Effective Natural Remedies for Flu, Cough, and Cold

One of the best keys to a natural remedy working is to pick the proper remedy and use it when you start feeling the symptoms.

Natural Remedy for Flu

When you have a flu you can feel chills, fatigue often accompanied by fever and body aches. I learned about this interesting cure while on a trip to Michigan. I was sick with the flu on standby at the airport. An elderly polish lady took pity on me. She was eating a hot dog with sauerkraut on it. She ran and got a hot cup of water. She scraped the sauerkraut off of her hot dog and let it steep in the hot cup of water. She kept pushing it with a fork to create a juice puree. She gave it to me to drink. After drinking it, my throat and chest felt soothed. I actually felt better 3 hours after. I researched her remedy to find that sauerkraut is often recommended as a remedy to nip infections in the bud. It contains lactic acid bacteria which simulates a probiotic. Sauerkraut juice is sold in the bottled juice aisle of most grocery stores.

The Power of Garlic

Garlic used in moderation can help you feel better from a cold or flu. I have personally found Garlic to be a better virus fighter than an anti-bacterial. Some health reports and websites advocate eating several cloves of raw garlic per day. I do not think this is good advice. I have often seen people with severe coughs attempt to eat raw garlic in this manner. Garlic is a natural blood thinner. What often occurs is they eat too much garlic and they are coughing. The pressure of a cough can burst a blood vessel. As a result, they can develop a bloody eye or what is referred to as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Please do not consume more than ½ a clove of raw garlic, if you must. I also advise against giving raw garlic to your children. Garlic is most effective when combined with two other ingredients to simulate a natural antibiotic effect. In Lincolnwood, Illinois, I had the pleasure of tasting a soup called "Jewish Penicillin". It consists of natural chicken broth (Organic is best), Four cloves of garlic chopped (softly boiled to liquefy in the soup), and a tiny dash of cayenne pepper. This warm tasty soup can soothe a sore throat, help decongest a cough and bolster the immune system all in one.

Sore Throat Relief

In the old days my mother used to juice a fresh lemon and mix it with honey. She would spoon feed this bittersweet concoction to me. Research shows that honey coats the throat and lemon is a natural mucous thinner. The effects typically last one to two hours.

Apple Cider vinegar is effective for anything sore throat. It is great when you have a sore throat for any reason be it cold, flu, infection or even acid reflux. I use the Dixie cup method to taking it. I pour 2 ounces of apple cider vinegar in with two ounces of luke warm water. You will feel a soothing sensation and a sense of feeling more opened up like you can breathe better. Some people may be allergic to apple cider vinegar. It's often a good idea to do a quick skin test to see if you are. Apply a small drop of vinegar to the inside of your wrist. If the area turns red and splotchy you are allergic to do not drink it. If you see nothing, then you are safe to drink. People can often develop having a sore throat or upper respiratory infections within five days of having acid reflux or heartburn. The acid often strips away the healthy flora of your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to being sick. It is often a good idea to drink a shot of Apple Cider vinegar straight or mixed in water to alleviate the acid attack. This preventative measure can often save you from becoming sick.

Ginger and Licorice Warning

There are health experts and reports that recommend taking licorice or ginger for cold/ flu. In health food stores there are several herbal tea mixtures that contain one or both of these ingredients.

Ginger can often promote more acid in your body and can make you feel worse. In the old days when children would have a fever, a steeping pot of ginger tea was made. Often by morning, the fever would break. In most cases the fever would return. This is because ginger makes you produce sweat. It is often praised for breaking a fever but, it leaves you feeling weak because it can also dehydrate you. You can often end up getting sick all over again from being dehydrated.

Licorice as well as ginger has been known to elevate blood pressure. You usually can see the disclaimer "Do not use if you have high blood pressure". My research has shown that even people who have never had high blood pressure can feel sick from the blood pressure being elevated when taking ginger or licorice. If you are taking prepared herbal remedies, they may contain these ingredients. If you are sensitive to having headaches, or you are generally caffeine sensitive (feeling jittery or nervous), chances are high you will be sensitive to licorice and ginger.