Colds are the absolute worst! From not being able to breathe to feeling sluggish and gross, colds definitely take a toll on our bodies. Most people just run to the nearest drug store to grab some cold medicine, but all they’re really doing is hiding the symptoms – and putting bad chemicals into their bodies! Rather than cover up the suffering, why not attack the root cause and let the body do what it was meant to do on its own… heal! In this article, you’ll learn how to speed up the healing process through a variety of natural remedies to cure a cold fast.
These natural remedies are exactly what you need to boost your immune system and rapidly increase your bodies healing time.
Overdose on Fresh Garlic, LITERALLY
The very first thing I do when I start to feel a cold coming on is start loading up on garlic. I crush it, chop it up and put it in tea, guac, salads, and will even eat it plain. Garlic is a super powerful antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral, antibiotic and decongestant properties. This superfood will put your immune system into overdrive.
While helping my mother heal from a cold on my spring break, I learned there’s another component to garlic that I was completely unaware of…allicin. Allicin is a powerful antibacterial compound that is only present in raw garlic shortly after it has been crushed. Take advantage of this property by waiting about 10 minutes after crushing your garlic to consume it!
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is honestly so delicious and so good for you at the same time. Not only will it satisfy your sweet tooth, manuka is known for its special antibacterial effects and anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe a sore throat and attack that cold virus! I have these little to-go packets of manuka honey that I can just eat whenever I feel the need to; but they’re great to also put in your morning or evening tea.
Sweat it out
One of the best things you can do to clear up your system and get some immediate relief from your symptoms is a DIY steam bath. All you have to do it boil some water, sprinkle in some himalayan pink salt, and put your head over the hot water with a towel or cloth draped over you. Be careful not to burn yourself and make sure the steam doesn’t have a lot of gaps to escape through. Stay in this steam bath for 20 minutes and do it as much as needed throughout the day for continuous relief.
Neti Pot – Nasal Cleanout
For immediate sinus relief, doing a Neti pot is your go to remedy. Although it brings me no joy in doing it, I always feel much more relieved and less congested after the fact. A Neti pot is definitely the way to go if you want to cleanse and refresh your nasal passages.
Elderberry – the ultimate cold killer
Elderberry has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy for colds, the flu, sinus infections, and viruses of all sorts. It is incredibly anti-viral and will help relieve a lot of your congestion. A recent study showed that 93% of flu patients given elderberry extract were completely symptom-free within two days. Those taking a placebo recovered in about six days. I take a few spoonfuls of Nature’s Way Elderberry syrup every time I feel a cold coming on to aid in my recovery. Elderberry is one of my favorite natural remedies to cure a cold fast.
Probiotics and Vitamins
I take a probiotic every single day – seriously! Gut health is so important to the health of the rest of the body, especially the immune system. That’s why I stay away from all the proteins that damage the gut-lining like gluten and casein. I recommend taking a probiotic every single day as well and additionally adding cultures like kimchi or sauerkraut to your meals. They all help boost the good gut bacteria which fights off all the unwanted intruders.
Loading up on vitamins like vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc are also great tools to stop the progression of a cold and speed up the recovery process. They are all great antioxidants and needed for proper immune function. I take upwards of 20,000 IU of vitamin D and 20,000 mg of vitamin C when I’m under the weather.
Stay hydrated
This one might be obvious, but it’s definitely worth mentioning here. The quickest way to remove toxins is to flush them out! You need to be downing big glasses of water all day when you’ve got a cold – it’ll taste better and give your system even more of a boost if you squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime juice.
Water helps regulate your body, re-hydrate your cells, and loosen up mucus, so make sure you are getting plenty of it in your system.
Sleep
The most important and probably the most neglected part of the recovery process is sleep. Sleep is what allows your body to reset, heal, and gear up to fight off the cold in your system. If you aren’t getting a proper amount of sleep, your immune system is going to crash and you may find yourself with symptoms lasting longer than a week. Good sleep habits can even help prevent a cold from happening in the first place. While everyone’s sleep needs are different, I’d say you need at-least 7 hours to qualify as “a good night of sleep”. I know that I need a solid eight hours.
Wrap-Up
Now that you have a toolbox of natural remedies to cure a cold fast, you can get back to living the life that you enjoy! No more sick days and no more suffering. By using natural remedies, you not only avoid potentially harmful chemicals for conventional medicines but also turn your body into a self-healing machine. Remember, health comes from the inside. No outside-in approach is going to work in the long-term.
What natural remedies have you tried? Are you going to use one of these next time you are sick?
Let me know in the comnets.
Until next time, Stay Well, Stay Healthy, and Thrive!
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