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Ok, I’ve been fighting this cold for a while now…and it gets on my nerves. And this will be probably the longest post so far, but hope it help others too, not only me. A bunch of home remedies to fight cold and flu naturally.
I usually try a mix of over the counter medication and tons of natural remedies. As I randomly get the cold or flu, every time I have to dig for the recipes, that are somewhere in our house…, in some of the too many electronic devices; plus you never have all the ingredients. Of course, some of them … I still remember. Anyhow I decided to merge everything in one place – my own blog- making my search available from wherever. Also, this may be updated in time – if I found out about new natural remedies.
Always present for me when I have a cold or flu:
Honey mixed with cinnamon – make it to be like a paste and take whenever you feel the need one teaspoon per day (I just can’t sleep at night without it) – Amazing for sour throat, try not to drink anything after for at least one hour. A natural replacement for Strepsils or other over the counter lozenges.
Tea with honey and lemon – I know this is pretty standard, but I have my own recipe – Over the year grate lemon peel and orange (more lemon than orange). Put it in a jar. Pour over honey enough to cover it and the juice of one lemon. Put a teaspoon or two in a cup of boiling water and yummy. Take even as prevention for colds. Brilliant for children! Please note it can take a slightly bitter taste because of the peel.
Warm milk -one cup of milk, one spoon honey and an egg – mix and make it warm room temperature or a little warmer (! Not hot) Works wonders for sour throat and horsy voice.
I usually try a mix of over the counter medication and tons of natural remedies. As I randomly get the cold or flu, every time I have to dig for the recipes, that are somewhere in our house…, in some of the too many electronic devices; plus you never have all the ingredients. Of course, some of them … I still remember. Anyhow I decided to merge everything in one place – my own blog- making my search available from wherever. Also, this may be updated in time – if I found out about new natural remedies.
Always present for me when I have a cold or flu:
Honey mixed with cinnamon – make it to be like a paste and take whenever you feel the need one teaspoon per day (I just can’t sleep at night without it) – Amazing for sour throat, try not to drink anything after for at least one hour. A natural replacement for Strepsils or other over the counter lozenges.
Tea with honey and lemon – I know this is pretty standard, but I have my own recipe – Over the year grate lemon peel and orange (more lemon than orange). Put it in a jar. Pour over honey enough to cover it and the juice of one lemon. Put a teaspoon or two in a cup of boiling water and yummy. Take even as prevention for colds. Brilliant for children! Please note it can take a slightly bitter taste because of the peel.
Warm milk -one cup of milk, one spoon honey and an egg – mix and make it warm room temperature or a little warmer (! Not hot) Works wonders for sour throat and horsy voice.
Other natural remedies for cold
or flu:
Onion syrup – get an onion as big as to fit into a cup without falling at the bottom. Peel it, cut the top and the bottom and put it in a cup. Spread a table spoon of honey on top of it and leave it over night or during the day (minimum 6 hours). The honey will pass the onion taking its juice. Drink one Tbsp every 6 hours as is or by adding a few drops of lemon. (Doesn’t taste that bad.)
Onion juice mixed with honey - Another option is to simply make a smoothie out of onion honey and lemon or just strain it to be just clear jus. Take a spoon three times daily or drink the juice. For bigger quantities and long term remedies try - 1 kg red onion, 300 g honey. Peel the onion, wash and put it in the juicer, obtaining about 600 ml onion juice. Put it into a clean bottle and mix well with honey. Store in the fridge. Take 50 ml before or after meals for a month. (Haven’t tried it yet…)
Milky onion juice - 10 large onions and a clove of garlic boiled in fresh milk, unpasteurized. Add honey; drink a teaspoon three times a day. It is a good expectorant. (I never tried it)
Another onion juice - four onions are left to soak for 24 hours in a quart of warm water. Drink a cup between meals and another before bed. This preparation took in the morning on an empty stomach has the property of improving diabetes. (never tried it)
Potato juice – well, it’s not only potato, but – one potato + 1 onion + 1 apple, boil in 1 l of water – drink a Tbsp half hour before your meal. It says is good for dry cough. (not that impressed, but couldn’t keep up with all the details)
Lotus root juice recipe: one section of lotus roots (about 6 inches) + 2 oranges + ¼ lemon – it seems is a good sinus and nasal decongestion. (I’ve tried it but I am not that impressed.)
