Unfortunately, the end of summer is near. This means we are approaching the time of the year where we can easily fall prey to common health ailments – colds. The unstable weather can easily fool us and we can end up in bed, with high temperature and a stubborn cough.

What are we here talking about? About common colds and a sore throat. I believe this to be the most tedious health problems.

And there’s nothing more tiresome and aggravating than getting cold when you can still enjoy a good, sunny day outdoors with your friends and family. Right?

It’s time we strengthen our body and learn how to prevent the common cold and a sore throat from turning into something worse or more serious ailment.

So, I propose we think of a good strategy to keep our body strong.

As you may already assume, this strategy will turn our attention to the kitchen. Every person already has the medicine in the kitchen that can beat these conditions and only needs to know how to use the magic ingredients.

So, please follow me to the kitchen where we can learn how to prevent and treat common health problems.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Remedy for: a sore throat

Unfortunately, the best homemade remedies that can help us feel better to tend to be not quite delicious. But we are not looking for flavor, but medication.

Apple cider vinegar has traditionally been used for disinfecting, cleaning and cooking. The high levels of acidity can kill bacteria quite efficiently and due to the strong antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar can easily help to neutralize infections.

 

How to use it?

Mixing apple cider vinegar with warm water and honey is an old medicine.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey in warm water, stir and drink while it’s warm. If you don’t want to swallow it you can increase the vinegar concentration, making the drink stronger and gargle with the mixture once or twice every hour.

 

Cayenne pepper

 

Remedy for: a sore throat (nausea, fever, heartburn)

Cayenne pepper has been used therapeutically for centuries, and today it’s especially popular for its detoxifying benefits and cleansing benefits. It has been used to treat a variety of ailments such as nausea, heartburn, tremors, fever and among other things a sore throat.

A chemical compound called capsaicin is responsible for every hot pepper health benefits. The compound acts as pain reliever much as aspirin.

 

How to use it?

To soothe a sore throat, you need to mix a ½  teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon of honey in one cup of boiling water. Wait for the drink to cool off a bit, and when it’s warm enough drink it throughout the day, stirring every time as cayenne pepper tends to settle. Cayenne will also help with blow flow and additionally awake the body to fight the pain.

 

Echinacea

 

Remedy for: common cold (flu)

This flowering plant has been used as medicine for centuries, primarily as a remedy for colds and flu. There are nine species of echinacea and you might know it under different names such as purple coneflower. All part of the plant can be used as an effective remedy – the leaves, stems, roots and flowers.

Echinacea supplements are highly popular, but you can make your own remedy: a tea or tincture or throat spray, what suits you.

 

How to use it?

To make tincture you can combine different beneficial plants to bring in more health benefits. Combine 1 tablespoon of echinacea, ginger, mint and thyme (include elderberry) and add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper (I have already pointed out why cayenne peppers are good for health) in a mason jar and pour a ¼ cup of boiling water over the herbs.

Fill the rest of the jar with rum or vodka (at least 40% alcohol). Secure it with an airtight lid, and let it sit for at least two weeks (the longer, the better) and store in a dark place. Alcohol-based tinctures have a longer shelf life and they can be used externally.

Take ½ to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. If you want to dilute the tincture or do not want to consume alcohol you can pour the tincture into a hot drink (tea) for alcohol to evaporate.

To make tea simmer two teaspoons of dried root in one cup of water for twenty minutes. Strain it before drinking. You can also combine echinacea with other herbs of your choice.

 

Licorice Root

 

Remedy for: a sore throat and cough (asthma)

The herb has an impressive history as traditional medicine. Licorice was popular in ancient Arabia as a cough remedy, in ancient Greece as a remedy for asthma, and in China as a remedy for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

The licorice root is used widely for treating common health ailments, and one of it’s most well-known uses is to alleviate discharge in bronchitis.

Drinking licorice root tea will help to ease congestion from coughs and colds, and provide some relief for the sore throat.

 

How to use it?

Mix 1 cup of chopped dry licorice root, ½ cup cinnamon chips, a ½ cup of chamomile flowers and 2 tablespoons of whole cloves in a bowl and store it in a glass jar. Remember to store it in a cold place, away from light.

You can use this mixture to make a soothing tea. To do so, mix 3 tablespoons of the mixture and add 2.5 cups of cold water in a saucepan and leave it to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain it and drink.

You can also add dried orange peel (this great recipe I have found on nourishingdays.com)

 

Ginger

 

Remedy for: common cold (nausea, headaches, arthritis)

We know ginger for its many health benefits – it’s a remedy for migraines and headaches, sore muscles, arthritis, common cold, nausea, stomachache, seasickness, and more. The spicy root is a natural aspirin. It has powerful antiviral, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

You can include ginger in your diet in many ways – in juice or smoothies, in a meal or if you are brave enough, eat it raw.

 

How to use it?

To make tea add a ½ spoon of ginger powder in a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Add lemon or honey.

To make ginger lemonade, mix a ½ spoon of grated ginger root, lemon juice from one lemon, honey and ice water.

 

Cinnamon

 

Remedy for: a sore throat

Cinnamon, the powerful spice, is my favorite home remedy for sore throat. We already know cinnamon is proven to fight fungal and bacterial elements in food, so no surprise we can use it to treat and prevent common bacterial and fungal infections.

