It’s cold and flu season again.  Aren’t you excited?  With children going back to school, households (inevitably) getting busier, and with the weather changing constantly, colds are a fact of life in the fall.  The good news is, it’s easy to avoid colds.  The bad news is, once you get a cold, it’s probably not going to go away easily.  But there are plenty of natural remedies to alleviate the symptoms of a cold, at least.

The first thing to note is what a cold really is and how to tell that what you or your children have got isn’t worse than just a cold.  Often, symptoms of the flu are interchangeable with colds and many times one is misdiagnosed as the other.

If the symptoms include:
·    shortness of breath or a “whistle” or wheezing
·    loss of appetite
·    a sore throat
·    pain in the lungs, throat, and/or ears
·    high temperature (over 101F)
·    general body ache and a loss of energy
Then this is not likely just a cold, but probably the flu or perhaps worse.  In these cases, if the symptoms persist for more than 2 or 3 days, you should definitely see a doctor as it may be more than just a case of the “bug.”  Most flu and cold symptoms do not last more than a day or two.

Your body’s natural immunity and ability to fight off sickness is your best weapon against both cold and flu.  One of the most important of these is Vitamin D.

• Vitamin D helps combat both cold and flu bugs by bolstering your body’s ability to make antibodies, defense mechanisms, and more.  Best of all, Vitamin D is free: just get a little sunlight every day.  Most medical experts agree that children who get outdoor play almost every day and adults who spend time out of doors walking, enjoying their garden, etc. are much less likely to get colds and flu.  A big part of that is their body’s natural Vitamin D production thanks to sunlight.

• Other remedies are probably already known to you as they are well-established.  Vitamin C is very important and any citrus or similar fruit will have plenty of it to give you.  Vitamin pills, of course, also include this and are helpful in boosting your immune system’s strength.

• Chicken soup is more than a wive’s tale and motherhood “feel good” recipe.  Chicken soup also helps to clear the sinuses, though researches are divided as to whether it’s the taste response or the aroma that causes this to happen.

• Liquids and hot teas are another great remedy.  Fruit juices, water, and hot teas are all great ways to boost your good spirits and to help clear your sinuses.  Avoid milk products while sick as these are clog-enhancers, especially for caughing.

• Dried olive leaf is a good early-stage remedy for oncoming colds.  Chamomile tea is another great way to bolster the immune response.  Garlic, if you can stand it, is a fast-acting bug-killer for colds, flus, and more.  Echinacea and goldenseal are also excellent and natural antibiotics.

These are great, natural ways to help with your cold so you can weather it more easily and be back at 100% in no time.

What’s your favorite cold remedy or soother?  Let us know in the comments below!

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