Horseradish sauce – as spicy as possible, simply eat it with meat or on a slice of bread. Another option is to keep it in your mouth as much as you can, till you feel your tears falling, keep your nose closed– good for decongestion. I’ve used the ones bought in store – not as impressed as those homemade (8-10-inch long piece of horseradish root + 2 Tbsp water + 1 Tbsp white vinegar + pinch of salt = mix everything in the food processor) Try also to mix 1 Tbsp with 1 Tbsp of honey and take in the morning. Don’t abuse it, thus!
Poor man's antibiotic – I have no idea from where the name comes, it just got to me as a recipe from my family and friends. THYME TEA mixed with honey. And GARLIC – have a clove of garlic each 6 hours, on an empty stomach or half to one hour before meals. Take it for 7 to 10 days or more as if you would take a medication. Eat garlic as much as you can during your sickness. Try to masticate well and keep it longer in the mouth.It is good also for decongestion.
Onion juice mixed with honey - Another option is to simply make a smoothie out of onion honey and lemon or just strain it to be just clear jus. Take a spoon three times daily or drink the juice. For bigger quantities and long term remedies try - 1 kg red onion, 300 g honey. Peel the onion, wash and put it in the juicer, obtaining about 600 ml onion juice. Put it into a clean bottle and mix well with honey. Store in the fridge. Take 50 ml before or after meals for a month. (Haven’t tried it yet…)
Milky onion juice - 10 large onions and a clove of garlic boiled in fresh milk, unpasteurized. Add honey; drink a teaspoon three times a day. It is a good expectorant. (I never tried it)
Another onion juice - four onions are left to soak for 24 hours in a quart of warm water. Drink a cup between meals and another before bed. This preparation took in the morning on an empty stomach has the property of improving diabetes. (never tried it)
Potato juice – well, it’s not only potato, but – one potato + 1 onion + 1 apple, boil in 1 l of water – drink a Tbsp half hour before your meal. It says is good for dry cough. (not that impressed, but couldn’t keep up with all the details)
Lotus root juice recipe: one section of lotus roots (about 6 inches) + 2 oranges + ¼ lemon – it seems is a good sinus and nasal decongestion. (I’ve tried it but I am not that impressed.)
Horseradish sauce – as spicy as possible, simply eat it with meat or on a slice of bread. Another option is to keep it in your mouth as much as you can, till you feel your tears falling, keep your nose closed– good for decongestion. I’ve used the ones bought in store – not as impressed as those homemade (8-10-inch long piece of horseradish root + 2 Tbsp water + 1 Tbsp white vinegar + pinch of salt = mix everything in the food processor) Try also to mix 1 Tbsp with 1 Tbsp of honey and take in the morning. Don’t abuse it, thus!
Poor man's antibiotic – I have no idea from where the name comes, it just got to me as a recipe from my family and friends. THYME TEA mixed with honey. And GARLIC – have a clove of garlic each 6 hours, on an empty stomach or half to one hour before meals. Take it for 7 to 10 days or more as if you would take a medication. Eat garlic as much as you can during your sickness. Try to masticate well and keep it longer in the mouth.It is good also for decongestion.
Radish juice – black radish grated and boiled in water. Take 20-50 ml each day. Good for cough. Is not good for people with diabetes.
Boiled lemon – good for cough. Boil a lemon for 10 minutes. Keep only the water and mix with 2 Tbsp of honey. Drink that juice.
