What natural remedies can help ease my cough or cold?
If you’re feeling sniffly, with a runny nose, cough and sore throat, you’re not alone. The winter months mean that many, if not most, of us end up succumbing to a cough or a cold at some point during the winter months. Despite us all having to learn to live alongside the coronavirus, the viruses that cause winter coughs and colds still exist. And if we get one, then we’re likely to feel pretty poorly for a few days.
Antibiotics don’t work against the common cold (or the flu) because they’re caused by viruses and antibiotics cannot work against viruses, only bacteria. So we need other ways of helping to make us feel better. Here’s four home remedies that can help to ease your symptoms and help you on your way to recovery.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a herb that’s rich in flavonoids that have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. This helps to support a healthy immune system which can mean that we fight the viruses that cause coughs and colds before they take hold.
In fact, studies show that taking echinacea supplements regularly can reduce our risk of developing a cold by as much as 50%. If we do come down with one, taking echinacea can reduce the length of time we feel unwell.
Honey
Honey is now recommended as a first line treatment for coughs and sore throats. The gloriously thick consistency of honey straight from the spoon helps to soothe a sore throat but not only that. Active, healing honey such as Necta & Hive Marri Wild honeycomb 15+ TA honey with honeycomb has antimicrobial properties that help to kill and inhibit viruses such as the virus that causes the common cold.
Chicken soup
The comforting staple of many a childhood day off school sick, it seems our elders were onto something when they dished us up a homemade chicken soup. Research suggests that a warming broth made with chicken and vegetables can affect the speed at which certain white blood cells called neutrophils move through the body.
Neutrophils are an important part of the immune system, helping to protect us against infection. Studies show that chicken soup contains compounds that can slow these cells down, which means they can spend more time fighting bugs and healing us. Amazing!
Garlic
Not just for warding off vampires, garlic is also thought to help ward off coughs and colds, and reduce their duration. Studies show that eating garlic and taking a garlic supplement can lessen the severity of a cold and may even help prevent us from falling sick if we are exposed to a nasty cold bug.
Finally, if you’re feeling under the weather, then if you can, stay at home, stay warm and stay rested. Struggling into work or wandering around the shops will only spread your cold or flu bug to others. If anything good has come from the coronavirus, we know how quickly viruses can be spread. So don’t be a hero! Stay in bed for a few days and look after yourself. Your symptoms may well disappear quicker than if you carried on as normal. We wish you well!
