No Fail, Quick Cure, Cold Remedy

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photo credit: Elliot Stokes

When I have the common cold, I want it gone immediately.  Although I haven’t come up with an “immediate” solution, I do have a regimen that works really well for shortening the duration of a cold. If you start this regimin at the very first sign of a cold you could keep the cold down to just a day or two. If you have something worse than the common cold, this will likely help, but you should also see your doctor. Diseases worse than the common cold should be evaluated by your doctor.

Common Cold Cure

The common cold brings us several annoying symptoms: headache, stuffy nose, sneezing, fatigue, and maybe a mild cough.  If you’d like to reduce these symptoms and also shorten the duration of your cold, here’s what to do at the very first signs of trouble:

1. Eat 2-3 oranges per day. I blend them up with my Vitamix and drink them with each meal. This makes it easy to  eat a whole one in one sitting.
2. Take Zinc. I use Cold-Eeze Lozenges. They taste good and they really help. They also come in a sugar-free version.
3. Take extra Vitamin C. I usually take 1000-2000 mg at each meal.
4. Take Vitamin D if you live in a northern climate. Vitamin D supports your immune system helping you to get rid of diseases.
5. Hydrate and Drink Echinacea Tea. I drink 3-6 cups per day. It’s important to only drink this tea when you need it so it doesn’t lose it’s effectiveness. (NOTE: Certain people shouldn’t drink echinacea tea: people who are taking medications used to suppress overactive immune systems (people who have  autoimmune disorders) or people who are allergic to plants in the daisy family.)
6. Increase your exposure to moist air. Use a humidifier to counteract dry winter air or take nice warm bath or hot showers. Or what I do is I dry my laundry in front of the wood stove. This makes my winter house into a cozy sauna. I love it! (This is the drying rack I use: Moerman. It’s like having a 79 foot long drying line in a compact space! You can use them even without the wood stove.)
7. Get extra rest. How much? Listen to your body. If you are tired, take a nap or go to bed early.  When you feel sleepy, that’s your body saying “Yo, dude, I need to do some difficult work here and I don’t need you being all awake and using up the energy that I need to make you better!” Listen to your body or suffer the consequences!
8. Use a Neti Pot. I like the NasaFlo one because it is dummy proof. It comes with pre-measured salt packets. The neti pot will help clear out your nasal passages. This is especially helpful if you are having sinus headache pain. They are quick, easy, and painless to use. I highly recommend it! They are also good for allergies. (Usage Note: If you are very stuffed up and the water doesn’t come out at first, just let it run. You will eventually get some drips out. This will help loosen up your congestion.)

So it’s up to you. If you want to cure your common cold as quickly as possible then get on this regimen right away and stick to it as strictly as you can. The longer you wait or the less strictly you follow this, the longer the duration of your cold.

CAVEAT: Of course sometimes we just get a doozy of a cold bug that wants to stick around. If you do this regimen, it’s very likely that your time will be shorter than if you don’t do it. How do I know this? I used to get colds that would last for a couple weeks. Now when I do this they last for far less – anywhere from 2-5 days. It is slightly lacking in scientific testing, but it’s good enough for me! 🙂

IMPORTANT: If you think you have somethings worse than the common cold (high fever, persistent/worsening cough, sore throat, or other concerning symptoms) you should see your doctor.  I am not a doctor. This remedy works for me. It’s possible that you will have different results.

Please Share!

Do you have any common cold cures or remedies? Please share yours in the comments!