3 kg of Apples – it sounds crazy and impossible, but I have tried this one and it works. It's just hard to do it…You have to eat – 3 to 5 kg of apples in one day. Miracle! you’ll be fine in three days! You’ll feel just much better after one day, but you’ll hate apples for a month.
Double boiled
pears ( I haven’t tried this one yet, so, I’m just sharing with you the blog
where I found it)
Others remedies with strong taste, but excellent impact:
Onion tea –I know this recipe from my grandma, but man this tastes hardcore - thus, is extremely good for cough. Onion peels from 10 onions + 1 liter water – boil them for about 15 minutes. Before meals, drink 150 g of this composition 3 times a day. Drink hot tea, sweetened only with natural honey without any additives.
Turmeric with honey – mix turmeric powder with honey to make a paste. Good for sour throat. (Not yammy!) Use turmeric over your meal - in a sauce or in salad. It's a good anti-inflamatory
Gargle with salt for sour throat- a tablespoon of salt to 50 ml of water
Gargle with sodium bicarbonate for sour throat - 1/4 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of water.
Oregano tea (just make tea with the natural plant) or oregano oil in tea or milk. Aside note, I use it on top of my toothpaste (it's the only way in which I can stand the taste)
Ginger and Orange - Chinese remedy - Get fresh ginger and the orange rind (peel) from one orange. Cut the ginger into small pieces and mash them a little. Bring water to a low boil in a small pot and put in the ginger. Wait 20 minutes. Add the orange peel sections to the boiling water and wait an additional 10 minutes. Strain and serve. Attention - It has a strong taste so you can add a few dabs of honey.
Onion tea –I know this recipe from my grandma, but man this tastes hardcore - thus, is extremely good for cough. Onion peels from 10 onions + 1 liter water – boil them for about 15 minutes. Before meals, drink 150 g of this composition 3 times a day. Drink hot tea, sweetened only with natural honey without any additives.
Turmeric with honey – mix turmeric powder with honey to make a paste. Good for sour throat. (Not yammy!) Use turmeric over your meal - in a sauce or in salad. It's a good anti-inflamatory
Gargle with salt for sour throat- a tablespoon of salt to 50 ml of water
Gargle with sodium bicarbonate for sour throat - 1/4 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of water.
Oregano tea (just make tea with the natural plant) or oregano oil in tea or milk. Aside note, I use it on top of my toothpaste (it's the only way in which I can stand the taste)
Ginger and Orange - Chinese remedy - Get fresh ginger and the orange rind (peel) from one orange. Cut the ginger into small pieces and mash them a little. Bring water to a low boil in a small pot and put in the ginger. Wait 20 minutes. Add the orange peel sections to the boiling water and wait an additional 10 minutes. Strain and serve. Attention - It has a strong taste so you can add a few dabs of honey.
Apple Cider Juice - Apple Cider Vinegar + Honey + Ginger + Cayenne + some water
(Some of my friends were very happy with it, me not that much, my hubby hates it – I've tried different versions – adding some lemon and/ or a spoon of alcohol – it still tastes strange to me).
(Some of my friends were very happy with it, me not that much, my hubby hates it – I've tried different versions – adding some lemon and/ or a spoon of alcohol – it still tastes strange to me).
See this blog for details.
See some details
on this blog.
For sour throat - gargle with alcohol – strong alcohol, like scotch, cognac, rum, tequila, so is not recommended for children. If you are not taking any prescribed or over the counter medication you may try to even drink it. Add some lemon.
Epsom salt bath – pour a cup of Epsom salt into your bathtub and get in. It helps with fever.
Massage with medicinal alcohol or strong alcohol (I don’t recommend the alcohol as drink – it smells awful, even if it may work - total no for children). Ask someone to give you a back massage with medicinal alcohol in the evening before bedtime, dress properly and stay well covered during the night. Massage also your chest, if you feel a burning sensation inside. It works wonders with fever.
