Natural Remedies For Conquering The Common Cold & Boosting Your Immune System

Everybody gets sick from time to time, some more often than others. Most people do tend to get sick more often in the colder months. Is this because the cold weather causes the cold symptoms? No. It's because the air is dryer which makes it easier for the virus’ to travel and generally people are not getting enough sunlight and water intake. Instead of reaching for that bottle of symptom suppressant, over the counter drugs, why not opt to heal what caused you to develop the cold in the first place, and boost your immune system? Below are the top 10 remedies for treating the common cold naturally, and boosting your immune system.

1. Vitamin D

This is one of the most overlooked and perhaps most effective remedies for treating the common cold. It is important to get as much sunshine and fresh air as you can during the colder months, but sometimes it is just too cold, and it’s nice to just curl up inside with a blanket, hot tea and a good movie. Consider taking a high dose of vitamin D3 daily, but even higher when you are sick. Some experts recommend taking 10,000 international units or more of Vitamin D3 to get yourself back to normal health.

The most ideal way to soak up vitamin D is by applying warm almond oil all over the body & sunbathing in the early sun between 6am-8am. This will strenghten your muscles as well as the bones & also provide plenty of vitamin D.

2. Honey

Make sure to purchase raw, organic, unpasteurized honey. Not only can this boost your immune system, but it treats cold and flu symptoms as well. Honey has a diverse array of antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial nutrients. It also mixes well with a few of the ingredients that will be mentioned below.

 The most ideal way to have honey is to add 1-2 tsp of raw honey to a glass of warm water, squeeze a whole lemon  in it & enjoy the drink empty stomach, just after you wake up & see the difference in a month. 

3. Ginger

Like honey, ginger is an amazing healer, which also has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger has been long known to ease nausea, which can be very beneficial if you have a cold. It also helps to warm the body, which is beneficial in assisting with the expelling of toxins and other invaders. Try mixing some fresh grated ginger root with some honey and hot water.

4. Oil Of Oregano

Potent, yet, disgusting! I kid you not, this powerful oil will open up your sinuses and leave the most awful taste in your mouth but it works! Each little, disgusting droplet contains antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties that can directly fight off cold and flu bugs in your body.

5. Onion

There are many different ways that onions are said to help prevent and even cure colds and flus including: cutting an onion in half and placing it in the room of the sick person. Rumour has it that the onion will absorb the bacteria and the virus. Another modality involves cutting a white onion in half and putting each half against each foot of the person who is sick and securing each onion in place with a sock before bed. These may sound crazy, but many people swear by these techniques. Check out some more information on these methods here. For those who are a bit more skeptical, try eating onions, raw and cooked, whichever way you like, while sick. Onions are rich in sulfur-containing compounds; sulfur is a powerful detox element that helps the body to release toxins.

6. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has extremely high anti-oxidant activity and the oil of cinnamon has strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. To treat your cold, try adding a cinnamon stick to boiling water for 2 minutes or so, drink the water as is or mix it with some honey and lemon.

7. Pepper

The capsaicin that is present in pepper helps to thin mucous and provide relief from congestion. While sick, try eating more pepper on your food than you normally would, or try gargling a teaspoon of black pepper mixed with some warm water. You can also benefit from smelling pepper throughout the day. Caution: this may cause you to sneeze a lot!

8. Apple Cider Vinegar

Because cold viruses tend to cause the body to become overly acidic, which makes it harder for the immune system to fight off the virus, apple cider can do wonders to alkalize the body. While this powerful vinegar has amazing healing benefits which you can read more about here it is also quite unpleasant. Try mixing it with warm water, honey and lemon to make it a bit more bearable and you’ll be better in no time!

9. Vitamin C

This vitamin is a powerful immune booster and also an excellent remedy for both treating and preventing colds. Many experts believe that an extremely high dose of vitamin C (2,000 mg or more) can be very beneficial for treatment. If this seems like too much for you, consider eating lots of vitamin C rich foods such as peppers, leafy greens such as kale, kiwis, berries citrus fruits, (try juicing these) and many others.

The most preferred source of vitamin C is amla (Indian Gooseberry) soaked in honey (not sugar). Eat 2 amlas each morning empty stomach & boost the immunity levels.

10. Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushroom, also knows as “The Gift From God” by the Siberians and the “Mushroom of Immortality,” is a fungus that grows on birch trees. There are far too many benefits to list here, so I will stick to how it helps to treat a cold and write a whole other article on all of these amazing benefits of the chaga mushroom. One of the many active constituents of the chaga mushroom is beta glucans, which can boost the immune system, and treat the common cold, flu, allergies and many other ailments. Try boiling a piece of chaga mushroom with hot water and adding turmeric and honey.

For Children suffering from recurrent cold, cough & fever or having a weak immunity :-

1) Use SuvarnaPrashan Daily.

2) Give a water mixed with honey & ginger daily.

3) Give steam inhalations atleast twice daily.

4) Use Balayu powder along with honey daily.

For Adults with weak Immunity :- 

1)  Give a water mixed with honey & ginger daily.

2)  Give steam inhalations atleast twice daily.

3) Use Immuna ayurvedic powder twice daily with warm water .