Cold Remedies

Not a month after my bout with the flu (after several years at that), here I
am battling yet another common malady -- the Common Colds.

So, being bored to death not doing anything substantial at the office on my
last week of work here, I decided to look for ways of soothing myself. Lo
and behold: a website that gave me shortcuts that i can take from the house
without having to resort to pills and drugs.

I'm a staunch anti-drug campaigner, literally. But I do take 'em "drugs"
when the good ole doc says I need to but I grumble just the same.

Anyway, here are some pretty good home remedies from the website
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/cold-remedies.shtml... duh...:

Old Time Cold RemediesBy Sharon Stajda - Sep 4, 2006
This article has been viewed 142 times.

A hundred years ago herbs were not only used in cooking, but were the basic
ingredient in most health remedies used to treat common aliments. The herb
were planted in the spring and dried in the fall, to be handy for the up
coming year. Perhaps using home remedies was found to be the more prudent
way to treat illness, than a costly trip to the doctor. Home remedies were
used to treat illnesses such as colds, stomach aches, muscle pain, and more.

Most home remedies included medicinal herbs. The herbs were combined into
concoctions, and by trail and error remedies were developed. The Tried and
true remedies were used and shared with family, and friends. Many of these
old remedies have survived, and are still used today. The common cold was
one such illness that was frequently treated with a variety of old home
remedies.

Below are some old tried and true remedies to aid with comforting the common
cold.

1. To help sooth a sore throat: Sage mixed with a bit of Alum 1/2 tea dried
Sage, a pinch of Alum mixed in a warm 6 oz glass of water. Gargle several
times every few hours.

2. Mix 2 tab. Molasses into a cup of chamomile tea. This drink can be given
at night to sooth one off to sleep with a sweet tea. The chamomile is also
soothing on the stomach, and aids to promote sleep.

3. Sassafras tea is also great it aid in diminishing fever, and soothing
ones throat.

4. Cold Eeze Lozenges. These are an all natural lozenges that are made with
Zinc. Studies show the zinc will help reduce the length and severity of a
cold. These wonderful lozenges can be purchased at most drug stores or
health food stores.

4. Homemade chicken soup. Helps with congestion, and is thought to be an all
around good cold remedy.

5. The wonderful Hot Toddy. Mix piping hot water to a cup, 1/2 shot of
whiskey, and 1 tea spoon lemon juice, 1 tea spoon honey, mix well. The
Alcohol has an anti-inflammatory effect on mucous membranes. Also said to
reduce fever, and relieve muscle aches.

6. Garlic and warm milk. 1 good size glove of garlic crushed and mixed in 1
cup of warm milk. This concoction is said to shorten the duration of a cold.
An active compound in garlic, allicin, is known to be a good decongestant.
Garlic is also known to have potent antioxidant properties, so it couldn't
hurt.

7. Vitamin C. Eat foods that are high in vitamin C. Studies show taking
vitamin C will shorten the length of a cold.

8. Echinacea, the Chinese have been using Echinacea for centuries for its
strong antibiotic properties. World Health Organization also supports use of
Echinacea for use to shorten the common cold.

9. Cough syrup can be made very easily in your own kitchen. Slowly boil a
lemon with its skin on for about 8 minutes. Cut the lemon in two parts and
squeeze the juice with the use of a squeezer. Add the lemon juice to a
glass. Mix in two tablespoonfuls of glycerin, (purchase glycerin at your
local drug store or health food store.). Stir lemon juice and glycerin
together. Add 1 tablespoonful of honey. This cough syrup will real ease a
sore throat.

9. Feed a cold; starve a fever. There is a theory that eating less during a
cold may shorten the duration of the cold. However, nutritionists strongly
disagree with this theory, because the body that is stricken with a cold
needs more nutrients, to aid in fighting off illness.

10. Breathe steam. Steam does help liquefy and loosens mucus. This mucus
helps clear airways, and can decrease nasal congestion.

11. The Old fashioned mustard plaster helps relieve chest congestion. To
prepare 1 tablespoon dry mustard, 1/4 cup flour lukewarm water. Sift
together mustard and flour in a bowl. Slowly add just enough water to make a
paste. Spread the plaster on a piece of muslin that is big enough to cover
the chest. Cover with another piece of muslin. Like a sandwich, put over
chest. Check chest in 5 minutes for any signs of allergic reaction. Remove
if skin is showing hives or deep redness. Skin will be a little pink. Leave
on 1/2 hour; remove plaster with tepid water.