Natural Remedies for the Common Cold
By A Nutt

Sneezing. Coughing. Achiness and fever. A cold is certainly no
fun to fall victim to. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the
common cold; however, there are a few natural ways to tackle the
aforementioned symptoms. When taken at the onset of the illness,
many of these natural remedies will work to head a cold off at
the pass. Others will make the cold bearable or shorten its
duration.

1. Long touted for its homeopathic properties, echinacea is
just now getting its due from the medical community. Today, even
mainstream physicians acknowledge that echinacea can reduce the
term of viral gestation in the body. In some cases, if taken
prior to severe symptoms, it may stop a cold in its tracks. An
herb that was used for centuries by Native Americans, the
perennial plant is extremely safe. Most people drink it in a tea
while others take it in a pill form. Either method appears to
work just fine.

2. Aiding in digestion and doubling as an expectorant, the
Canadian Perennial called Golden Seal can also prevent the
infection that accompanies colds. Most people who use the
natural antibiotic take it in a supplement form but Goldenseal
can come as a tea or a gargle for sore mouths and throats too. A
cream version of Goldenseal is also available, but this is
generally used topically for skin injuries.

3. Ginger has been used to improve sexual performance and
enhance stamina, but those who practice holistic medicine say
that freshly ground ginger can also ward off a cold or even the
flu virus. The traditional Chinese medicine should be ingested
as a tea several times a day (a minimum of three). Although you
can get supplements with ginger in it, fresh ginger is always
best. To prepare it, you can peel and boil pieces of ginger for
roughly fifteen minutes then strain into a tea. Sweeten to
taste, and if so inclined, you can eat the pieces that are left
over.

4. Vitamin C is a time honored natural remedy for many
disorders. Found in orange juice and herbal supplements, doctors
and homeopathic practitioners alike have touted the healing
properties of L-ascorbate for decades. This all around medicinal
wonder can help keep your immunity up and even stave off the
signs of aging by reducing free radicals. Most people advise
taking 2000 mg Vitamin C supplements at the first signs of a
cold, to reduce the chances of the cold worsening.

5. Two items that make excellent pizza toppings are also
ingredients for a terrific antiviral home remedy – garlic and
onions. Both of these bulbs have immunity boosting properties
and although they may not smell very good, they certainly help
lower the life expectancy of a virus. 8-12 cloves of garlic
should be boiled in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes to create a
tea that will quickly alleviate cold symptoms. Honey and lemon
can be added to the brew to make it palatable. Onions can be
ingested the same way. Adding coconut oil will add to the
immunity properties.

Before utilizing any method of healing, herbal or otherwise,
you should be checked out by a doctor to rule out any other
causes for your symptoms. If you are diagnosed with a cold or
mild virus any of the above remedies will certainly be helpful
to you. Also be sure to look out for signs of an allergic
reaction as this can signal problems with your chosen therapy.

Play it safe and natural remedies can give you a true
alternative to the harsh chemical based pharmaceuticals
available on the market today.

About the Author: Natural Health blog provides information on
natural remedies, natural health and alternative medicine.
http://www.natural-health-advice.com

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