The high concentration of antioxidants and its anti-inflammatory properties makes cinnamon effective in reducing inflammation and pain, such as headache pain.

 

How to use it?

We all have used “cinnamon water” as a remedy at least one. If you are new to this century-old remedy, all you need to do is to add 1-2 cinnamon sticks to 1 and ½ water and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the cinnamon and add a herbal tea of your choice.

There you go, a century-old remedy! You can add honey to double the antibacterial properties. What else? Yes, drink it hot.

 

Garlic

 

Remedy for: common cold

Yes, I know it’s one of those I-would-rather-not-use-it remedies. As science improves and as more research is done in this field, we are more and more hearing about garlic’s surprising health benefits.

The key ingredient with powerful health properties is potent antioxidant allicin. If you eat garlic on a daily basis it can greatly benefit your immune system.

 

How to use it?

To treat a common cold, you can make garlic tea. I know it does not sound very delicious, but it’s very effective. Steep chopped garlic in hot water for several minutes, strain and drink. Add ginger to improve the taste.

 

Anise seeds

 

Remedy for: common cold (cough, throat itching)

Anise seeds have antibacterial properties and can help soothe the pain in the upper respiratory tract by easing coughing and throat itching.

You can eat anise seed, but it’s better if you make tea. Add 1 cup of crushed anise seeds to one cup of hot water and drink. Add sugar, cinnamon or honey to improve the taste, and sip it three times a day.

 

Chamomile

 

Remedy for: a sore throat

No house is without this powerful plant. Chamomile is a remedy as old as the traditional (to say alternative) medicine. Luckily for us, chamomile is one of the versatile plants we use in many ways to treat common health problems as it works as a natural painkiller.

When I was a child I remember how my grandmother always used to use chamomile to treat the common cold and a sore throat. Today, I drink chamomile tea when I see the first sign of a sore throat, and, what’s important, it helps me every time.

Besides being a painkiller, chamomile is effective as it helps the muscles to relax and this can additionally help us rest. We all know how to make chamomile tea, nevertheless, I will write the instructions.

Add a tablespoon of dried chamomile to a cup of boiled water. Cover, let it steep for 10 minutes and then leave it to cool off for 2-3 minutes. Add honey or lemon if you like, and drink while hot.

 

Fennel

 

Remedy for: common cold

Fennel and anise seeds have similar flavors and very similar benefits. Fennel can effectively help you to clear chest congestion. I prefer fennel when I have to soothe a persistent cough, and it is as efficient as anise seeds in relieving the pain.

 

How to use it?

You can eat fennel raw or roast it. However, I advise you to make tea because this is the best way to get all the benefits from the plant.

For this remedy, you need to add 1.5 teaspoons of fennel seeds in a cup of boiling water and steep for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture, and sweeten with honey.

 

Goldenseal

 

Remedy for: common cold (allergies, digestive problems)

Goldenseal is widely used to treat colds, allergies and digestive issues. The key ingredient that is a source of health benefits according to research is berberine, an antidiabetic agent.

It is proven that berberine is responsible for the plant’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Science has even researched its anti-tumor benefits.The same agent seems to be effective in treating gastrointestinal and digestive problems.

In many ways, this plant is a remedy as effective as echinacea. Science suggests that both plants have immune boosting properties.

Goldenseal has been effectively used as a natural remedy. What we today know is that goldenseal root is used in creams to treat skin infections and it’s sold in capsules for internal use.

 

How to use it?

Dried rhizomes (underground stems) and roots are used to make tea, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts and more. But to treat a common cold it’s best to make tea. Pour a cup of hot water over 2 teaspoons of dried plant, cover the cup and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink while hot.

 

Peppermint

 

Remedy for: common cold, cough, flu (sinus pain, headache, upset stomach)

Peppermint is the most common cough remedies because of the chemical called menthol that can help to relieve congestion. Peppermint oil is commonly used to assist in preventing the spread of viruses that can bring flu and colds.

The peppermint tea is beneficial in many ways – we can breathe in the vapor from the tea to relieve sinus pain and headache or drink it to a sooth upset stomach. A meta-analysis published in Phytotherapy Research found that peppermint tea can help soothe heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and bloating.

 

How to use it?

You can make peppermint tea from fresh leaves. Add a small handful of fresh leaves in a cup and pour over 250 ml of hot water, cover it and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.

Strain the mixture, add honey or lemon, and drink while hot. Or you can do the same with 1 peppermint teabag. In normal doses peppermint tea is safe but high consumption can be toxic.

 

Carrots and Sweet Potatoes

I want to add carrots and sweet potatoes to the list of natural remedies because these delicious veggies can be very effective in preventing the common cold and a sore throat. Why?

Because of the beta carotene that our body converts in vitamin A, essential for maintaining a strong immune system. Vitamin A is important because it keeps the mucous membranes that line our nose and throat healthy and functioning properly.

Citrus fruits and red vegetables also deserve to be on the list, but I am mentioning carrots and potatoes as these are very versatile food we can include in our diet in many different ways.

What are your thoughts?

Do you have a natural remedy you use frequently? Share with us in comments.

 
Image credit: 123rf.com, depositphotos.com, greenlifestylemarket.com

 
Last article update: 5/20/2019