Seven Powerful Natural Aids For The Common Cold
Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, which means antibiotics are ineffective treatments. Over-the-counter remedies also often contain substances found to suppress your ability to fight the virus and will extend the time you suffer from a cold. Fortunately, there are some proven, natural ways you can shorten the amount of time you suffer from a cold or flu and help prevent a recurrence.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
The quickest and safest remedy for colds is using “Hydrogen Peroxide", with success sometimes coming within 12 to 14 hours if used early on. Simply administer a small capful of 3 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into each ear. You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation. Wait until the bubbling subsides (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear. It’s also safe for infants and children. Here’s a short tutorial video to help you.
2. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil is one of the most powerful remedies that you can use to treat a cold or flu. It contains carvacrol and thymol, antimicrobial and antiviral compounds that disrupt the cell membranes of bacteria and viruses, leading to their destruction
A Journal of Applied Microbiology study showed that carvacrol, a primary component, was particularly potent in inactivating the norovirus within an hour of exposure. Make sure to select an oregano oil with 80% carvacrol, to maximize its antiviral potential. Â
Add 2-3 drops three or four times daily to some orange juice or a spoon of coconut oil or olive oil. It’s quite pungent, so you can purchase oil of oregano capsules at natural product stores. However, it’s NOT meant for long-term use—longer than one week—as extended or high-dose use can stress the liver. It’s also not recommended for those with heart disease or high blood pressure, pregnant and nursing women, or infants.
3. Garlic
Eating a clove or two of fresh garlic a day may keep the cold and flu away, in part because it has immune-boosting, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal effects. It’s thought that much of garlic’s therapeutic effect comes from its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin, which are also what give it its characteristic smell. Garlic can also reduce the severity of cold symptoms by 21 percent once you catch a cold.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to reduce acidity in the body, as a simple, relatively harmless and easy way to combat your cold.
Day 1: Take six doses of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, at about two-hour intervals. Make sure the stomach is empty.
Day 2: Take four doses of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in water, at the same intervals.
Day 3: Take two doses of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in water morning and evening.
Thereafter take ½ teaspoon in a glass of water each morning until cold symptoms are gone.
Use this method only occasionally, as excessive consumption can lead to electrolyte and acid/base imbalances.
5. Raw Honey
Honey has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. If you suffer from a sore throat with your cold, raw honey is as effective as cough syrup or cough drops. Remember that honey is a natural sugar and taken in large amounts will adversely affect your insulin and leptin levels.
6. Chicken Soup
A team of researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found evidence that chicken soup had anti-inflammatory properties that could prevent the side effects of a cold.
7. Coconut Oil
Extracted from the nut of the coconut palm tree, coconut oil contains a fatty acid called lauric acid, which has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has anti-viral properties which make it perfect for fighting winter colds. Studies have shown that coconut oil can bolster a weakened immune system by improving white blood cell counts, which helps the body directly fight viruses and infections.
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