by 14 people |
Here are just a few great cold and flu remedies...
By Sharon Stajda,
Hot Toddy, anyone---
A hundred years ago herbs were not only used in cooking, but were the basic ingredient in most health remedies used to treat common aliments. The herb were planted in the spring and dried in the fall, to be handy for the up coming year. Perhaps using home remedies was found to be the more prudent way to treat illness, than a costly trip to the doctor. Home remedies were used to treat illnesses such as colds, stomach aches, muscle pain, and more.
Most home remedies included medicinal herbs. The herbs were combined into concoctions, and by trial and error remedies were developed. The Tried and true remedies were used and shared with family, and friends. Many of these old remedies have survived, and are still used today. The common cold was one such illness that was frequently treated with a variety of old home remedies.
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According to food historians, chicken soup was already being prescribed as a cur...
I have a cold!
Here are some old tried and true remedies to aid with comforting the common cold.
- 1. To help sooth a sore throat: Sage mixed with a bit of Alum 1/2 tea dried Sage, a pinch of Alum mixed in a warm 6 oz glass of water. Gargle several times every few hours.
2. Mix 2 tab. Molasses into a cup of chamomile tea. This drink can be given at night to sooth one off to sleep with a sweet tea. The chamomile is also soothing on the stomach, and aids to promote sleep.
3. Sassafras tea is also great it aid in diminishing fever, and soothing ones throat.
4. Cold Eeze Lozenges. These are an all natural lozenges that are made with Zinc. Studies show the zinc will help reduce the length and severity of a cold. These wonderful lozenges can be purchased at most drug stores or health food stores.
4. Homemade chicken soup. Helps with congestion, and is thought to be an all around good cold remedy.
5. The wonderful Hot Toddy. Mix piping hot water to a cup, 1/2 shot of whiskey, and 1 tea spoon lemon juice, 1 tea spoon honey, mix well. The Alcohol has an anti-inflammatory effect on mucous membranes. Also said to reduce fever, and relieve muscle aches.
6. Garlic and warm milk. 1 good size glove of garlic crushed and mixed in 1 cup of warm milk. This concoction is said to shorten the duration of a cold. An active compound in garlic, allicin, is known to be a good decongestant. Garlic is also known to have potent antioxidant properties, so it couldn't hurt.
7. Vitamin C. Eat foods that are high in vitamin C. Studies show taking vitamin C will shorten the length of a cold.
8. Echinacea, the Chinese have been using Echinacea for centuries for its strong antibiotic properties. World Health Organization also supports use of Echinacea for use to shorten the common cold.
9. Cough syrup can be made very easily in your own kitchen. Slowly boil a lemon with its skin on for about 8 minutes. Cut the lemon in two parts and squeeze the juice with the use of a squeezer. Add the lemon juice to a glass. Mix in two tablespoonfuls of glycerin, (purchase glycerin at your local drug store or health food store.). Stir lemon juice and glycerin together. Add 1 tablespoonful of honey. This cough syrup will real ease a sore throat.
9. Feed a cold; starve a fever. There is a theory that eating less during a cold may shorten the duration of the cold. However, nutritionists strongly disagree with this theory, because the body that is stricken with a cold needs more nutrients, to aid in fighting off illness.
10. Breathe steam. Steam does help liquefy and loosens mucus. This mucus helps clear airways, and can decrease nasal congestion.
11. The Old fashioned mustard plaster helps relieve chest congestion. To prepare 1 tablespoon dry mustard, 1/4 cup flour lukewarm water. Sift together mustard and flour in a bowl. Slowly add just enough water to make a paste. Spread the plaster on a piece of muslin that is big enough to cover the chest. Cover with another piece of muslin. Like a sandwich, put over chest. Check chest in 5 minutes for any signs of allergic reaction. Remove if skin is showing hives or deep redness. Skin will be a little pink. Leave on 1/2 hour; remove plaster with tepid water. - 12.A ginger bath - put your feet in a hot bath of water and ginger powder (100g) and allow your feet to soak. It moves the cold energy through your body very quickly. Do not leave your feet in the water for hours but a 1hr soak is a good idea - or better take a whole bath. Your feet will warm up and be quite sensitive so wear socks afterwards for a while.
