So you have a cold, or worse yet the flu, and you are miserable! What can you do to help you feel better until the virus has worked its way out of your system?
Try one of these five natural remedies:
Echinacea
Echinacea can work wonders to help you fight that cold or flu. It has the ability to raise the levels of properdin, which is responsible for increasing defence mechanisms that help fight viruses and bacteria. It is also a blood cleanser and helps to move dead cells and other particles through the lymphatic system. To get the full benefits that echinacea can offer, make sure you take it as soon as you feel the cold or flu coming on. It is available as a tincture, capsule or tea.
Garlic
Garlic is well-known for it ability to boost the immune system. It contains allicin, which is one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics. If you combine garlic with echinacea, you will have a dynamic duo working on your behalf to fight off viruses and bacteria.
Ginger
Ginger not only has antiviral properties, it offers pain relief, antiseptic qualities and is an antioxidant! Not only will it help to reduce the pain and fever, it is a mild sedative to help you rest easier. You can drink ginger tea, make a tincture by soaking it in water, or add it to a fruit smoothie.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably the best know natural remedy for colds and flus. You can either take a supplement or eat a wide variety of citrus fruits because of their high Vitamin C content. A great recipe to try is a combination of oranges, pineapple, seedless grapes, lots of fresh ginger, banana, pink grapefruit, cantaloupe mixed in a blender with orange juice as needed.
Drink Plenty of Water and Eat the RightFoods
Because your body needs all its energy to fight the cold or flu virus, it is best to avoid big meals when you are sick. However, drinking lots of water is imperative to help your body eliminate the toxins and wastes.
Because your body needs all its energy to fight the cold or flu virus, it is best to avoid big meals when you are sick. However, drinking lots of water is imperative to help your body eliminate the toxins and wastes.
You may also find the following foods healing for your body:
Bananas – to soothe upset stomachs
Blueberries - helps prevent diarrhea, may lower fevers and relieves aches and pains (high in natural aspirin)
Chili Peppers - helps break up mucus in the lungs
Cranberries - helps to prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
Onion- phytochemicals can help to clear bronchitis and other infections
Rice - helps with diarrhea.
While it is true that there is no cure for the common cold or the flu, there are remedies you can use to help relieve the symptoms. So next time you feel the sniffles coming on, reach for the echinacea, drink up your Vitamin C smoothie and relax knowing that you are providing your body with the right weapons to fight the battle.
A natural high-potency vitamin can do wonders. Take the guess work out of what vitamins to take by taking Vita-Super vitamin. It contains your full daily need so you stay well day after day.
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4 comments:
I've been using quite a few of these remedies for years now trying to avoid all the chemical stuff out on the market and not just for me but for my children too and with recent developments in research of children and cough/cold meds, particularly the over counter stuff, I'm glad I've pushed the natural route!! The last I'd heard the FDA and most doctors were saying that no child under the age of 6 should ever be given OTC cold meds and it would even be better to make that none under age 12. This morning in the news it was stated that the best cough remedy for adults and children (yep this was mainstream news as in on Fox) is Honey, a teaspoon to relieve a coughing spell---my reaction to that was "geez, mothers have known that for centuries" ;-) That honey might have a lot of calories but tell ya what, if I'm sick, I'll risk the calories versus the chemicals!!
I've also been using Ginger for ages to soothe nausea, it helps quite a bit, generally I use a ginger tea and hey when you think about it it's no surprise since "ginger ale" has been the beverage of choice since forever duing cold/flu season :-)
I don't know about anyone else but when I've got a bad cold or flu I also tend to get really nasty migraine type headaches. A few years ago, our doc's PA suggested taking some red pepper powder, just a teeny little pinch in the palm of the hand and snuffing it up the nose, it works, it was just incredible, I had the type migraine that was usually emergency room level (ie needing a shot), I did the red pepper thing and instantly the headache was gone, no side effects, no nausea nada, just gone. It stings just a little bit but the end result is well worth it!! I'll trade a sting for a migraine any day.
All of these are great natural remedies and they DO indeed work. I've always been big on going the more natural route, traditional western medicine and pharmacuitals have their place in healthcare **but** it usually doesn't hurt to start w/a natural alternative first or with your doctor's knowledge augment your treatment using natural homemade remedies. Someone commented here that news recently reported that honey works better than cough medicine etc. how true that is. For centuries honey was THE primary treatment for a cough. Seems to be human nature that we so often have to relearn to rely on what generations before us have known and practiced for eons eh?
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