There is nothing worse than getting sick, no matter the time of year. When I do feel a cold coming on (or everyone else around me is sickly), I have found natural remedies that stop a cold in its tracks or prevent it all together. I’m a huge fan of avoiding over the counter medicine when I can, so these are always my first go-to’s.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Please do your own research as well and consult a doctor. These are simply some natural remedies that have worked for me, but they might not for everyone.
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Here are my favorite home remedies for colds:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV for short)
Ugh, the smell…the taste, but the goodness of its natural healing properties. When you mix apple cider vinegar and water, it helps thin mucus and it alkalizes the body making it not-so-welcoming for viruses to stick around. If you haven’t done this remedy before, I highly recommend starting with just a teaspoon mixed with water. I must also mention, mix it with water. It can be very acidic for your teeth, do not take it straight.
As you somewhat acquire the taste, you can add move vinegar. Drink it several times throughout the day. I’ve read about people warming some water then adding ACV and honey to consume it that way. The honey will cut down the bitterness. It has also been recommended to drink ACV in the morning to help suppress appetite. It has worked most mornings for me.
It is also very important to buy organic ACV with the “mother”. This is where all of the good stuff is. Yes, I know, the “mother” looks kinda weird, but I promise you don’t need to be scared of it.
2. Lemon, Ginger, and Turmeric detox drink
I originally found this recipe here from The Harvest Kitchen. I absolutely love it and it’s so easy to make. Last summer when I getting ready to take a trip to Florida, I got hit with a terrible cold. Between drinking this detox drink twice a day and drinking ACV throughout the day, I was able to kick the cold within a couple of days, just in time for Florida.
Here’s why I think it works: Lemons have lots of nutrients, but most importantly to kick a cold, they have vitamin C. It is also believed that lemons can help with inflammation, which I think we can all agree happens when we’re sick in someplace or another. Ginger helps an upset tummy and it helps reduce inflammation also. And once again, turmeric assists in reducing inflammation. Sometimes, I even add my ACV to this drink.
3. Proper nutrition
This should be a no-brainer, but I feel the need to mention it. You should always focusing on proper nutrition, but most importantly when you are sick. Your body does not want a tons of sugar and carbs, it wants protein, fiber, and a healthy portion of carbs. Chicken noodle soup or bone broth is a great place to start. Whatever you eat, will affect your entire body. If your gut isn’t healthy, your immune system won’t be strong. Your gut controls the majority of your body, so feed it proper food, please.
4. Teas
I have been on a tea kick for the last 6 months. I never really liked tea in the past, but I started trying different kinds. I learned that ginger tea helps an upset belly and bloating. Peppermint tea helps with heartburn and clearing a stuffed nose. Chamomile helps with relaxation, sleep and digestion. Basically, I like to focus on my digestion when I am feeling sick and teas are a great way to alleviate some of the symptoms. Recently, I have been using loose leafs teas because I read that teabags don’t always have the highest quality tea leaves and they could be the leftover “dust”. I decided to purchase this teapot for my loose leaf teas and I’m loving it so far. Try different teas and see what works for you.
5. Honey Lemon Ginger
This natural remedy was shared with me by a co-worker, and I have seen the recipe on several websites. It’s a very basic, easy recipe, yet effective. In a glass jar, you will combine sliced lemons, chopped ginger (I like to grate some of it too), and honey. As I mentioned before, lemons contain vitamin C which is important for your immune system. Ginger helps with inflammation. A good quality, raw honey is antibacterial. Honey also helps soothe a sore throat. I do buy my honey from Aldi, but I would love to buy local raw honey in the future to make this. It’s also very important that you use a glass container, because you don’t want any potential chemicals from plastic to be absorbed into this concoction. I recommend a jar like this one.
Once these ingredients sit together, the honey will become like a liquid over time. It is recommended to wait at least 24 hours before using it to allow the ingredients to mix. Once it’s ready, add a couple tablespoons to a cup of hot/warm water and sip like tea. This can also be added to tea or taken straight from a spoon (yum!).
What are your favorite natural remedies for colds?