| During cold and flu season, it's normal to see | | | | nature of the plant. The upper part of the plant |
| commercials touting the latest cold and flu remedies on | | | | contains most of the benefits, while the lower part has |
| TV that claim to stop your suffering in their tracks. | | | | little therapeutic benefit. |
| Most of these over the counter remedies treat the | | | | Spicy Food |
| symptoms, but don't lessen the duration of a cold. Also, | | | | Spicy foods that contain garlic, onions and cayenne |
| many of these medications can make you drowsy or | | | | pepper can help you recover quicker from a cold. |
| feel drugged. | | | | These three foods contain powerful antioxidants and |
| Home cold and flu remedies are more popular than | | | | immune system compounds that will aid your body in |
| ever and are an alternative to those who don't want | | | | expelling the virus. Eating a bowl of chili for lunch or |
| to subject themselves to medicines with lots of | | | | dinner is a great way to eat your way to feeling better |
| mysterious ingredients. While there is no cure for the | | | | in no time. |
| common cold or flu, there are several popular home | | | | Vaporizers and Personal Steamers |
| remedies that can help lessen their duration and | | | | Hot steam rising up through your nasal passages and |
| effects on your body. | | | | into your sinuses and lungs is a great way to clear |
| Chicken Soup | | | | congestion out of your system. One of the things that |
| Eating a bowl of savory chicken soup has long been | | | | makes having a cold so miserable is that your nose is |
| one of the most popular home cold and flu remedies | | | | clogged and your chest if filled with gunk. Vaporizers |
| around. This old fashioned remedy has really stood the | | | | and personal steamers work by adding water to a |
| test of time. Chicken soup was prescribed for colds as | | | | base and then heating it up until it becomes steam. |
| far back as ancient Egyptian times. This remedy has | | | | You breath in the steam and it clears your system, |
| probably survived so long because it does contains | | | | allowing you to rest easier. |
| protein, which the body needs to get better, plus, it | | | | Steam Bath |
| goes down easy and is warm and comforting. Recent | | | | Soaking in a nice, hot bath is relaxing anytime, but |
| research has shown that chicken soup does have | | | | when you have a cold the steam rising up from the |
| anti-inflammatory nutrients. So, go ahead and make | | | | tub can have a soothing effect on your tired body. |
| yourself a nice, warm bowl of chicken soup. | | | | Steam is great for breaking up the congestion that |
| Vitamin C | | | | clogs your sinuses and chest. To create an |
| Vitamin C is prized for its immune boosting benefits to | | | | aromatherapy experience, add a few drops of |
| the body. When you get a cold or the flu, the virus | | | | peppermint oil or camphor oil to the hot water. Please |
| tends to attack your healthy blood cells, which then | | | | do not use this remedy for babies and toddlers, as it |
| have fight back - this makes you tired and drains you | | | | may cause them injury. |
| of energy. When you drink orange juice or any other | | | | Hot Toddy |
| citrus juice packed with vitamin C, you are literally | | | | Hot toddies are one of the long time favorite cold and |
| giving your healthy blood cells a boost of power to | | | | flu remedies. Many people believe that curling up on |
| repel those nasty cold germs. Many people choose to | | | | the couch (or in a favorite chair) and drinking a hot |
| take the tablet form of vitamin C. Either way, vitamin C | | | | toddy is a good way to fight off a cold or flu, but in |
| is one of the most powerful home remedies you can | | | | fact, there is little evidence that this drink has any |
| take to fight off a cold. | | | | curative benefits. |
| Echinacea | | | | A hot toddy is made with hot water, or tea, lemon |
| Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy that is used to | | | | juice, sugar or honey and either rum, brandy, or |
| lessen the duration of a cold. You can find Echinacea | | | | whiskey. While delicious, the American Lung |
| in capsule form, in lozenges or as an alcohol based | | | | Association cautions that drinking alcohol while sick |
| tincture. While Echinacea does have curative benefits, | | | | with a cold will lead to dehydration, which can make a |
| its effect in cold fighting often has mixed results. | | | | cold last longer. However, if you can't sleep and don't |
| Alcohol based Echinacea tinctures can last for several | | | | want to take an over the counter cold medication, |
| years, while the dry leaves found in many pills and | | | | drinking a hot toddy with alcohol will send you into a |
| capsules can lose their effectiveness over time. Also, | | | | nice slumber. |
| the quality of the Echinacea varies greatly due to the | | | | |