9 Home Remedies for the Common Cold That Actually Work ...

There are many home remedies for the common cold out there, but which ones actually work? I am going to share with you the remedies that have worked for me and my family over the years, and hopefully they will help you too. There are many causes to the common cold and many symptom variations as well. That’s why I am going to give you a variety of solutions to relieve a wide range of symptoms. Here are my home remedies for the common cold that actually work for getting rid of your cold sooner.

1. Thieves Essential Oil

This is one of the home remedies for the common cold I’m sharing that has been passed down to me by my mother. She used to rub thieves essential oil on the bottom of my feet during the onset of a cold. Why my feet, and why thieves oil? Well, essential oils are said to be most easily absorbed through your feet, believe it or not! Thieves essential oil has many antibacterial and antifungal properties that help get rid of the virus causing your symptoms. If you apply this to your feet right away, that means you will be suffering for much less time. Also, this is really good for sore throats if you put one drop on the back of your tongue. It is spicy though, so make sure you have some water on hand!

2. Raw Honey and Lemon

Like thieves essential oil, raw honey has many antibacterial properties. The importance of raw honey is that the enzymes are live and not destroyed during the heating process, making it more effective at healing. Lemon has so many benefits as well, including antimicrobial properties. Lemons are also high in vitamin C, which boosts your immune system when it is weakened during a cold. Together, both create a powerful substance that has always helped soothe my sore throats. I heat one cup of water on the stove and stir in a little raw honey, then the juice of half a lemon. Sip several times a day for instant relief.

3. Yoga

I remember having an extremely stuffy nose last year that gave me an excruciating headache. Nothing was helping me get relief for more than a few minutes. That is, until I decided to try some yoga. There were certain poses that I did that helped me immensely. Poses like standing forward bends, camel pose, and bridge all helped. To perform a standing forward bend, stand with your legs straight, and fold over them by bending at the hips. Let your head hang and neck relax; you will feel your sinuses draining. Camel pose is done by going on your hands and knees. Lift your hands off the ground, bend backward, grasp your ankles with your hands, and relax your head back. Start bridge pose by getting onto your back, palms on the ground. Lift your hips and back off the ground, feet planted on ground, and hold.

4. Juice Fasting

Juice fasting can help get rid of your cold very quickly. Here’s why: your body spends copious amount of energy on digesting the food you put in your body. That means there is less energy to be spent on giving you healthy hair, skin, nails, and fighting disease or sickness. When you fast on juice or smoothies, your body will be able to digest them with ease and will have more energy to spend on getting rid of your cold. That’s why it is a good idea to drink a lot of green juices and smoothies during your cold. Adding citrus fruits will give you added vitamin C as well. This should not be long term, however, and only during the duration or onset of your cold. If you don’t have a juicer, a green smoothie fast is good as well (even though you will have the fiber to digest).

5. Detox Baths

If you have a cold, your body is going to be full of toxins that it wants to get rid of. Like juice fasting, detox baths draw all of the toxins out of your body. When you don’t have the toxins in your body, you aren’t going to have a cold. Sit in the detox bath for about 20 to 30 minutes, and make sure you drink a lot of water before, during, and after because you will be sweating a lot. Detox baths are not for everyone, so ask a doctor before you do one. To make a detox bath, add ½ cup of each of the following to your bath: apple cider vinegar, Epsom salts, and baking soda plus 1 tablespoon fresh, ground ginger. An added bonus is that apple cider vinegar can clear your sinuses, too!

6. Ginger

I’ve already stated that adding ginger to your bath can help get rid of your cold, but so can eating it! Ginger contains many enzymes to aid in digestion, is anti-inflammatory, and can help relieve congestion. I find adding fresh ginger to juices, smoothies, and making homemade tea helps the most. However, store-bought bagged tea works well, and I also like Ginger Chews by the Ginger People to help with my congestion and overall cold. To make fresh ginger tea at home, boil a few pieces of chopped ginger in some water for about 15 minutes, strain, and you’ve got yourself some healing tea! This tastes great with raw honey and lemon as well.

7. Peppermint Essential Oil

As I stated before, thieves essential oil has many benefits for colds, and so does peppermint oil. This oil is so strong, that simply smelling it can clear your stuffy nose. However, I like to put a drop on my pillow at night, diffuse it in my room during bedtime, or put a drop or two in my humidifier if it’s winter time. Another good option is boiling a pot of water, putting a few drops of peppermint oil in it, and (close your eyes first) sticking your face above the pot. Breathe the oils through your nose only to relieve them if they’re plugged. You can also sip on some peppermint tea (with honey and lemon for added benefits) to help clear things up.

8. Neti Pot

A neti pot is a helpful tool for cold prevention and elimination. During the onset of a cold, using a neti pot can help knock out a cold before you get it by keeping your nasal passages clean. If you already have a cold, you can use a neti pot to get rid of all the mucus and congestion. A neti pot works with a salt water solution that you pour in one side of your nose, and it comes out the other. You can buy a neti pot for only about 10 dollars on target.com.

9. DIY Bath Bombs

These “bath bombs” make great additions to baths for kids, and are a good detox bath substitute as kids generally shouldn’t take detox baths. The addition of lavender or chamomile essential oils will soothe cold symptoms, and eucalyptus will help with general cold and cough symptoms. A hot, soothing bath will also relieve congestion and sinus pressure. This recipe from thecoterieblog.com is easier than it looks! You can find most of these ingredients online or at your local health food/grocery store.
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****Dry Ingredients:**
1 cup baking soda
½ cup citric acid
½ cup cornstarch
(Optional) ¼ cup oats, ground (good for skin)

Wet Ingredients:
2 ½ T light oil, such as sunflower or sweet almond
¾ T water
½ to 2 tsp essential oils
(optional) ¼ tsp vitamin E oil
Witch hazel in a spray bottle
1/4tsp borax
(optional) few drops of food coloring

Directions:
Mix all the wet ingredients (except witch hazel bottle) together. Mix dry ingredients separately from the wet. Slowly combine wet with dry, making sure the mixture doesn’t fizz (if it does, slow down). Lightly spray this mixture 2-3 times with the witch hazel bottle. Pack tightly into molds, then slide out. You can use ¼ cup measuring cups for this as well. Let them dry and harden overnight on a cookie sheet or parchment paper. Dissolve in hot bath water for smooth, glowing skin and cold relief.

Source: thecoterieblog.com

Applying these remedies to your life can decrease the duration and severity of the common cold. There are many healthy options to help with your cold that don’t involve taking artificial medicine and pills. Try some of these remedies out the next time you have a cold, and experience some natural relief. What is your natural remedy to help with a cold?