The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Turmeric
Posted by Katta (Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh) on 10/24/2011
★★★★★
It is a remedy used by village folk from several centuries. All kinds of common cold and flu get relieved remarkably with 5G of turmeric powder in hot milk. The turmeric powder must be swallowed, and no residue left behind. Some people also add about 1G of pepper.
Hydrogen Peroxide in Humidifier
Posted by Sharon (Greenville, S C Usa) on 08/12/2011
★★★★★
You can also use peroxide in your humidifer when suffering from flu, colds, etc. Add 1 cup of peroxide to the tank and fill with water. Set humidifer close to your bedside so you can breathe the mist. Works wonders in stuffy nose and congestion.
Onion
Posted by Bjjohns (Cadillac, Michigan, Usa) on 07/14/2011
★★★★★
When I was growing up and I would get a bad cold, she would cut up an onion and sprinkle a generous amount of sugar over the slices. I would take a tespoon several times a day and by the next day or two my cold would be gone. To this day doctors cannot cure the common cold and this still works. Beats all the new drugs they try to put on you that harm the liver, heart, kidneys and more in my humble opinion:)
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Ears
Posted by Kalki (Kerala, India) on 07/08/2011
★★★★★
I had put hydrogen peroxide in my daughter's ears for mild earache and at the end of 10 mts of fizzing in each ear, she could hear better and the ache was gone. Usually we have to go to the clinic to get them cleaned.
The bonus is that I did it too too and it cleared up my cold. (The first drop you put it in is a bit of a shock and the unfamilair tickly feeling when it fizzes takes a bit of getting used to. ) I had a stuffed nose and itchy throat which normally leads to a chest infection. I had mucus (greenish in the beginning and then clear later) coming down into my mouth from the nose area for three days afterwards. It was a totally new experience for me, feeling the back of my nose from the inside (I can't explain it better! ) and I was wondering what was happening. It was only after my daughter told me that H2O2 is used to cure colds also that it clicked.
So here's a fan of hydrogen peroxide - for earaches, wax and colds.
D3
Posted by Ladyliza (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/27/2011 32 posts
★★★★★
For those who tend to get cold and flu, all you need is the correct amount of vitamin D and you won't get sick anymore. I take 5000 iu of vitamin D3, and I haven't had so much as a sniffle since that time, 6 years.
I will never get another flu shot either.
Hydrogen Peroxide Sniffing Method!
Posted by Kathi (New Brunswick, Nj, Usa) on 05/06/2011
★★★★★
Wow this really does work. Had cold (possibly flu?) symptoms yesterday and used the hydrogen peroxide sniffing method twice -- what a difference! I used this in conjunction with tomato tea (which I spike with a little extra vitamin c), and am feeling much improved today.
Hydrogen Peroxide Baths
Posted by Cleoppa (Cleburne, Tx) on 05/03/2011
★★★★☆
There are a lot of excellent remedies on this site that I use. However, to really halt a cold it has to be stopped early. I thought I had allergies, so I didn't catch my cold early. I tried everything: apple cider vinegar, Jean's famous tomato tea, cayenne pepper pills, colloidal silver... Maybe some more I'm forgetting. Nothing seemed to help and I was definitely sensing that this was a cold that wasn't going to go away for at least a few days.
So, I went back to my favorite site and saw Ted's cold remedy. I didn't follow the whole thing, but I tried a hydrogen peroxide bath. The first time, I read it wrong and ended up putting the equivalent of a cup of 35% hp (about 12 cups of 3% hp). I immediately felt better--could breathe better, wasn't snotting everywhere, etc.
I wasn't totally better, but that was definitely the start of getting better. Went to work the next day, took a few more hp baths. This is definitely my new remedy I'll be researching and trying out!
Hydrogen Peroxide in Humidifier
Posted by Lucia (Moscow, Russia) on 03/03/2011
★★★★★
I have just started this and it makes a difference.
Fasting
Posted by Randy (Jersey City, Nj, Usa) on 02/15/2011
I respectfully disagree, organicmama. I've had great results fasting for 1-4 days on various occasions. specific to colds and flus, I occasionally lose my appetite at the beginning, and that is the cue for me to take a short fast. shortens the duration of the illness. unless there is malnutrition involved, the body has plenty of energy stores. a short fast clears out toxins and sets the body to 'reset'. additionally, nothing helps my ibs problem more.
Fasting
Posted by Organicmama (Lincoln, California) on 02/15/2011
It's never really a good idea to stop eating beacuse eating the right foods will give you the proper energy you need to fight off cold and flu symptoms. It is important, however, that you avoid starchy, processed, and deep fried foods and consume only fresh fruits and vegetables and whole organic foods, but fasting all together is never a good idea.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Sbc (Nashville, Tn) on 02/08/2011
★★★★★
Hi, I've been sick now for more than a week. i got a bad cold, swollen throat feeling, tons of drainage etc and haven't felt well.
well I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar (couple tbs) , 1/4 tsp cayenne and a couple tbs of honey... I warmed it up and gargled a few times... Then 20 minutes later, I did it again and have felt 10 times better. I have been concerned this past week cause I've had issues swallowing, I guess from the drainage andsore throat... This has responded so quickly. I don't like the taste of Apple Cider Vinegar but I'm doing this anyway... I'm gonna do it a couple more times today. I've also tried sipping a little of it to. I know that has to be beneficial. Thanks so much everyone for sharing this WONDERFUL little natural trick... Thank you thank you!
