cures

7 All Natural Home Remedies for Colds

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:00:14 +0000

My husband is a high school English teacher. My daughter is in her first year of preschool. Sickness is a way of life for us with so much exposure to germs. In fact, we just got over a full month of passing around two nasty cold viruses. (See also: 12 Natural Remedies for Stomach Pain)

Here are some helpful cold remedies that won't send you running to the store, as you likely have most of the ingredients sitting around in your kitchen cabinets. The best part? They're all drug-free!

1. Miso Broth

From upset stomach to coughs and colds, this delicious miso soup doubles as a cure and healthy meal option. Miso is made from fermented soy and rice, and it's full of good-for-you living enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. My husband skips the veggies and simply warms a few cups of water on the stove. He then dissolves a tablespoon or two of miso in it and sips all day long.

2. Veggie Broth

You don't need to go out and buy miso if you don't have it already. Instead, try this healing veggie broth that combines the goodness of garlic, ginger, lemon, cloves, and cayenne pepper. And water for hydration, of course. Simmer on the stove and strain before drinking. The cayenne pepper acts like an expectorant and helps get all the gunk out of your system.

3. Garlic Snack

I love how garlic tastes minced in olive oil. But did you know garlic is a powerful antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibiotic properties? In other words, it's great for fighting cold and flu viruses. You can munch on a whole clove to get the benefits. For those of you with sensitive stomachs, try mincing garlic and letting sit with some olive oil and honey before eating on a cracker.

4. Vapor Rub

Or try mixing together some DIY vapor balm — much like the popular ones on the market — using olive oil, beeswax, and essential oils (peppermint and eucalyptus). This balm is wonderful for easing chest congestion and discomfort. The benefit here is knowing exactly what you're rubbing into yourself. You can also make different strengths to suit all your family members by adding more or less essential oils.

5. Salt Gargle

Most of us know about the mighty salt gargle to relieve scratchy, sore throats and wash away germs. But are you doing it correctly? Combine ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt with one warmed cup of pure water. Chlorinated tap water will irritate your throat, so skip that in favor of something filtered. Or you can dechlorinate water by leaving it out in the open for 24 hours.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

My family has long used unfiltered apple cider vinegar as a cold cure. It's pretty darned effective at thinning mucus and clearing out sinuses. Dilute two to four tablespoons of ACV into one cup of warm filtered water (same reason to avoid tap water, as explained above) and add raw honey for taste if you like. Drink up four to six times a day to help kill bacteria and soothe your sore throat. (See also: 12 Awesome Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar)

7. Honey Coat

Honey is an effective, natural cough suppressant. So, skip the pricey cough drops and syrups and use this mixture of honey and lemon instead. Combine a half cup of honey with half a lemon, two cups of water, and some fresh or dried thyme leaves. Store this homemade syrup in your refrigerator for around a month.

What are your flu season go-to home remedies? Please share a dose in comments!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Winter Blues: 13 Proven Ways to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder

Sonja Stewart — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:09 +0000

It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and my energy is getting lower. Am I worried? No. Unlike last winter, this winter I am prepared with an arsenal of tips and supplements that will shake those winter blues away.

1. Fish oil

Not only is this supplement good for your heart, it helps regulate hormones, which is great for menopause, postpartum, and PMS. I take three a day when times are tough.

2. Vitamin D

When you're stuck inside all day, your body lacks vitamin D that comes from the sun naturally. This vitamin seriously boosts your immune system. (Ever wonder why we get so sick in the winter?) Take a couple 2,000 IU a day of D3 and watch how great you'll feel.

3. Vitamin B12

The dots that you place on your tongue and dissolve are better than the pills you swallow. These little pills are fantastic for energy, and will help you avoid that second cup of coffee in the morning.

4. Light Therapy

These light bulbs, which mimic the sun's rays, without the UV, are a good investment if you or your family suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder. They run the gamut in pricing from around $45 to upwards of $200. It's something to consider based on the severity of your winters, and your seasonal depression.

5. Exercise

Walking is the best exercise for you. Unfortunately, if it's raining or icy where you live, an outdoor stroll is out of the question. I fell in love with Leslie Sansone Walking DVDs. You need very little space to do them, and they are as easy or as challenging as you want to make them. Add ankle/wrist weights for a challenge. My favorite is the Four Fast Mile DVD. (I swear she doesn't endorse me, or even know who I am for that matter. I lost all of my baby weight from these DVDs.) Add a yoga or pilates routine to keep your flexibility and your abs for when summer rolls around again. (We can dream.)

6. Get Dressed Up

Put on your fancy pants and shoes. Even if you're just checking the mail. Sometimes, overdressing is the best medicine.

7. Listen to Classical Music

Studies have found that listening to classical music, paired with exercise, helps to reduce depression in people. So, Pandora some Beethoven and smile.

