & Herb Steam Inhalation
• A cup of Raw Honey & Ginger Tea

Essential Oil & Herb Steam Inhalations 

• 10 drop Eucalyptus Oil
• 2 tbs Fresh Organic Rosemary (Minced)

Fill a bowl or sink with steaming water, add oil & herbs.

Hold your head over the bowl.
Make a tent with a towel and inhale the steam for five minutes, adding more hot water if necessary to keep the steam steady.
Repeat every 3 hours

Natural Cold Remedies

Raw Honey

Raw honey which is made from flower pollen and enzymes in bee saliva, has antioxidants, antiviral and antibacterial properties, all of which make it a top cold virus killer! Honey is very mild so is an ideal cold remedy for children. A 2007 Pennsylvania State University study found that in 105 children with upper respiratory infections, those taking honey had a 40% improvement in their coughs and restless sleep compared to untreated children. To use simply add two tablespoons of raw (uncooked or heated) honey to a cup of warm, ginger tea (see recipe below). Add a squirt of fresh lemon juice for a boost of Vitamin C.
Don’t give honey to infants and very young children because it may have botulism spores and their little immune systems aren’t yet strong enough. 

Ginger Root Tea

The root of the ginger plant contains active plant compounds called gingerols that attack pain, inflammation, germs and viruses. Ginger helps to suppress inflammatory compounds, according to a 2005 study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, which lessens respiratory and throat inflammation. Ginger is also a powerful immune stimulant. To use simply peel a ginger root, mince 2 tbs and add to a boiling cup of water. Allow tea to cool to drinking temp, add raw honey, lemon and enjoy!

Zinc

Zinc is a powerful immune system supporter and has been show to be very effective in cutting down the duration and symptoms associated with the cold virus. A 1996 study of 100 adults at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, found that people who sucked 6-8 zinc lozenges a day felt relief from their colds in 4.4 days, compared with 7.6 days for those taking a placebo.

Take 15-30 milligrams in lozenge form at the first signs of the cold virus or take as a preventative measure during cold season. 

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil combats viruses, bacteria and fungi. A 2009 study by the University of Heidelberg in Germany found that eucalyptus oil reduced viral infections  in a test tube by 96% by deactivating virus particles! That's amazing. You can use this oil is lots of ways to help alleviate and even heal cold symptoms. Simply add 10 drops to warm humidifiers, add to a carrier oil (such as coconut or almond oil in a  1:1 ratio) and rub on your chest, throat, feet and under your nose, add 10 drops to a warm bath or simply inhale deeply several times in each nostril to clear respiratory passageways. 

Echinacea

Taking the herb Ecinacea prevents the cold virus from proliferating once it is inside of your body, which cuts down on the time you will be sick. This herb is a powerful cold fighter, according to a 2007 University of Connecticut study. In a review of 14 clinical trials involving about 3,000 people, researchers found that echinacea cut the risk of catching a cold by 58% and reduced the cold’s stay by almost 1-1/2 days. Take it for three weeks, then stop for one week; repeat the cycle during cold and flu season, or when symptoms occur.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an immune system power horse. Vitamin C has been shown to have over 100 known health benefits and many of these benefits come form its antioxidant properties. These properties help protect you from getting the cold and will also help to strengthen your immune system and fight off the virus once inside your body.

Eliminate Sugar

Sugar slows down the immune system and prevents it from doing its job. This is exactly why it contributes to a weakened immune system and prolonged sickness when and if you get sick. While you are sick eliminate all forms of sugar from your diet and be careful to not over in dugle in sugars during cold season.  

Go Raw

Eating raw foods and drinking raw juices helps to cleanse the body, provides the body with a huge amount of living vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals and gives you active enzymes to help the immune system stay strong and fight off nasty bugs. Drink at least 1 glass of fresh veggie juice a day and eat at least 50% of your daily foods raw. If you do get sick, drink a glass of fresh fruit and veggie juice every hour, eat lots of fresh fruits & veggies and eliminate cooked foods except warm nourishing soups.

Eat more Garlic and Onion

Besides being rich in antioxidants and selenium, garlic is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral. Both garlic and onions are part of the Allium family, which is rich in sulfur-containing compounds responsible for many of their health-promoting effects including helping keep the immune system strong. Use lots of fresh garlic and onions in your cooking while you are sick, especially in healing soups.

Cold Healing Soup Recipe

Here is the recipe for my Healing Soup which is perfect for Spring Colds. I get RAVING reviews and feedback from the recipe and just how powerful it is as healing common cold and flu symptoms. Make a big pot and eat whenever you can while you are sick. Candice's Healing Soup Recipe

This year try something new when you get sick, instead of reaching for an over-the-counter medication, try these natural cold remedies and see how much more quickly and better you feel!

Candice Marley is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Herbalist, Wellness Coach and owner of Align Holistic Health & Well Being. Candice helps people all over the world create vibrant health, greater energy, radiant beauty and a lifetime of health without disease or pain naturally and holistically. She uses a combination of natural ways of eating, balanced lifestyle practices, medicinal herbs, holistic living strategies and wellness coaching to excel at creating vibrant, lasting health in people just like you! In fact, most people report feeling higher levels of energy and greater health within a week of their first appointment. You can download her free e-book The 5 Key Strategies for Creating Vibrant Health at www.alignholistichealth.com.