- 13.I also drink a concoction of lemon, honey, ginger and fresh garlic in hot water - and that also works a treat." --Liana Gailand
A Few Good Articles On Keeping Healthy...
- How To Be Healthy: Vitamins - Nature's Spark Plugs...
- "The "vital spark of life" is that awesome and stupendous faculty that all living things possess. Animals and plants have this power, the power to grow and reproduce their kind. Your body, too, is endowed with this living force, but it must be supported and preserved by the intake of foods that contain all the nourishment that the body requires---" read more...
- Seeking the Source of Good Health...
- "Evidence of increasing interest in and acceptance of chiropractic is the recent invitation by the University of Toronto Medical journal to Dr. A. G. Homewood, Dean of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, to write an article for the Medical journal which would clarify the position of chiropractic in the healing arts---"read more
- Drinking Water And Flush Out Illness...
- "The drinking of water immediately before a meal is a good practice. It will cause the appearance of digestive fluid in the stomach. Therefore when the food reaches the stomach it is more rapidly digested than it would have been if no water had been taken.
It is also good practice to drink water immediately after a meal. The stimulation thus afforded permits the stomach to handle its burden more efficiently)." read more... - All About Healthy Beverages...
- My favorite beverage to have in substitute of a soda is orange juice. It tastes good, it is natural, and is readily available. Orange juice provides a good dose of Vitamin C. An 8 ounce glass contains as much potassium as a banana. It has a remarkable variety of phytonutrients. Beyond the great vitamin and nutrient content, a study has shown that orange juice can lower your blood pressure.read more...
- History And Benefits Of Ginger ...
- The uses for ginger are many. You will not only find it ground and bottled in the spice section at the grocery store, but in the fresh produce department in its natural stem form. It is also widely used for it oil in spicy colognes, and soaps. One of it more recognizable uses, Ginger Ale. Ginger Ale is one of the oldest and well known soft drinks. Most of us will have memories of Ginger Ale being given to us as children, for an upset stomach. read more...
Nasal Irrigation... Sinus problems got you down? Don't sweaty ---try the Neti...
Funny name--- But Snorting salt water --- you can leave you breathing easy, in just a few minutes...
Neti pots are part of the ancient Ayurvedic therapy, Jalneti. Jalneti, is a method of nasal irrigation that uses a small ceramic pot (neti pot), along with salt, and warm water. This ancient nasal irrigation method has been around for over 5,000 years. Used to relieve a variety of sinus problems. Such as nasal congestion, sinus drip, sinus headache, and also may help prevent cold, and flu.Snorting salt water, via a neti pot is becoming recognized once again as an effective way to eliminate sinus congestion, battle the common cold and relieve problems due to allergies.
People are becoming tired of analgesic drugs, that as a rule come with unwanted side effects. Nasal irrigation may be is the way to go? Its cheap, fast and extremely effective..
How does nasal irrigation help with sinus problems?
Basically, what the neti pot does is gently wash away excess mucous, bacteria, pollen, allergens and viruses from the sinus cavity. Nasal irrigation aids in cleansing the sinus cavity, just by simply washing out the pus and mucous which contains harmful bacteria. Then, the immune system's natural antibodies, which are present in the mucous membranes of the nose, again can do the work of depleting harmful bacteria's from causing illness.
How To Use A Neti Pot...
Fill the neti pot with warm distilled water.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of pure salt. Do not use mineral salts or sea salts. Some people are allergic to shellfish and this will not help the situation.
You can add a pinch of baking soda also. This softens the water a bit so it's easier on your mucous membranes.
I recommend doing this procedure over a sink or sitting down with a big bowl.
Insert the neti pot spout into one side of your nose.
Lean your head slightly to one side, and a little forward. This allows the medicated water to flow from one side of your nose to the other. This action pushes out all impurities.
Keep your head in this tilted position, until the solution runs out of your nose.
After the solution has run out completely, remove the spout, and gently blow your nose.
