4 Natural Tips to Fight Colds

Irritated throat, runny nose, coughing, watery eyes, sneezing… The dreaded cold has hit again and we feel weak and lamentable. To the point that even sleeping to aid recovery seems impossible.

Fighting a cold involves easing the symptoms, because although this condition is common in winter, there is not much you can do, except to rest and allow the body time to regain its strength.

Here are some actions and practical advice to fight against the common cold, with emphasis on common plants and ingredients for cooking. Don't forget that the best way to recover quickly is to rest.

1. The power of plants in colds

The best natural nasal decongestant is an inhalation session using eucalyptus vapor, which is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antiviral.

For this place boiling water with a drop or two of eucalyptus essential oil into a bowl. Place your head over the bowl (avoid burning yourself!), cover your head and bowl with a towel and breathe deeply for about 15 minutes. This technique is not recommended for children.

To calm your cough and soothe your throat, nothing works better than honey, which is known to improve respiratory capacity. It can be taken with a spoon or mixed with hot squeezed lemon juice.

2. Infusions to fight colds

A hot drink, be it tea, herbal tea, or broth, first and foremost hydrates, but is also nutritious and promotes well-being, so why not use it?

To relieve a sore throat for example, consume jujube tea (Chinese date) to boost your vitamin C intake. Chamomile tea is also excellent for relieving a sore throat, as is green tea, which fights infections.

To help the body boost its defenses, prepare an infusion of ginger. In case of a cold, choose ginger powder which is more active than fresh ginger. Pour 2 spoons in hot water and simmer for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Do not drink cold water because it blocks the circulation of energy in the lungs: choose temperate or lukewarm water.

3. What diet should you have when you have a cold?

When you have a cold, the body is energized to fight the viral infection. In this case, hearty meals and junk food are not a good option because they require a lot of energy to digest, expelling resources that your body could use to do its self-healing work.

Choose light meals with vegetables and consume fruits rich in vitamin C. Think also of incorporating acerola or spirulina into your diet to boost your immune system.

As a rule, limit the consumption of dairy products that generate phlegm, as well as that of sugar. And also, avoid smoking!

4. Do you need medicine to fight a cold?

Avoid taking all kinds of non-prescription medications. Removing symptoms with medication can make you feel temporarily better, but unsuitable medications do not rid your body of the virus.

It is always better to choose natural remedies where possible. A natural alternative to antibiotics, colloidal silver, a mixture of ions and/or suspended silver particles (depending on the concentration) in ultra-pure water, has been known for centuries to be an important ally in combating winter infections and overcome many microbes.