8. Make Your Bed

This is an easy way to feel accomplished on days you are just feeling overwhelmed and trapped inside. Straighten your sheets, fluff your pillows, stand back and look at what you accomplished. This one also works to help prevent you from going back to bed. Mentally, you'll feel as is you've gotten over one task; now to take on the laundry. Ick.

9. Skype Your Mom

Staying in contact with friends and family is paramount to a healthy emotional well being. If your family lives far, sign up for Skype. It's free, and seeing your friends pop up on your screen is such an encouraging way to start a day. Have a virtual cup of coffee with them, or toast in the New Year together.

10. Eat Seasonally

A lot of the vitamins our bodies lack in the winter can be found in foods that are ripe this time of year. Foods that are high in Calcium, Vitamin C, B, D, and A are great this time of year. Stick to apples, squash, onions, potatoes, carrots — basically brightly colored veggies and fruit that you would typically see at a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

11. Journal Every Day

Even if you aren't a writer, this is an amazingly therapeutic way to work out issues you may be dealing with that you aren't even aware of. I believe in three pages a day. Do a stream of consciousness thing, where you allow your thoughts to flow uninhibited to the page. Don't read what you've written until a week (or longer) has passed. Do it every morning before you even get out of bed. Your head will be clearer through the day, and you'll find you're more inspired to work on those projects you've been avoiding.

12. Drink Plenty of Water

Just drink plain old water. Hydrating yourself is paramount to feeling your best. It will curb cravings, flush out toxins, keep you "regular" and relieve sluggishness.

13. Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, and Sugar

I saved this for last because I know you won't do it. Just keep in mind, alcohol is a depressant. Caffeine always leaves you wanting more, and processed sugar has a direct effect on your brain activity. Limit your coffee to a cup a day, and alcohol to one or two glasses a week. Stick to dark chocolate if you have a sweet tooth. Dark chocolate has antioxidants that are helpful to rid your body of free radicals, that do cell damage.

Good luck this winter. What works for you when you get down?

This article is from Sonja Stewart of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Cure it with Garlic!

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:54:37 +0000

I am married to a garlic lover. Not that my husband craves the pungent flavoring in his meals, but rather is insistent on eating it to ward off any impending sickness. I know when he is feeling a little under-the-weather by merely getting within a few feet of him. I am immediately assaulted by the strong odor of the garlic clove, and I can guess that it is not a good time to ask for any large sums of money for the new laptop I’ve been ogling. While it is inconvenient and a little offensive, I have to admit that my husband’s brave attempts at self-healing most often times really work! And after doing further research on the matter, I have found that garlic is a proven strategy for kicking most any health affliction right where it counts.

Dating as far back as 3500 BC, when the Egyptians were thought to have made it popular, garlic has been used in ancient healing recipes for everything from tumors and worms to heart disease! Famous French scientist Louis Pasteur discovered that garlic could be used specifically as an antibiotic. (In fact, one ml of raw garlic juice has the strength of 60 mg of penicillin!) Garlic’s effectiveness lies in its more than 33 active sulfur-containing substances known to fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The famous ingredient Allicin, garlic's warrior against bacteria and inflammation, is also what causes the horrible smell. While I don’t recommend replacing old-time garlic cures for serious illness or the advice of a physician, there are some very basic garlic remedies you can use at home that are safe, effective, and very inexpensive. For example:

Rubbing a clove of crushed garlic over cuts, burns or other external infections ensures rapid healing.

Smashing up raw garlic and mixing with water to make a fine paste makes an effective topical treatment for yeast infections, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch. Simply apply to the affected area regularly for a day or two.

Garlic is one of the most effective and common medicines for the common cold. The best way to eat it is in hot soup, however another great way is to sprinkle raw garlic flakes over hot toast. It helps clear up the nasal passages, as well as decongests the chest.

While no substitution for physician prescribed blood-pressure medication, regular ingestion of fresh garlic is suggested to aid in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Garlic has so many uses, that it is pretty much a guarantee that it can help with most any illness. By simply chewing a peeled clove of raw garlic in the mouth, (making sure to chew it sufficiently into small pieces), you will absorb the healing garlic juices immediately. You can spit out the pieces without swallowing them, once the juice has been absorbed.

NOTE: Because the chemicals in garlic are strong, some people may not want to take garlic without first talking to their doctor. Women experiencing hot flashes, patients wanting to avoid thinning blood, and those with certain stomach sensitivities may want to avoid garlic. Garlic can also interfere with a person’s concentration, so it is advised that you familiarize yourself with your own reactions to garlic use before engaging in activities that require extra focus.

While it is not usually viewed as a popular choice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many people would give up perfect breath for relief or prevention of common ailments. World cultures that incorporate fresh garlic into every aspect of their diet are now seeing a larger percentage of their population living well into their late nineties. So you may offend some people with your new dragon breath, but you might quite possibly outlive them anyway.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: