Curing the Common Cold: Naturally
Filed Under: Do It Yourself, Susatainable Living on September 15, 2009
Guess what? Yep, it’s cold and flu season again. While there’s a lot of hype about Swine Flu (I mean H1N1, sorry) in the news, the threat of that is pretty small. Considering that there are six billion people or so on this planet and not even a million of us have even gotten the H1N1 so far, the odds are pretty slim you’ll get it or even be exposed.
Besides the swine flu, there’s also the “regular” flu and, of course, the common cold.
Well, I have something to tell you: nature has had a remedy for the common cold for years. Decades, even centuries upon centuries. It’s so effective, it might be considered a cure, even. A cure for the common cold?!
Sadly, for the pharmaceutical companies, that cure can’t be patented. Sucks to be them.
First, I’ll show you how this natural cure works. Then we’ll look at some quick differences between the common cold and the more serious flu. Then I’ll tell you that I’m not a doctor and that I do not give medical advice and that you should seek the counsel of a qualified medical type person. Then you’ll wonder if I’m a lawyer.
Curing the Common Cold
As soon as you begin to feel it coming on, up your intake of Vitamin C. In fact, no matter what the sickness, this should be your immediate response. Vitamin C is vital to the immune system’s defense mechanisms.
If you catch it early enough, get some olive leaf, preferably in the dried form. Often, it can be found in the vitamin or supplement section of your pharmacy in capsules for easy dosage. If you get the straight leaves, you can ingest them by folding them in bread (take a slice, put olive leaf crumbles on it, fold the slice in half and eat) or by adding them to tea and drinking them down (don’t seep, just ingest them). Doing this at the very early stages of a cold will almost always make it go away.
Maitake extract, if you can get it in a “pure” form (no watering down, no additives) is awesome for your immune system. Maitake is a mushroom famed for its curative qualities.
If you are late getting to it, or if it hits quickly and you have no reaction time, then you’re dealing with symptoms instead and letting your body run its course. Uptake Vitamin C anyway, of course, and the Maitake won’t hurt either.
For nasal congestion, use a steam to clear your sinuses by boiling water in a pot, putting a towel over your head, and putting your head over the pot to make a tent. Some sea salt won’t hurt either. For a dripping nose, take warm saline water (water with salt dissolved in it) and cup it in your hand. Throw your cupped hand towards your nose while holding your nostrils as open as possible. Do this three to four times to clear your drippings.
Drink plenty of liquids, good teas like chamomile, ginger, echinacea, etc. are also recommended. Hot baths and showers are also helpful. Garlic can help if you eat it raw or ad it to your soup.
Obviously, the trick is to catch the cold early and make it go away quickly.
The Difference Between a Cold and the Flu
The largest difference between a common cold and influenza is fever, which the cold will never have. General body aches, joint pain, etc. are all also flu symptoms. A cold always stays in the head and possibly the chest, but doesn’t cause overall body problems or even serious loss of energy.
Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor, you dolt. So don’t listen to me. Don’t sue me either. Most of us in generally good health, so you know, don’t get a lot of colds and flu’s. It’s when your body is weakest, such as after fasting, being exposed to weather or other things without proper protection, etc. that we get sick. The fall is the worst since that is when the weather can change quickly and catch us by surprise. Remember to carry extra clothing (warm or cold weather) in your vehicle when you leave home, keep plenty of water on hand, and keep an umbrella with you for ready use.
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- Naturally Clean Your Indoor Air For Healthier Children, Pets and You!
- Feeling a Little Backed Up? 3 Ways to Naturally Become Regular Again
- Natural Earache Remedies and Cures
