It’s that time of year again, cold and flu season!
Colds are one of the more unpleasant realities of Fall and Winter.
And since colds are so easily passed (via someone sneezing droplets into the air for you to breathe), after enough of the population is suffering from colds, it is very easy to catch a cold yourself.
Want To Avoid Getting A Cold This Winter?
One way to prevent colds so that you don’t have to use any remedies is to wash your hands with hot water and soap frequently.
We often pick up cold germs in public places, including public transportation.
Remember, all it takes is someone sneezing on something before you touch it. Once you’ve got cold germs on your own hands, and then you rub your eye or scratch your nose, then you are transferring the cold to you.
Washing your hands often will help to reduce the likelihood of your getting a cold.
That said, here are 5 natural cures for the common cold…
1. Zinc
Zinc, by far, is one of the best natural cures for the common cold.
I have been using zinc for years, and cannot recommend it enough.
If you begin taking zinc at the onset of a cold, you may find that you don’t even really get sick.
But even if you don’t catch it until the symptoms are bad, you can still take zinc and it will reduce the severity of your cold. Plus, you will get better faster.
However, you do want to be sure and follow the instructions for taking it because, like with anything else, it is possible to overdo it with zinc. Too much zinc can cause such side effects as vomiting, diarrhea and headaches — to name a few.
2. Garlic
As a natural antibiotic with strong antibacterial properties, garlic is a wonderful cure for the common cold. The really nice thing is, unlike chemical medicines or even zinc, you can’t eat too much of it!
One way you can use garlic is to peel and chop up 5 garlic cloves and then mix that with a half a cup of honey. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes and then take a teaspoon as often as needed for relief.
One thing to keep in mind is that garlic can interfere with the workings of some drugs, so you might want to check with your doctor to be sure you aren’t taking one of those drugs before beginning to take a larger amount than normal of garlic.
3. Cayenne pepper
Believe it or not, sprinkling cayenne pepper on your food can help you feel better when you have a cold.
Cayenne pepper relieves congestion, and it also helps to warm your body from the inside out.
Those nasty chills are one of the worst things about having a cold; cayenne pepper can help you to feel warmer.
Another plus is that cayenne pepper has a lot of vitamin C in it, which is another common cold cure.
4. Cinnamon
Yup, cinnamon. I was surprised too, but apparently cinnamon has cold fighting properties.
Believe it or not cinnamon has a high anti-oxidant activity, as well as, being a source of fiber, calcium, iron, and manganese.
Cinnamon especially helps with coughs, and sore throats.
One thing to keep in mind is that cinnamon, in high doses, can cause liver and kidney damage. This is because it comes from the Cassia plant which has a toxic element called Coumarin. Also, if you take blood thinners or medicines that control your blood sugar, you should consult your doctor before ingesting cinnamon.
5. Onions
Here’s another one that I would never have thought of. Apparently, onions are a natural decongestant.
Let’s face it, having a plugged up nose is one of the worst parts of having a cold. If you can cure that, or even relieve it to some extent, then the rest of the symptoms are easier to manage. If you cut up an onion — and then add sugar to the pieces — this will make an onion juice that you can ingest, which will help to reduce your congestion or cough.
Which Natural Remedy Is Best?
There are hundreds of natural remedies and cures out there, but over the years much of this knowledge from our grandmothers has been forgotten in favor of chemical drugs which are touted by our society as being better than natural cures.
Personally. my experience has been that chemical medicines cause nasty side effects, and it appears to me that the FDA is doing less and less to test new drugs before they are allowed on the store shelves.
Learning about these older natural remedies and giving them a try I think just makes sense.
More About Cold & Flu
4 Natural Cold Remedies: Do They Work?
Natural Cures For The Common Cold
8 Secrets To Treating A Cold Naturally
Some of my favorite things to write about are topics that have to do with living green, saving money, pregnancy, weddings, and dogs. When I'm not writing, I love to spend time with my husband, read, create 3D artwork and Native American beadwork.
