Photo courtesy of Melissa Gutierrez
From hot chicken soup to aromatic baths and steam inhalations, here are some easy and natural remedies for the common cold.
At the Start of a Cold…
At the very first signs of a cold, take a warm bath with anti-viral essential oils. Some of the best (and safest) oils for this purpose are Lavender, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree, or try Sweet Marjoram if you are feeling very chilled and have achy muscles. Add a total of up to 6 drops of essential oil(s) into a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes. A warm bath relieves muscle aches and helps you sleep better, and Lavender, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus can fight the cold virus.
Home Remedies for Congestion
To relieve congestion in the nasal passages, try a steam inhalation with Pine, Eucalyptus or Lavender essential oils. Add three to four drops of oil into a bowl of steaming hot water, cover your head and the bowl with a bath towel and inhale the hot steam. You can do this several times a day to clear a stuffy nose.
Remember to Drink Fluids
Drink a lot of liquids. Warm herbal teas are perfect. Lesley Bremness: The Complete Book of Herbs (Studio, 1994) recommends peppermint tea for colds, and for a sore throat, an infusion of thyme or red sage (pregnant women should stay clear of red sage and be careful with any herbal home remedies). I wrote about ginger lemon honey in another post– a lovely warming drink that also brings relief to a sore and irritated throat.
How to Prevent a Cold
Wash your hands. A lot. Washing your hands regularly is one of the best ways to prevent the spreading of the cold virus. During the cold and flu season, try vaporizing the same anti-viral essential oils you use in inhalations (Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender) in an essential oil burner or a vaporizer at home.
Chicken Soup Actually Works
Warm chicken soup is a traditional home remedy for colds. Being a vegetarian, I have never tried it, but the effectiveness of chicken soup against a cold has now been scientifically tested, and it really seems to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. That nice bowl of chicken soup can act as an anti-inflammatory, and it can also temporarily speed up the movement of mucus and relieve congestion. Read more about chicken soup in this Mayo Clinic article.
Most importantly: try to rest, drink a lot of fluids and keep warm.
Sources:
Patricia Davis: Aromatherapy: an A to Z (Random House, UK, 2004)
Lesley Bremness: The Complete Book of Herbs (Studio, 1994)
Mayo Clinic: Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t, what can’t hurt (2010)
