Simple but Effective Treatments for the Common Cold From the Cold and Flu Series

These are simple, easy and use mostly ingredients found in the homestead kitchen and require no special preparation, purchases or planning. It's what you can do if you find yourself with a cold in the middle of the night and without the energy or will to get up and 'do something' drastic. Short term feel good measures I like to call them.

Add one teaspoon of salt and vinegar to a cup of warn water. Gargle with this mix to soothe a sore throat. Do not swallow the mixture - it tastes terrible and salt is in no way good for you!

If you're having chest or sinus problems think garlic! Take garlic supplements, eat Italian, make chicken soup heavily laden with garlic...... garlic is a natural antibacterial and encourages the breakdown of thickened, discolored mucus.

Make a soothing drinkable remedy by adding honey, cinnamon, cloves, ginger or cayenne and a slice of lemon to 1 pint of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for fifteen minutes and strain. Drink every couple of hours, sweetened with honey to taste.

Another old-fashioned remedy is honey, hot water and lemon toddy. This eases a cough and makes you feel better. Mix ingredients to taste.

To help alleviate and disinfect dry air passages, add 10 drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and leave in bedroom overnight.

Place fresh eucalyptus, wintergreen, or peppermint leaves in a bowl. Pour in boiling water. Place a towel over your head, lean over the bowl making a tent to capture the 'vapors' and and breathe till the bowl cools.

Mix a few drops of Eucalyptus oil (Do not use this for small children), lavender or tea tree oil . Inhale from a handkerchief or tissue during the day to keep nasal passages open. 

Add four drops of any of these oils to two teaspoons of carrier oil or one teaspoonful of Vaseline or petroleum jelly. Use this for a chest/back rub in the morning and evening. 

Add few drops of lavender or tea tree oil to a bath.

Hot HERBAL Teas are notoriously healthy during a cold! Herbal Teas are wonderful things! and tasty. You can use a variety of herbs tea form and enjoy the healing properties of them.

I know in my household taste is everything! Nothing that was ever nasty tasting did anyone in my household any good. Chances are no matter how good for you it was, it was not consumed if it wasn't 'good tasting'.

For a good "cold tea," combine equal parts of elder, peppermint, and yarrow and steep 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture in 1 cup hot water just before going to bed. This tea can help the body handle fever and reduce aches associated with the cold or flu and ease congestion, and inflammation of the bronchial passages. Adding a little honey can help to soothe a sore throat and make it more palatable to the young ones.

Other herbs that may be added to or used in a tea form and still remain tasty... (nothing that was every nasty tasting or that was not consumed did anyone in my household any good) include:
 

• Cinnamon- use a cinnamon stick. it gently warms the insides and produces a sweat-inducing effect to rid the body of fever.

• My favorite tea personally is chicken broth heavily laden with garlic and onion.

• Peppermint - will also soothe an upset stomach and will mask a lot of herbal 'medicines' that children dislike. such as yarrow, elder, marigold aka calendula, Echinacea.

• Chamomile can used to treat irritability and crankiness in children and adults! Be careful when administering any herbal remedy or tea to a child.

• Other what I consider common herbs that make a good cold/flu remedy teas include basil, onions, rosemary.