http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-tips-to-calm-the-common-cold.html
5 Tips to Calm the Common Cold
Oh, the common cold–such misery we learn to live through! Wouldn’t it be great to never catch a cold?! While getting chilled or wet doesn’t cause colds, there are factors that make you more susceptible to catching a cold virus. For instance, you are more likely to get a cold if you are over-fatigued, stressed out, or have allergies with nose and throat symptoms.
I remember as a kid a cold wouldn’t even slow me down. Now, a cold inspires the deep desire to disappear in bed for several days. The truth is that although it takes a week for most people to feel better from a cold, cold symptoms can fade in as little as two days. By following these five tips, you can often decrease the longevity of your symptoms.
1. Know Your Cold
One reason your cold may be overstaying its welcome is that it may not be a cold! Many people believe that they’ve been suffering with a cold for a few weeks, and don’t realize that they aren’t getting better because they’ve been treating the wrong illness.
Sinus infection, which often develops after a cold, can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages of infection. With a sinus infection, you’re more likely to experience facial pain, a headache, fever, and green or yellow nasal discharge as opposed to clear.
Allergies are also commonly confused with a cold–but there are a few ways to tell the difference between the two. Cold symptoms typically work from the neck up, and they usually peak after a few days. While allergies can manifest as a low-grade, persistent set of symptoms. Both allergies and colds can cause a cough, runny nose and sneezing, but they split paths at muscle aches, fatigue, and decreased appetite–which are all more typical of a cold than allergies.
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33 comments
add your comment »Vitamin C (we take Emergen-C) is great and the recommended daily allowance is really not enough! That is the MINIMAL amount that a HEALTHY person needs! I take 1000 mg a day every day, and up it to 2000-3000 during cold and flu season, and then at any other time that people are ill around me, or as soon as I start feeling sick. It's best to take a powder form- non acidic and buffered. Your body absorbs it better. Echinacea is great, but only at the onset of symptoms or when others around you are sick and then only for 2 weeks. Otherwise it become ineffective and you will also get a metallic taste in your mouth every time you eat. Zinc is always good, too! And don't forget your pro-biotics! Taking a good probiotic DAILY is one of the best means of staving off illness! Avoid processed foods, especially excess sugar, corn syrup, etc. WATER! Drink LOTS! There, that's my remedy for staying well. It works- my family and I can attest to that!!! :)
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The only times I get a cold are when I don't get enough sleep, water, sunshine or have eaten any sugar or dairy, which weakens my immune system. Every living thing has an electrical frequency, including bacteria and viruses, which can be measured on the megahertz scale. If you keep your immune system strong, you won't contract whatever is out there. I'm literally exposed to thousands of people every week in my line of work. Shaking hands, opening doors, etc. are all opportunities to get sick, but I never do, unless I don't follow the above protocol. I also use therapeutic-grade, organic essential oils which raise one's frequency. Check out www.youngliving.org (109877 - Mary Hendrick) for more info. Thieves is a wonderful oil blend which is 99.6% anti-microbial and anti-bacterial according to studies at Weber State University. My kids use this oil and I even put it on the bottom of my dog's paws before she goes to the vet so she is safe-guarded from catching anything at the vet's office.
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so many great comments! Flu soup (ginger, garlic, chiles, chicken stock), hot toddies (lemon, ginger, honey & booze tea--one before passing out)...don't forget a hot shower or good soak with epsom salt, minimally for the inevitable aches (and whether I believe in it or not, the "releasing" of toxins). I simply feel better when I'm less stinky (even if I can't smell it myself). Tongue scrapers are a must.
The only thing I would disagree with would be avoiding exercise. For the rare times I do get sick and phlegmy, nothing works better (for me) than a hearty bike ride and the inevitable coughing up of the gunk.
Also mushroom barley soup, for when you start feeling better or are sick of liquids. It's supposed to be fortifying and warming for sick or feeble folks, but actually just tastes good. Add extra garlic or black pepper if you like. This site has a good recipe (http://tinyurl.com/yjeftgm)
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Vitamin D from responsible sun exposure or from safe (electronic ballast) tanning beds.
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Good morning. Always great to see more props for natural treatments!
Sinus infections are an all-too-frequent topic as most of my extend family suffers from one extent or another. There have been many things tried and discussed, including acupuncture, changes in diet, neti pot, balloon sinuplasty, you name it! But one thing that we all agree on is the importance of keeping those nasal passages clean!
This is good practice even when you’re NOT having sinus trouble! Thanks again for this post and have a great day!
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Pour boiling water over thinly sliced ginger....steep for 10 minutes, then drink... add honey if you like, or peppermint leaves while steeping... Ginger really helps!
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lots of fresh garlic which is a natural antibiotic in soups, 1TBS raw honey w/a bit of fresh lemon juice a few times a day, vitamin C, oregano oil and at bed time a nice hot cup of peppermint tea w/a shot of southern comfort, raw honey and fresh lemon juice helps me get the rest I need and get better faster
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Zinc lozenges block viral replication, and have been shown to significantly reduce both the severity of a cold and its duration. Slowly dissolve one lozenge in your mouth every three hours.
Only zinc gluconate and zinc acetate lozenges are effective; other zinc formulations bind the zinc too tightly so it doesn't ionize, and are worthless.
Also helpful: Enteric-coated aspirin, hot chicken soup, and marijuana.
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The swine flu finally caught up with me at 4:30 AM 10 days ago. I do not ever get flu shots.
The key is to start treatment on the 1st day of signs and symptoms of any cough, cold, flu or fever with:
-apple cider vinegar 2capsules 3 times/day
-colloidal silver under tongue and swallow 3 times/day
-oil of oregano 2-3 times/day
-L-lysine 3,000 mg 2 times/day
-6-8 cm ginger root and whole lemon, chop and boil in big pot, drink 3-4 cups/day with 1 tspn honey each cup
-Vicks Vapour Rub on bottom of feet, then heavy socks and go to bed
-wash out sinuses with Neti pot 2 times/day
I started all these at 4:45 AM Thursday and was fully cured in 2-3 days, even after seeing 50 very sick folks in my clinic each of Thurs and Fri.
drbob
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I second the thyme and green tea suggestions. Thyme tea works great on sore throats and is quite palatable, especially with honey and/or lemon. I agree with Jeni, too. I rarely get colds unless the seasons are changing. A healthy diet has kept me safe for the past couple years though. The best cold fighter is eating well ;)
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