Do not block one nostril while blowing the other... Just blow lightly - like a soft outward snort.
Repeat the treatment on the other nostril. If your nostrils do not feel clear, you may repeat the snorting, at each side.
Rinse out the neti pot. It is wise to sterilize the pot between use. Most can be put into a dishwasher.
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A Sauna helps sweat it out---
8 hours of sleep is so delightful ...
drinking water flush the system big time...
Peaceful walk will supply you with fresh air & exercise...
Prevention-- Is The Key To Not Catching A Cold...
- Since there are no known cures for colds and flu, prevention must be your goal.
Wash your hands frequently... Colds are circulate by direct contact. So keep your hands clean
If you have the sniffles, use a tissue. Never sneeze or cough into your hand--- Discard tissue after one uses.
Don't Touch Your Face--- keep your hands away from any body orifaces. Otherwise you are opening up your body to cold germs.
Drink Plenty of Fluids--- drink lots of fluid. Water is recommended, and orange juice.
Get fresh air---A regular dose of fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when central heating dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses.
Get Exercise Regularly -- exercise speeds up the heart the heart rate. This promotes larger quantities of blood, and makes one breath faster. This helps supply more oxygen transformation from your lungs to your blood. Exercise will also makes you sweat. Which sheds the body of toxins. Also exercises help increase the body's natural virus-killing cells, due to the increase in body temperature.
Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals; "Phyto" means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits. Get the natural vitamins veggies and fruit can provide...
Eat Yogurt--- studies show that eating a 1 cup of low-fat yogurt can reduce your susceptibility to colds by 25 %. Yogurt has beneficial bacteria that stimulates the immune system to fight off that cold fight disease.
Don't Smoke ---- Smokers get more colds, and a smokers colds as a rule are more severe than non-smoker's.
Relax and get at least 8 hours off sleep a night-
If you can, take a Sauna---Researchers aren't clear about the exact role saunas play in prevention, One theory, when taking a sauna you inhale air hotter than 80 degrees, the increased temperature of the inhaled air is thought to denature the cold and flu viruse.
More Preventative Tips... With The Kids In Mind
A thermometer for each child.Extra toothbrushes and personal tubes of toothpaste
Plenty of tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels.
Have On Hand--Throat lozenges and anything else that makes the sick person comfortable.
Use paper towels instead of community towels in the bathroom and kitchen.
If your spouse is ill, sleep on the couch or in the guest room, and use a different bathroom.
If a sick child crawls in bed with you, sleep behind them to avoid their coughs or sneezes.
Avoid contact with counters, utensils, phones, and other objects the sick person has touched.
Approach hand washing as a survival skill, which it is.Teach your children to wash carefully.
Never touch your mouth, nose, or eyes without washing your hands.
Teach your kids not to share, as in guzzling milk from the carton or double dipping chips.
Family members should cover their mouths with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and dispose of the tissue themselves.No using the old sleeve...
You should also avoid sharing personal items like toiletries, towels, and pillows.
Hooray! This Lens Made Lens Of The Day!
I was so pleased to have one of my Lenses be picked for the honor of Squidoo of the day... This forum has made it possible for me to express myself, and share my thoughts with others. To all my friends at Squidoo... THANKS! Great Stuff on Amazon
The Neti Pot for Better Health
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The Great Physician's Rx for Colds and Flu (Rubin Series)
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The Natural Way To Beat The Common Cold and Flu
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Natural Cold and Flu Defense: Using Echinacea, Zinc, Vitamin C and Other Supplements (Woodland Health)
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Reader Feedback
Jodi wrote
I've never heard of those neti pots before. They look funny but I bet they really do work! Thanks for all the great info. I blog about cold prevention and remedies too!
Posted March 25, 2009
Hi,
The lens is good and it is also very interesting. I hope this kind of lens are very useful. A big 5star for your lens.
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Posted October 17, 2008
LesKremer wrote...
5 Stars! I agree that prevention is really key. Nutritional intake is a very important thing to consider and unfortunately, most of us are not getting the nutrients we need...check out my lenses on this topic:
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Posted September 15, 2008
Jasonb702
Great tips Shar..Keep up the good work..Thanks a lot..
