Home Remedies for the Cold & Flu Season

As I have gotten older I have become less likely to take over the counter medications or prescriptions given to me by my doctor. There are so many new medicines out there and there is no way to know their long term effects. Because of this I have begun to rely on home remedies and natural medications to nurse myself back to health. Here are the few things that I use to get myself through the cold and flu season.

Salt Water: Probably the most common and maybe one of the nastiest home remedies that I partake in. Gargling with warm salt water seems to be a common household tradition. This practice is used mainly for sore throats, but it is also good to do when you have colds. The warm salt helps wash away germs in your throat and make the healing process a lot quicker. To gargle with salt water simply fix a glass of water and dump in salt. Warm it up in the microwave and gargle.

Cigarette Smoke: I went through a year when my ears were congested and four doctors could not figure out that I was having allergies. Needless to say I got desperate during that year and was willing to try anything in order to hear clearly again. Are there any cigarette smokers in your life? Ask them to blow smoke in your ear. The warm smoke enters your ear canal and warms the congestion. Not a great solution, but it really does help. Just make sure you can take a shower after. The smell of cigarette smoke is not attractive.

Almonds: Almonds can be a great cure for a dry cough. Soak the almonds in water over night. The next day remove their skin. Add butter and sugar and make a paste with these. Yummy and good for you!

Headaches: There is nothing more annoying than that headache that won't go away. There are two ways in which I relieve my headaches. The first being to drink more water. Most headaches are a result of dehydration and you can ease the pain by simply taking in more water. If water does not help I reach for the peppermint oil. Peppermint oil can be purchased at any local grocery store. Simply mix a few drops of peppermint oil with a few drops of vegetable oil to lighten the scent. Then dab the mixture on your temples and forehead.