Alternative Medicine

Natural Remedies For the Common Cold

By Natural Health ⋅  Email ⋅  Print ⋅

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to the Natural Health - A Much Better Way RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Author: Robert Najemy

A few possible causes of the common cold are:

1. Poor dietary habits which create a toxic build-up in the body.
2. A lack of proper nutrients.
3. Weakness in the immune system.
4. Emotional problems which suppress the body’s defense.
5. Over use of antibiotics.
6. Viruses & bacteria.

Here are some effective natural remedies for when symptoms first appear.

1. Vitamins
Take plenty of vitamin C at the first sign of a cold. You can take about a total of 3000 mg a day in small doses – say 200 mg at a time, which would mean 15 tablets a day.

Zinc is also a good immune enhancer. 20 to 40 mg of Zinc can be taken daily until the cold subsides.

It is better to take both of these in tablet form so that you can suck on them and dissolve them in the mouth. In this way, the active power of these two substances can be absorbed by the cells of the mouth and throat area and thus strengthening the power of the cells to protect themselves.

2. Nostril Cleanse
Immediately cleanse the nostrils and gargle with salt. You might try a neti pot to clear your whole sinus area. If the cold continues after the first day, then discontinue the washing of the nostrils but continue 3 or more times a day gargling with salt or lemon water.

3. Fast
Avoid eating solid food, especially cheese, milk and all dairy products. Also avoid “white food” such as white flour, white sugar and any products made from them. They form excess mucus, which increases the symptoms of the cold.

4. Drink
Drink plenty of liquids especially fresh citric fruit juices: oranges, lemons, grapefruits, as well as herb teas, and vegetable broth.

5. Soup
If you feel very hungry and must eat, then the best food would be a raw salad or a hot, spicy soup. A very effective soup is onion soup made from onions, garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and other spices. (Not if you have ulcers.)

6.Stomach Cleansing
For those who are familiar with stomach cleansing with slightly salty water, this is very effective for removing accumulated mucus from the body. (Not if you have an ulcer). If you would like to learn more about salt water cleansing, click here.

7. Colon Cleansing
An enema is also effective in helping the body purify itself of accumulated toxins. Enemas or colonics are probably easier to take in the midst of a cold, rather than herbal colon cleanses.

8. Rest
Get plenty of rest and do plenty of deep relaxation. Also perform any exercises you feel up to doing, particularly slow, stretching exercises such as yoga. They will facilitate the renewal of the body’s vital energies and thus its ability to heal itself.

9. Stay warm
Keep your body warm and protected from drafts.

10. Massage
Shiatsu massage of the neck and head can be miraculously relieving and beneficial. (Reflexology can be used to free up the sinuses).

Here are more effective home remedies to try if you missed the start of a cold and it continues.

1. More vitamins
Continue with the vitamins taking up to 3000 mg of C. and up to 30 mg of Zinc per day until the symptoms disappear. If the cold lasts more than a week, then you might want to check with a doctor as to why your body is not healing itself.

Other antioxidants such as Vitamins E, A and Selenium and various enzymes such as Super Dioxide Dismutase call also be very useful.

2. Continue Fasting
Continue to avoid solid food as much as possible. Drink plenty of juices and broths. If you feel very hungry, eat raw salad or hot spicy soup.

3. Bathe
Take occasional hot baths (covering yourself well afterwards).

4. Breathe
Slow deep breathing will re-energize your body. Breathe as slowly as you can, letting as little air as possible pass through the nostrils. Gradually they will open up.

5. Gargle
Do not continue with the cleaning of the nostrils, but do continue with frequent gargling.

6. Get moving
Gentle exercises can open up the nostrils, improve circulation and increase the flow of energy in the body.

7. Relax
Use deep relaxation to imagine the body’s defense system healthy and powerful and invincible.

8. Be happy and relaxed.

About the author:
Robert Elias Najemy, a life coach with 30 years of experience, is the author of over 20 books, 600 articles and 400 lectures on Human Harmony. Download wonderful ebooks, 100’s of free articles, courses, and mp3 audio lectures at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com. Find 8 of his books at Amazon.com

Buy the Book: Finally…The Common Cold Cure
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/2675526662/

Tags for this post