Natural Cold Remedies

Prevention is one of the most effective tools you can find when looking for natural cold remedies. Not only is it a wise way to save money, but practicing preventative measures can help you stay well during the season. By working along with your doctor or certified herbalist you can create a plan of action that includes vitamin and mineral treatments with herbal therapy, exercise, and incorporating good nutrition habits that can help you avoid trouble during the months when sickness runs rampant. The preventative measures you plan out now and implement, will help to keep your body functioning at optimum level so that it can fight off what may soon ail you.

Some Key Preventative Measures

Progressively doing things like increasing the amount of vitamins you take or introducing herbal treatments to those in your home, helps to fight the many viruses that seem to move from person to person every day. If you happen to get sick and you have prepared your body with natural cold remedies, you will get well quicker.

If you find that you have caught a cold or the flu, be sure to stop by a health food store close to home, where you can get items like herbal teas, whole food vitamins and other natural cold remedies to help you get rid of the virus. You also want to be sure to increase hydration and get plenty of rest. Hydration is essential to the body – especially when the body is warding off infection. So in addition to drinks like herbal tea and fruit and vegetable juices don’t forget pure water. You should drink the required amount for your weight as often as possible.

Reducing stress, eating right, and staying active along with using common sense are all effective in building and maintaining a strong and healthy immune system and body.

During the cold and flu season you should wash your hands frequently throughout the day. It also wise to dress warm when the weather is cold, as well as getting plenty of rest. Sleep just so happens to be one of the most effective free natural cold remedies out there.

Reducing the chemicals in your surroundings that are toxic is one of the best ways to prepare for cold and flu season. By eliminating harmful toxins in your environment and food you are helping your immune system to get and stay strong. Adjusting your diet and including foods like organic produce, nuts and seeds, healthy oils and adequate protein along with a lot of clean water provides your body with what it needs to ward off illness and recover at a quicker rate if you do happen to catch a cold, flu or other infection.

Seek out a local food provider or grower that offers organic food that has not been tainted by pesticides or other harsh chemicals. Food that has been chemically treated is simply not good for your body or fighting off colds and flu. Also try to find meats that are free of hormones and antibiotics. Finally, enjoy what you eat by savoring each bite and making sure to chew slowly.

If you have a cold or the flu and are battling a fever, reducing your food consumption is the best choice. Instead drink more liquids and give your body a chance to do what it was created to do – use the fever to get rid of virus and bacteria that is not good; then proceeding to remove it . When cooking, use healthy oils like olive oil with its rich mono-saturated fats, or coconut oil and eliminate other bad fats such as margarine because they are not good for you and only weaken your immune system.

Reducing stress is also very important when it comes to making your immune system strong. Techniques such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing exercises and tai chi have all been seen as valuable when it comes to reducing stress. As-a-matter-of-fact, exercise is a great natural cold remedy for stress reduction. Try something like walking because it is a very calming, low impact, effective exercise that offers time to meditate as you get in touch with your body and provides exposure to the sun which will give you Vitamin D.

The Importance Of Food

The type of food you eat is very important to your overall health. A smart way to give your immune system a boost is to adjust what you eat and take more vitamins and minerals. Your nutritional intake should include plenty of fresh vegetables and protein, and vitamins such as Vitamins B and C. Being cautious about what and how you eat provides your immune system with the vital nutrition it needs.

You don’t want to miss out on the value of adding antioxidants to every meal you can. Foods like green, leafy vegetables, many herbal teas, and berries offer a good amount of antioxidants; especially when consumed raw or steamed. Your diet should also include fiber from nuts, seeds and fruits, which are all delicious to have with meals or at snack time. Unless you are getting the items straight from the produce section in its natural form or you are making it from scratch, read labels and see how much sugar, sodium, and other ingredients that can take away the health benefits your body needs

Herbs, Teas, and Supplements

You can find a plethora of natural cold remedies at your disposal for treatments when you are sick. Simple things like taking a daily recommended dosage of vitamin C works wonders for your immune system. While many swear by vitamin C, vitamin A is just as effective.

The addition of onion and garlic to the food you cook is great while you are recovering from a virus. They both contain the natural antiviral chemicals your body needs. And it is true what they say about chicken soup: It is good for the soul. A bowl of chicken soup with plenty of fresh vegetables, onion and garlic aids in boosting your disposition and health. If you are not in the mood to cook it fresh, you can find healthy pre-made counterparts at a health food store near you.

The best natural cold remedy for those times when you are congested is a herbal steam inhalation. By inhaling steam for up to 15 minutes, three times a day, you help to relieve that stuffy feeling. If you tolerate herbs then try adding thyme, chamomile, or eucalyptus to water that is hot and inhaling the steam to aid in the heating of the throat, loosen up mucous, and calm bronchial tubes and nasal passages.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, you have many options available to you when if comes to locating natural cold remedies to alleviate symptoms and cut the length of the illness. Products such as tea and other natural supplements like herbs are available at most grocers and all health food stores.

Herbs originating in the East like ginkgo biloba is a great herb to try. When the ginkgo biloba leaf is inhaled it kills bacteria and aides in healing the cells in the mucous membranes that have been damaged in an expedient manner.

Sipping hot herbal teas like sage and boneset teas at least three times a day for up to five days helps relieve congestion. Herbal teas like valerian root and passion flower are tasty ways to help you get some much need rest because, along with many other herbs, they have sedative affects.

Ginger tea is the most popular natural cold remedy because the ginger root has twelve antiviral compounds. To make this beneficial tea, simply add one heaping teaspoon of ginger to a cup of water that has been boiled and allow it to sit for ten minutes. To take away the strong taste that ginger sometimes presents, simply add a little stevia or xylitol in the tea before drinking.

Another natural cold remedy that you may find very useful is garlic. Garlic seems to shorten the severity and length of a cold or the flu. As mentioned earlier, adding cloves in chicken soup or other foods is a healthy way to cure what may ail you. You also have the option of taking garlic in pill form; however, raw is best.

Over the years, echinacea has become popular in preventing colds; but it has another great benefit as well. It is another herb that is good for reducing the length of a cold. Many herbalists agree that this herb is most effective in the liquid form because it will make immediate contact with the throat tissues. One type of the herb is andrograpis or “Indian Echinacea” as it is sometimes called. This type of echinacea is known to alleviate runny nose, sore throat, sore muscles, and headaches when taken three times daily with lots of liquids and food.

Vitamin D is also great for preventing or healing infections of all kinds and grapefruit seed extract is another powerful weapon against colds.

Words Of Caution

It is important to note that with any herbs you are using for medicinal purposes be sure to discuss it with a natural health professional or alternative to make sure that you are taking what you need. Some herbs may not agree with other conditions you may have and if you are pregnant or nursing you want to check before taking any sort of medication. Be sure to let your doctor or practitioner know of any medications (prescription and herbal) to avoid any negative reactions.

It is important to discuss and work along with your practitioner to help find the most beneficial mixture of herbs for the symptoms you experience. If children are the patients, inform their doctor of any fevers and discuss all treatment with them. The elderly should always discuss any plans to add herbs or other natural cold remedies with their herbalist or doctor as their immune systems can get compromised much easier than those who are younger.

The bottom line is that if you properly care for your body, it will be good to you.