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Posted September 15, 2008
Keaka77
Can never have enough cold and flu remedies. Keep up the good work..
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Posted September 08, 2008
sisterra wrote...
great lens - very informative. Please check out my main lens at:www.squidoo.con/sisterraproducts
Posted June 22, 2008
Andrew Hill wrote
Hi Sharon
Great lens, I have been reviewing simple cough and cold cures for my medical research project. Your insights are of great use and I thank you!
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Posted March 06, 2008
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Hello
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Posted February 04, 2008
OfficeRocket wrote...
Excellent lens, congratulations on the LOTD.
I have a lens on Data Backup and Storage which you are your readers may be interested in.
Posted January 22, 2008
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Posted October 01, 2007
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Posted October 01, 2007
technovoid wrote...
Toured your lens and am highly impressed. Great lens! Keep up the good work! JD - Come visit me at Natural Health Remedies
Posted May 12, 2007
steveT wrote...
hot chicken soup is still the best remedy for colds. Thanks for this wonderful resource. Steve from Mens Sexual Health
Posted May 08, 2007
jom wrote
Nice one sharon. I was a sufferer of sinusitis for years, till I went for an op. During the recovery period, i was put on a maintenance schedule of nasal 'douching' using a similar device to neti pots. These sure can clear the nasals well.
Posted May 04, 2007
Ashes wrote...
I just came across your lens, and must say you have some great information here:) I've added you to my lensroll since I enjoy your content so much:)
Take care!
Ashley
www.squidoo.com/abetteryou
Posted March 30, 2007
Barkely wrote...
Great information, this caught my interest since I am sitting here with a clogged up head. Thanks for sharing.
Posted March 27, 2007
groovyoldlady wrote...
I'm going to buy my husband, sinus man, a neti pot post haste! Thanks for the informative lens.
Posted March 27, 2007
MarkSisson wrote...
Great lens! Getting a cold or the flu can be related to a jeopardized immune system. Getting good exercise, following a sound diet and reducing stress can all help build a better immune response. Check out my lens on fighting stress and its detrimental effects on the body www.squidoo.com/fightstress
Posted December 14, 2006
masterhandyman wrote
Nice info... There's is another great remedy for helping a cold, try Hot
Posted December 06, 2006
smithville wrote...
Great lens! I know the cold and flu season is on the way. Will check back when I get the sniffles.
Posted December 06, 2006
giddygabby wrote...
Very nice lens, Shar. I have found Airborne to work really well, too. It has a lot of those good things, like vitamin C and echinacea. Good luck with your lens.
Posted December 05, 2006
Jodi (jodiofca) wrote
Hi Shar!
Love this lens. Lots of common sense and stuff we tend to forget.
Great Job!
Jodi
squidoo.com/wine0, jodiofca,airforcefamily,middlechild
Posted December 05, 2006
seopractices wrote
Excellent information, I like the look of the page, congrats shar.
Posted December 05, 2006
https://www.networkmarketingcentral.com?profile=474 wrote
My blurb says that I have used a product for the last 6 years and have not gotten a cold or flu in that time. Before that, I was getting sick at least 4 times per year. Life is much more enjoyable now.
Do you know anyone that would like to know about a product like that?
Posted December 05, 2006
zuzanna wrote...
Hi, Sharon! Great lens - very useful information to use right now and nicely presented. Thanks for those natural, safe ideas for staying healthy in winter time. You've got 5 stars from me and I'm adding this lens to my Favorites.
Posted December 05, 2006
happynutritionist wrote...
Thank you for this wonderful information, and congratulations on being the "Squidoo" of the day! I see you have a lot of interesting "squids" and look forward to some quiet moments to look at mmore of them.
The best to you this Christmas season!
Claudia L. Meydrech, CN
http://happynutritionist.co
Posted December 05, 2006
by Shar
Hello to all you fellow Squidooer's,
Where do I start... I am married with two grown children, (Peyton and Eric), along with two wonderful in law child...
