Almost everyone has experienced the symptoms of the common cold. Blocked and stuffy nose, dry and inflamed throat and fever are just a few cold symptoms. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are many ways it can be managed. Taking cold medicine is not the only way to treat the common cold.
There are natural ways to heal from this affliction. Colds and flu are caused, or rather the symptoms are triggered, by viruses. They are immune to most antibiotics, so treating them with medicine is often a waste of time, not to mention that many antibiotics can be costly.
Fortunately, there are natural and more effective ways to treat colds, including the following 3 practices which have been used for centuries.
- Vitamin D
A common and effective method is to increase the intake of vitamin D. That particular vitamin is an antimicrobial that produces about 200 to 300 different peptides in the body which kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.
The best way to increase your vitamin D levels is to expose your skin directly to sunlight, for anywhere from 20 minutes per day. When the sun’s rays hit your exposed skin, this triggers a process by which vitamin D is produced in your body.
If this is not possible or practical, vitamin D oil capsules are readily available, and reasonable priced.
A team of researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston conducted a study in 2009, take blood samples from over 5,000 children under the age of 12. They found that 1 out of 5 children in the United States had vitamin D levels that were roughly 12% to 15% the level for children recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also found that 2 out of 3 children had lower than recommended levels of vitamin D in their bodies.
- Oregano Oil
The use of oregano oil has been proved to be effective when treating colds and the flu, as well as other respiratory problems. Healers have been using this product for centuries to treat respiratory afflictions such as coughs, colds, the flu, sore throats and even bronchitis.
Oregano oil has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, all of which can help clear up cold symptoms.
Oregano oil helps with stomach problems and digestion, treating symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and can also reduce fevers by triggering the production of sweat. All these symptoms can be experienced during a bout of severe cold or flu.
- Ginger – Try This Healing Herb
Ginger is a versatile herb that has proven effective in the fight against the flu virus. Like oregano oil, it helps combat symptoms of nausea and vomiting, and it’s so effective in doing so that ginger is also used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ginger is available in capsule, powder and extract form, and can be used in ales and teas, as well as other homemade recipes.
Finally, it is important to stay hydrated. This a basic natural healing tip, often overlooked. Dehydration can lead to dry skin and mouth, thirst, a decrease in urination or dark-colored urine, and headaches. Drink as much water as needed a day to prevent these conditions, and to help you speed up your return to health from the flu and the common cold.
Don’t wait until you are thirsty, and soft drinks and coffee don’t count as water!
