Natural Cures for the Common Cold

When we see frost on the grass a few mornings in a row, and the afternoons are still warm enough to play outside in a t-shirt, it's easy to forget what lies just ahead. No, I wasn't talking about winter, exactly. The dreaded cold, cough, fever season of the common cold is upon us.

Since the scientists, doctors, and researchers have so far failed to find a vaccine or a cure for the rhinovirus that causes the common cold, living with the symptoms has become a billion dollar industry in the United States. And none of these over the counter relief pills, capsules or syrups are going to cure the common cold anyway. An old saying says that "if you ignore a cold, it goes away in seven days. If you treat a cold, it goes away in seven days." I guess for most of us, it comes down to how miserable we want to be in that seven days.

If you are reluctant to start on the cough syrup, decongestant, expectorant, fever-reducer, pain-reliever route; and yet you are suffering from a runny nose; swollen sinuses; an elephant sitting on your chest; a plugged up and throbbing head; or any of the other annoying symptoms of the common cold, there are a few natural remedies you can try. Most of us have these ingredients right in our kitchen cabinets or refrigerators.

Salt Water: an old time-tested recipe will break up nasal congestion, as well as clean the bacteria from your nose. Mix 1/ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt in 1 cup of warm water. Squirt water into nose with a bulb syringe. Hold one nostril closed with your finger while you squirt the mixture into the other nostril. Drain, repeat a couple of times, then do the same for the other nostril. I wouldn't try this on kids; the small amount that trickles down your throat tastes pretty stringent, but it does clean a stuffy nose right up. You can also use salt water, without the baking soda, to gargle for a sore throat. One teaspoon of salt, dissolved in warm water. Gargle and discard. You can do this four times a day if you wish.

A Hot Toddy: Hot liquids soothe the membranes that are so inflamed in your nose and throat when you have a cold. To help you sleep at night, make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add a teaspoon of honey and one small shot of whisky or bourbon. Only drink one, since too much alcohol will inflame the membranes again.

Hot shower: the steam will moisturize your inflamed nasal passages. If you are too dizzy to stand in the shower, sit on a chair in the bathroom and breathe in the steam.

Lemon: mixed with honey and hot water, this will soothe the sore throat that often comes with a cold. Squeeze the juice from one lemon into a cup of hot water, add honey to taste, and sip while cuddled under a warm blanket. Yes, keeping warm does allow your body to fight against your cold more effectively.

Along the same lines, is an orange and ginger drink. Ginger is practically guaranteed to open up any sinus passages that are clogged from your cold. Squeeze the juice from one orange into a cup of hot water, add ¼ teaspoon of ginger, and honey to taste. This will soothe your throat, too. If you have fresh gingerroot, grate one inch instead of adding the ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.

For congestion, try steeping fresh parsley into boiling water for a few minutes, and drinking the tea whenever you wish.

Garlic cures everything: or at least makes an effective cold remedy. Peel and chop five large garlic cloves, mix with a half cup of honey, let it sit for half an hour, then take a teaspoon as needed. For more relief, add a bit of fresh grated ginger, or a dash or two of cayenne pepper. For that matter, add cayenne pepper to your foods while you have a cold; it relieves congestion and warms you from the inside out if you have a chill.

Cinnamon: cinnamon is said to help strengthen your immune system. If nothing else, it tastes and smells good. Add cinnamon powder to food. I like some added when I brew coffee. Add a cinnamon stick to your herbal tea.

Using some of these remedies might work out better than a midnight run to the drugstore. Some of them might work better for you than others. Consult with your doctor if your fever lingers more than two or three days, or is higher than 104 degrees; if your sore throat gets worse; if you have difficulty breathing; or if you have a cough that hurts your chest; or anytime you aren't seeing a relief in some of the symptoms after three or four days. The common cold lasts about seven days in most reasonably healthy adults.