Dammit – you’ve just come down with a cold for the second time this year and natural ways to treat a cold are the last things on your mind. But STOP for a moment……
………perhaps it’s a good idea to think outside the box and consider what you are doing and whether it is actually the best course of action for your well-being.
So, let’s look the common cold in a bit more detail.
What we refer to as “the common cold” is usually caused by one of at least 200 possible strains of rhinoviruses.
This complex situation goes some way to explain why pharmaceutical companies, who have for many years have been chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – a cure for the common cold – have had absolutely no success.
This has been a source of bitter disappointment to them – success in this endeavour would result in a huge payout and residual income, even by their standards.
But no need to shed a tear for these avaricious corporate vultures, they are making do with providing pharmaceuticals for “treating” cold symptoms. These may vary from person to person and include:
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Cough
• Sneezing
• General malaise
• Slight body aches
• Mild headache
• Low-grade fever
Treating cold symptoms – what’s in it for Big Pharma?
Having had their evil plans for a common cold cure thwarted, the ever- ingenious folk at Big Pharma have still managed a lucrative consolation prize in the expansive field of treating cold symptoms.
According to recent Statista figures, the global revenue in cold remedies currently stands at a staggering $43.86 billion/per annum and is expected to grow by 6.30% per annum.
Treating cold symptoms – what are the over-the-counter options?
The pharmaceutical industry has predictably provided a vast array of over-the-counter solutions for all of the symptoms of the common cold – these include:
• Sinus headache – Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen)
• Runny nose – Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
• Congested nose – Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and Suphedrine (phenylephrine)
• Fever and aches – Advil (ibuprofen), Neoprofen (naproxen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Why are you spending a fortune on pharmaceuticals that make no pretence at being curative but merely treat symptomatically?
Natural ways to treat a cold – what are the options?
The symptoms of the common cold are a result of the body’s attempts to eliminate the causative agent – namely the rhinovirus – and to detoxify the body. These symptoms, such as a runny nose and a mild fever, are not intended to merely annoy and inconvenience you!
Pharmaceuticals do not aim to relieve symptoms but to eliminate them by suppressing the physiological processes that cause them in the first place.
As an analogy this could be compared to filling your waste bin and then just prior to it being emptied, padlocking it!
This suppression of necessary symptoms may well inhibit the natural healing process and prolonging the illness.
As an alternative let’s look at natural ways of:
• Preventing colds
• Treating cold symptoms by easing discomfort and not suppressing natural processes
• Boosting the immune system and promoting healing
These natural ways to treat a cold include the following:
Getting plenty of rest
Achieving adequate quality sleep will have a positive impact on your immune system. This is particularly important when your body is dealing with an infection such as the common cold and will help the healing process.
Maintaining good hydration
Staying well hydrated with good quality water or herbal teas is particularly important during the common cold – this will thin mucus outflow and ease congestion. Perhaps more essentially good hydration will promote the detoxification process in general
Garlic
Given that garlic has proven antiseptic, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties a healthy amount within your diet will support and promote your immune system.
This will have the effect of lessening the symptoms of the cold. Additionally, according to current research, garlic may have preventive properties and help avoidance of getting a cold in the first place.
Treating cold symptoms with ginger
This wonderful and nutritious root also has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties – these are particularly useful for easing associated muscle pain, soothing a sore throat and reducing any nausea (if present).
A really effective way of consuming ginger is as a tea – the ginger root is chopped or sliced and added to hot water. The therapeutic value of this would be enhanced by adding honey (another source of antimicrobial properties.
This will also improve hydration (see above).
Using a humidifier
You may do well to consider a humidifier – ideally situated in the room where you sleep at night. This acts by reducing the dryness of the air you breathe – this can help to relieve any inflammation and dryness of your throat and nose.
Using the humidifier with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil will have the added bonus of also relieving nasal congestion.
Echinacea
Available as supplements this wonderful herb boasts a high level of flavonoid antioxidants which have the effect of reducing inflammation and enhancing the immune system.
For this reason, sources claim that echinacea may be effective in the prevention of colds.
Probiotics
The term probiotics refers to your microbiome – “friendly” and essential bacteria that are naturally present in your digestive system. To supplement these naturally present microbes they may also be obtained from fermented foods and in the form of supplements.
Apart from a multitude of other potential benefits obtained from probiotic supplementation (see our full article on probiotics), they maintain a healthy gut and immune system.
For these reasons they may assist in prevention of a cold and reduce the duration of an existing one.
Vitamin C
One of the many beneficial functions that vitamin C has within the human body is supporting and boosting the immune system.
Vitamin C, whether taken as a supplement or obtained from the diet will naturally improve the symptoms of the common cold and may indeed shorten its duration.
Effective natural dietary sources of vitamin C include:
• Citrus fruits
• Red peppers
• Green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and kale
Natural ways to stop a cold with essential oils
A number of essential oils – through their known antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, are natural ways to treat cold symptoms.
These include:
• Eucalyptus
• Frankincense
• Tea Tree
• Thyme
• Peppermint
To enjoy the wonderful effects (and aromas) of these natural oils use them in a diffuser or, alternatively, add 2-3 drops of the oil to a hot bath.
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“BE TRULY FREE – BE PHARMA FREE”