How To Treat A Common Cold

Have you had a common cold this season? You can save money buy not buying a plethora of cold remedies from the drugstore – many of which are useless, and instead follow these simple commonsense steps.

I caught a cold a couple of weeks ago, and I’m convinced that due to the simple steps I took, it was milder and much shorter in duration than it might have been had I not taken these measures. Two friends of mine who had the same kind of virus, wound up on antibiotics – obviously, you can never guarantee anything, but it’s worth giving it a go:

1. Zinc Lozenges: Reports and studies have now found that the effects of sucking on Zinc Lozenges may be significant in combating the common cold. Go to Cold Cure to buy your lozenges and read more detailed research.
2. Salt Water: For sore throats, gargle 1/4 tsp of salt in a 6 0unce glass of warm water 3 – 4 times a day. This is better than any sore throat remedy at the drugstore.
3. Lots of liquid: Drink lots of room temp water and hot tea to keep your mucus membranes from drying out. I love to sip on Traditional Medicinal’s Gypsy Cold Care Tea.
4. Inhalation: It’s really important to perform a steam inhalation twice a day to keep your mucus membranes moist and to open up sinuses. I advise using the following essential oils in your steaming water: Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Peppermint. You can simply add half a tea kettle of boiling water to a large bowl and cover with a small towel. Carefully poke your face in through a gap in the towel. Alternatively you could invest in a proper steam inhaler (I have one and use it every year,) as it makes the inhalation process, including adding the essential oils, easy – it’s also a little safer than the bowl method!
5. Umka Remedy: The only store remedy that I buy is called Umka, which contains a South African flower extract, proven in a randomized double-blind study to work – participants who took the cherry flavored syrup, reported feeling much better than those who didn’t. You can buy in online or from health food stores, including Wholefoods.
6. Echinacea: There’s much controversy about whether or not these herbal remedy works, however, researchers at the University of Connecticut (School of pharmacy,) found in 14 clinical trials that taking echinacea at the first sign of a cold decreases your chances of getting a full-on cold by 58% and can shorten the virus’s duration by a day and a half.