Whenever you have a cold, do you ever just reminisce of the good ole times when you could breathe out of your nose? Or walk a few feet without your head throbbing?
COLDS. ARE. THE. WORST. (not including the flu, of course)
Constantly blowing your runny nose, humidifiers plugged in everywhere, soup for every meal.
Since I am “kicking my cold to the curb” currently, I thought it would be the perfect time to make a post about getting rid of it.
Disclaimer: Clearly, I am not a doctor, and although these are all natural, consult an actual doctor before doing any of these. (just in case)
So a few years ago, I discovered that I was allergic to dextromethorphan, the “DM” in cold medicine, and that’s when the hunt of a natural remedy was born!Even if you aren’t allergic, a syrup made of chemicals that only masks the symptoms probably isn’t what your body needs.
After years of treating my colds naturally, here are the top ones that seem to help!
1. THE FLU BOMB
I have to give Elderberry Creek Farms YouTube channel credit for this remedy!
Here’s a link to their video: https://youtu.be/v0NfZ_mDmJU
I’ve been using this remedy for a couple of years, and it really works!
The ingredients are: garlic, ginger, honey, lemon, and cayenne pepper with warm water.
I can drink this no problem (without the cayenne haha).
There are SO MANY health benefits in these foods, especially when you are sick!
Here are a few to mention:
GARLIC: helps the immune system fight germs, helps shorten your cold, and has antibacterial properties.
CAYENNE PEPPER: helps thin out mucus and break up congestion, stimulates blood flow to the nasal passages and make breathing easier, and contains Vitamin A which helps protect the body during a cold.
RAW HONEY: contains healing and soothing benefits like enzymes, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties, and it’s also a cough suppressant. I like to specifically use manuka honey, because it’s more powerful than regular honey.
Wedderspoon Raw Premium Manuka Honey KFactor 16+, 17.6 Ounce
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GINGER ROOT: full of antibacterial properties, “contains chemicals call sesquiterpenes used to target rhinoviruses, natural pain reliever and fever reducer and also a mild sedative.”
LEMON: excellent source of vitamin C, help fight inflammation
*Before I give you the recipe, I suggest only get organic ingredients. Pesticides and chemicals is the last thing your body needs! (even though I didn’t have organic cayenne oooops)
FLU BOMB RECIPE:
1 minced clove of garlic
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp raw honey (or manuka honey)
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
juice of one lemon
1/4 warm water
Feel free to drink some regular water in between drinking the flu bomb.
The first time I drank this, it took me a while! This is pretty strong with the cayenne! An extra tip is to add more garlic. In the middle of the day when I’m sick, I’ll mince up a clove of garlic and take it with some water on it’s own.
2. HONEY AND CINNAMON
I take these two mixed together twice a day when I’m sick. You already know the health benefits of honey, but the benefits of cinnamon are antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.
Recipe:
1 tsp of raw honey (organic manuka is best)
1/4 tsp of organic cinnamon
This one isn’t as bad compared to the flu bomb, if you like honey. I hate honey..so I just put it in my mouth and swallow with water. My three-year-old loved the taste of this, though!
*(Babies younger than one-year-old should not be given honey. Clostridium bacteria that cause infant botulism usually thrive in soil and dust. They also can contaminate some foods–honey, in particular.)
3. THIN OUT THAT MUCUS
Mucus. What a divine word. It ain’t pretty when you’re sick!
In order to get rid of all that mucus, it needs to be thinned out, so you can get better!
Here are some ways:
Every time you use the bathroom (after you wash your nasty hands), run the water as hot as you can stand and splash the nose and sinus area of your face a few times.
Another way is to take a hot shower, or even just stand in the bathroom while the shower is running and breathe in all that steam.
Boil some water and drape a towel over your head and breathe in the steam. Add your favorite essential to it! My favorite is peppermint!
DRINK TONS OF LIQUIDS!! Bonus if it’s a hot liquid, so it’ll thin out faster! When I’m sick I try to drink about 8 ounces every time I use the bathroom. To make sure you’re drinking enough, your urine should be pale yellow, but clear is better.
Don’t forget to plug in your humidifier to keep moisture in the air, especially while you’re sleeping! My grandma bought me a humidity meter that tells you how much or how little humidity you have in the air. It’s really handy!
This is the humidifier and humidity meter I use:
AcuRite 00613 Indoor Thermometer & Hygrometer with Humidity Gauge, 3″ H x 2.5″ W x 1.3″ D
4. PEPPERMINT OIL FOR NAUSEA AND HEADACHES
I don’t use a lot of different essential oils, BUT I use my peppermint essential oil every. single. day.
This stuff is LIFE-CHANGING!
Anytime I have a little bit of an upset stomach or start to get heartburn, I immediately put a few drops of the peppermint on my stomach and the discomfort goes away within seconds!
Here’s the Organic Peppermint Oil I use:
You’re suppose to dilute it with a carrier oil, (but I never do.) Coconut oil would be good, though. If I get a headache, I’ll rub the tiniest bit on my temples and the back of my neck. Works like a charm! After you’re done, whatever is on your fingers you can inhale; it’ll really open your eyes and energize you.
>>>Be careful not to put it anywhere near your eyes, though! Even putting it near your eyes will cause them to burn, so make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.
5. VITAMINS
Vitamins are so important to take daily! (says the girl who just started taking them this year)
Don’t assume all vitamins are good! There are a lot of vitamins out there that are deceiving, so make sure you do your research and find what’s best for you…or I’ll tell you…
The best type of vitamins are whole food or plant based vitamins! You know…vitamins that come from actual foods!
The whole foods vitamins that I take:
These are the Vitamin C and Vitamin D supplements I take:
Make sure you take more Vitamin C and Vitamin D, especially if you’re sick or even just trying to prevent from getting sick.
Vitamin D can fight infections, it can naturally boost the immune system, and destroys bacteria and viruses. (and so much more!) Get outside for just 15 minutes just to let the sun hit your face!
Vitamin C reduces symptoms of the common cold, boosts immunity, is a powerful antioxidant, and much more!
6. SLEEP
Sleeping is crucial in everyday life, but oh so much more important when you are feeling under the weather. Sleep allows your body to heal and recover, so it’s very important to get your 6-8 hours or more if you can! Getting enough sleep is tough for parents, but if you can’t at least get the actual sleep you need to recover, try to lay down when you can. When I don’t sleep good the night before, and can’t take a nap during the day, I just close my eyes for just ten minutes, and it does wonders! Even just closing your eyes for that amount of time make you feel more alert.
SLEEPING POSITIONS
Sometimes the way we are positioned at night while we are sleeping can actually make you feel worse! When you sleep on your back, it can make congestion worse. Try sleeping on your side, or even better, prop your pillows up so you’re sleeping at an angle.
I hope you try these tips and remedies out, and truly hope you get to feeling better!
Rae & the rest 