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Natural Remedies for Common Colds
by Sharon Graham · Filed Under: Health & Wellness · Nutrition/Health Tips
“Man has used natural remedies to relieve symptoms of colds and flu since earliest times. Though there are no cures, natural treatments have been shown to speed healing time.” Melanie Grimes
What kinds of things do you do when you get a cold?
And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic that we wanted. (Num. 11:5b; NLT)
Many of us have certain “natural remedies” that we’ve found to be helpful when fighting a virus or common cold. When my immune system was so compromised I had numerous occasions to experiment with various home remedies and natural ways of dealing with a common cold virus.
I’ll share some of the main ones that I found to be helpful. Some of them may work for you and some of them may make you laugh. Hey, if it makes you feel better and isn’t harmful, why not give it a try?
- Sinus washes. Irrigating your nasal cavities with a simple saline solution provides relief from clogged mucous. Dr. Jordan Rubin had a product called Clenzology. (The system has been discontinued, but the components are still available — see the link.) There are also a number of nasal rinsing systems available at health food stores.
- Head steaming. Bring to boil a pan of purified water. Remove the pan from the stove. Add a few drops of either peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil to the water. Place your face a safe distance over the pan of water and then place a towel over your head to hold in the steam. Breathe in the steam. This will help to decongest the sinuses.
- Epsom salts baths. Place 2 to 4 cups of Epsom salts in your bath water. Fill the tub with enough water to soak your body in the tub. (I have a purifier ball on the faucet of my tub that helps to remove toxins from the water.) This will help your body in detoxifying.
- Decrease your food intake. Eating solid food will cause the body to expend energy for digestion. Make it easy on the body and “drink” foods easily digested such as chicken broth, herbal teas, and freshly juiced vegetable juices.
- Drink green juices. Juice celery, parsley, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, and cucumbers. Green juices are full of phytonutrients and will provide energy for your body. Adding fresh garlic will add an extra boost.
- Drink herbal teas. Hot beverages help with opening the sinuses and upper respiratory tract. Traditional Medicinals makes various teas for colds, sore throat and coughs. Echinacea tea provides immune system support. Ginger is also helpful.
- Hot Toddy. This was given to me years ago and it’s probably not for the faint of heart. But it does open the sinuses and causes the body to perspire — which is a good thing. Place the juice of a fresh (organic) lemon in a small pan. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of raw honey and about ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. About 1/4 cup of water can be added as well. Heat just until warm. Drink immediately.
Please share some of your favorite natural remedies as well. Just enter them in the comment box below.
Prayer Power
Father, we pray for health and wellness for all of our readers. May they walk in divine health without sickness or disease.
Link of the Day
Natural Cold Remedies: Heal Faster and Stay Healthy Longer
Blessings on you as you learn more natural methods of taking care of yourself.
Photo by Mr. T in DC
7 Responses to “Natural Remedies for Common Colds”
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Jerry Graham, aka "DocJerry," is a professional lifestyle and leadership coach and a social marketing authority who coaches ministry leaders, small business owners, and network marketers, on how to properly capitalize on the current Internet trends. He is also a blogger, a charter member and guide at Renegade University, and one of the Super Guides at Marketing Merge. 
Sharon Graham, R.N., is a professional lifestyle coach and a wellness authority who coaches a broad range of clients from corporate executives, small-business owners, and other professionals, to stay-at-home moms and dads in how to achieve and maintain wellness. Sharon is also a blogger, a sought-after public speaker, and a great cook who is currently compiling a cookbook. 
Great tips, very practical, especially since I have been trying to stave off a cold the last three days!
Robert, thank you for your comments. I pray you were able to fight off that virus!
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Every time I feel like I am getting a cold or a sinus headache, I do a nasal rinse using the Nasopure system. It is so easy to use and I feel so much better after wards. The website has tons of great information about the benefits of nasal rinsing too!
Thank you so much for sharing your information with us! That looks like a very good system.
I have to say nasal wash has been wonderful for my family!! I have allergies and asthma and my husband has sleep apnea. We were already doing premixed nasal sprays and trying a netipot when it was time for my son to start nasal washing. My son is 5 and has significant sinus disease steming from his Cystic Fibrosis. He has had 2 sinus surgeries due to sinuses that were highly infected with staph and strep. We now have to keep the sinuses extremely clean to try and prevent future infections and surgeries. Neti pots were hard for him. We have found great success in nasopure(nasopure.com). It is a flexible very easy to use and wash bottle. You mix the salt water yourself. Now my son is able to do the wash by himself with very little assistance.
It is great for colds, allergies, and other types of germs.
Lissa, thank you for sharing with us. Another reader also told us about the nasopure system. I wasn’t familiar with it but after looking it up on the internet, it looks like a very good system.