Warm salt compresses – my mother and my grandma did this for me when I was a child and it probably had some good effects. Get a tissue – preferable cotton, definitely not polyester, or a sock fill it with salt. Make sure is properly closed. Heat it on the stove or in a pan till it’s pretty hot. Put it on your chest. If it’s too hot, put something in between for a while till it chills a little. I heard of another version of this – mix lots of salt with a chopped onion and add a Tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Heat it. Put the mixture into a tissue or a sock; put it on your chest. You may make a bandage around your body and leave it overnight.
Steam – boil some tea, put a few drops of oregano oil or eucalypti oil. Stay on top of the pot with a towel on your head and inhale the hot steams through your mouth or nose. Keep a box of Kleenex near.
Nasal decongestant - Mix a quarter of a teaspoon of salt and the same amount of baking soda, with 200ml of warm water. Use a bulb syringe or Neti pot and gently squirt the saline solution up each nostril, one at a time.
Best foods to eat when you have a
cold or flu – See this
Herbs and spices that help boost
your immune system are echinacea, wormwood root, balsam root, boneset,
red root, licorice, sage, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary and cloves.
Eat health as many veggies and fruits as you can, stay
warm, drink tons of water or tea, sleep as much as possible. And wash your hands frequently. Good Luck!
Below are a series
of smoothies that may also help you recover faster.
Cold AND Flu Smoothies
Green Smoothie Cold-Kicker
1 ripe banana
1 cup blueberries, fresh or
frozen
2 – 3 kale leaves, with stalks
1/2 cup cruciferous greens
(leaves of broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage)
Optional: a handful of goji
berries
Water as needed to blend
Green Smoothie Flu Fighter
6 kale leaves or turnip
half a bunch of parsley
1 cucumber
4 celery ribs
3 small apples and
half a lemon
Green Smoothie Flu Fighter
6 kale leaves or turnip
half a bunch of parsley
1 cucumber
4 celery ribs
3 small apples and
half a lemon
Green Smoothie Cold Fighter
2 oranges, peeled
1/2 lime, peeled
1 ripe banana
1 inch of ginger root, peeled
1/2 cup parsley
1 cup of your favorite leafy
green
1/2 of a ripe bell pepper
Water for blending
Green Smoothie Sniffle-Buster
1 cup peeled, seeded and cubed
papaya
A handful of kohlrabi greens
1/2 cantaloupe, seeded and cut
from rind
Ice and water to blend
Cold and flu fever/temperature.
1. Juice 1 (1 kg carrots, spinach
leaves)
2. Juice 2 (1 kg carrots, 1
beetroot, 1/2 cucumber)
3. Juice 3 (1 kg carrots, 1
beetroot, 2 apples, optional: ingver)
Apple Juice – yields 1 cup = 8 oz
• 3 Apples
• 1 slice Ginger
Lemon Juice – yields 1+1/2 cup =
12 oz
• ½ Lemon
• 1 Orange
• ½ Beet
Kiwi Juice – yields 1+1/2 cup =
12 oz
• 2 Kiwis
• 2 Apples
• pinch Cinnamon
Celery Juice - yields 2 cups = 16
oz
• 2 stalks Celery
• 1 Apple
• 1 Orange
• 1 slice Ginger (1 cm)
Green Smoothie – yields 3 cups =
24 oz
• 1 cup Spinach
• 2 Bananas
• ½ cup Cranberries
• 1 slice Ginger (1 cm)
• 1 cup Coconut water
• 1 tsp Sea Buckthorn powder
Dog Rose Hips Smoothie
– yields 4 cups = 32 oz
• ½ cup Dog Rose Berries
• 2 cups Spinach
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 2 Bananas
• 1+½ cup Living water
Camu-Camu Smoothie–yields 3 cups
= 24 oz
• 1 tbsp Camu camu powder
• 1 cup Lamb's Lettuce
• 1 stalk Celery
• 1 Grapefruit
• 1 cup Coconut water
Note: Information gathered over years from the web ( I apologies for not keeping records), from friends and family; some personal experiences. Google images.