Americans spend $40 billion a year on medications to alleviate the symptoms of the common cold, even though research does not show that it is beneficial. Most people will improve within a week to ten days, regardless of whether they take over-the-counter or prescription medication. In fact, some of these drugs, such as decongestants and cough suppressants, may be doing more harm than good in the long run. Decongestants dry up your nasal passages, making it harder for your body to expel the mucous that is making you feel so miserable. Cough suppressants are working against your body in a similar way, keeping your body from coughing up mucous.
There are free natural alternatives that can help you feel better.
- Take a hot shower or bath to help with sore muscles and a congested head. I am always amazed at how much better I feel after a hot bath.
- Put a couple of inches of water in a pot and heat until it is steamy; then inhale the steam. This helps to clear your sinuses. It works especially well if you place the pot of steamy water on a table and put your head over the pot with a towel covering your head to trap the steam. If it feels too hot, lift the edge of the towel to let some heat escape.
- Drink warm liquids, such as herbal teas and chicken soup. This helps you breathe easier by thinning mucous.
- Avoid dairy products, which tend to create more mucous.
- Rest helps keep your immune system strong and helps it fight the infection.
Savings: A box of 20 decongestant tablets costs about $10 online, whereas a box of 20 herbal tea bags is $2 to $3.
This is an excerpt from Ecothrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life.
I have looked but never found any studies that show a relationship between milk intake and mucous production with colds. Are you really suggesting that we give up our delicious fresh goat milk when we have the sniffles?
I suggest you listen to your own body. Everyone is different, so you can do your own little personal experiment and see how you feel.
My favorite cold protocol started at the point where you start to feel something coming on–
1. Vitamin D3 5000 IU
2. Elderberry syrup every 3 hours
3. A Chinese formula Gan Mao Ling Wan , 1 dose 3 times a day.
4. Rest as much as possible.
This has often stopped colds in their tracks for me.
Where do you get the Chinese formula??
My Sore Throat remedy is Crystallised Ginger Many Pieces!
or 1 finger of Vodka a big heaped teaspoon of ginger & top up with Lemonade or Ginger ale
Sore throat is gone, but don’t think about it for a day or two , its to late for this then!
That sounds delicious, even if you don’t have a cold! 🙂
Do you take the elderberry straight or in something. And how much??
You can buy elderberry syrup in the cold and flu section of health food stores, and you can take it however you want. There are different strengths, and the bottle tells you the suggested dosage.
Take a tablespoon of Elderberry juice a day or 3 tablespoons a day when a cold or flue is coming on. Look on Riverhillsharvest.com web site they sell the juice with out any additives.