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| Woman Sneezing |
Most of us don't have time to be weighed down by aching muscles, a sore throat or nasal congestion. Life carries on, even when you feel under the weather. Luckily there are some great ways to reduce or even prevent the symptoms of a cold without the aide of pricey prescription medications or over the counter drugs containing ingredients that you can't pronounce.
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| Garlic via Flicker: Mullica |
For thousands of years garlic has been used by civilizations in the East and West as an important medicinal tool. It has been used as a diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, antibacterial, anti-fungal agent. A 2001 study conducted in UK showed the correlation between the daily use of a garlic supplement and a reduced occurrence of the cold virus by 39%. A component of raw garlic, allicin, has been shown to block the growth of certain types bacteria related to the common cold.
Imagine a cure for bacteria causing ear infections and cold viruses being stopped in their tracks by a $.79 remedy---the pharmaceutical companies would be outraged! It is true, hydrogen peroxide has been shown to combat a cold virus if poured directly into the ear canal. If used when symptoms first appear it can be about 80% effective.
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| Cayenne Pepper via Flicker: PxLady |
An excellent source of Vitamin A, if you can withstand the heat, cayenne pepper can provide essential nutrients for the health of all epithelial tissues (the tissues that line all body cavities including the respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts). It can also be used to clear congestion because its peppery heat stimulates secretions that help to clear your stuffy nose.
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| Vitamin D |
One of most recent natural remedies to gain attention, Vitamin D had been previously overshadowed by its counterpart Vitamin C. In the medical community the benefits of Vitamin C against a cold virus remain controversial, but we do know for sure that it is an important anti-oxidant needed to form bones cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. On the other hand, Vitamin D has been proven to help prevent and diminish the signs of a cold. Because they usually occur during the winter months, people have been led to believe that being indoors and in closer proximity to infected people is what causes a rise in colds. But, studies have shown that people deficient in Vitamin D, which the body produces in response to direct sunlight, have a higher risk of respiratory infections and higher levels can enhance your immunity to microbial infections.
If you'd like to really take a natural remedy that packs a punch try this recipe we found for Tomato Tea.
TOMATO TEA RECIPE
2 cups V8 Juice
2-3 cloves Garlic crushed (use more if you can)
2 T Lemon Juice
Hot Sauce (the more the better, so as much as you can handle)
What are your home remedies for a cold? Share in the the comments section below!
Avoiding the Sniffles in Granolaville,
2 comments:
Gargling a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar in some water to cure a sore throat. Eucalyptus & tea tree rub is great for congestion. Put it on the bottom of your feet with socks over it.
I've gargled honey, but never apple cider vinegar, I'll have to try that. We used Badger Balm chest rub for congestion too! It works wonders. Thanks for the tips Ali!
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