Mountain Tea
Posted by Aginto (Toronto, On) on 12/31/2010
You can get Mountain Tea all over Greektown, on The Danforth. We get ours at The Friendly Greek butcher, in a big bag as the whole herb, it's very inexpensive! I can imagine the selection at The Big Carrot would be pricey
Fasting
Posted by Capirussa (Orlando, Florida, Us) on 12/12/2010
★★★★★
Something that really helps get rid of the flu or a cold is fasting. When you feel the beginning stages of a cold, if you stop eating for a just a day you will often stop it dead in it's tracks. Drinking juice throughout the day instead of eating is another good alternative if you feel you need to get some calories in. Orange juice, preferably freshly squeezed, green juices (made by juicing fresh veggies like celery, broccoli, spinach, kale, etc. ), and other fruit juices like apple juice or mango juice are great to drink for a day or two of fasting.
If you'll be purchasing them, make sure the juices are not from concentrate and are not juice cocktails. Since I use natural remedies during colds, like cayenne pepper or grapefruit seed extract, I've had no problem taking them while fasting or juice fasting but I'm not sure if taking prescription medicines on an empty stomach is a good idea. I've taken the general over the counter stuff like tylenol with no problem, though, I still keep the dose low and don't take it as often as I would if I were eating. Also, if you've got a full blown cold already, you will likely have to fast 2-3 days to get rid of it, maybe more. If you get the chance to stop it early, usually one day will be enough.
L-Lysine
Posted by Traveler (San Antonio, Tx) on 11/09/2010
★★★★★
I used to love Oil of Oregano and still find it useful, however for cost and effectiveness I would have to say that garlic or lysine are better. Lysine is around $6 a bottle, garlic around 40 cents a bulb. Lysine is better and doesn't stink me up :) Compared to a bottle of Oil of Oregano which the cheapest, most effective form was around $15/bottle, and only worked half the time, lysine is stellar. I take one to two grams at a time several times a day. If I've gotten really sick, I do the 5 grams over 5 hours (1 gram an hour taken with one gram of aspirin to increase blood saturation of lysine) and that's REALLY helped.
I've also recommended it to others and it has helped either a medium amount or a lot. I overloaded my boyfriend with it and he got diarrhea, but we're not sure if that was because of the lysine (he took 25 grams in a day) or because of his sickness which was part early signs of bronchitis and part stomach upset. The good news is that after the diarrhea cleared he's completely better whereas he said before, once bronchitis symptoms started it would last a couple weeks to a couple months. His bronchitis symptoms quit in about a day and a half, and his diarrhea cleared in four days (but that was off and on. )
Oregano Oil
Posted by Kaite (Windows, Ontario, Canada) on 11/09/2010
★★★★★
I couldn't imagine going through any sort of congestion, runny nose or cough without this stuff. It brings immediate clarity to my sinus congestion as well, it actually breaks up the mucus build up in my lungs. Just recently I was diagnosed with bronchitis and was prescribed penicillin.
I'm not crazy about this particular antibiotic because it just wipes out all of my body's good bacteria, not to mention pills are hard on your liver. I told the pharmacist to put a hold on the penicillin and I will kill the mucus with the oregano oil. It worked, no need for the penicillin, within a week, my lungs had cleared up and I was my old self again. One thing that I also admired was the taste it left in my system; a lot better than tasting bile when you cough!
Garlic
Posted by Trixie (Inverclyde, Uk) on 11/06/2010
★★★★★
When I feel a cold starting I take a whole bulb of garlic. I either put it in soup, omelette or make a liver flush smoothie with orange juice, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, ginger and cayenne pepper(you'll either love it or hate it). Next day my cold has gone.
Turmeric
Posted by Velvetnap (NY) on 10/23/2010
★★★★★
I just got over the worst cold/flu that I've had in years: think gallons of snot, sore throat, cough, fever/chills. Turmeric saved the day. I tried the tomato juice remedy and it definitely took the edge off, but I didn't really consistently get better until I added turmeric to the recipe.
Basically, my recipe is (makes enough for 1 day):
2 small or 1 large clove of smashed fresh garlic
1 rounded teaspoon of ground turmeric (organic works better, I tried),
As much cayenne as you can handle without burning yourself. You want it to really heat you up but not burn your stomach.
2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
Simmer those ingredients on the stove in as much water as you would like cups of the brew. 2 or 3 works well. Then sip, gargle and steam your face with the hot brew as you go. You can always dilute if it's too strong. THIS REALLY WORKS. Keep in mind that cayenne and garlic both are stimulating and can actually make you irritated or angry, no kidding; so be aware of that. The turmeric will work wonders on it's own but best with some amount of all three.
I also sipped 1-2 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a large glass of water 2x/day. way better than nasal decongestant. Amazing. (you can skip it in the recipe if you do this)
I've basically completely recovered from the cold but am still taking the tumeric to help with chronic issues that I have. This stuff is amazing, something about producing white blood cells. Feel better! Earth Clinic Rocks!! Chris
Garlic
Posted by Neukoln (Edinburgh, Scotland, Uk) on 10/10/2010
I absolutely swear by taking raw garlic for knocking a cold on the head. Garlic takes 1.5 to 2 hours for its effects to be felt. So, when you first start taking it for your cold you need to take it every 2 hours, for about 4 doses... Then there is enough in your body to have an effect on your cold symptoms.
I take it this way: get a large clove of raw garlic or two small ones, chop it up very fine, put it on a spoon and swill it down with a cup of water. When my symptoms are really bad (i.e. At the start) I sometimes take two large cloves at a time. Once your symptoms dip down you'll get a feel for how often to take it thereafter. They'll come back if you haven't taken enough, for long enough. I promise you that it works. I thought I was dying last night cos I felt so bad, but I got up every two hours (I couldn't sleep anyway) and had a finely chopped clove of raw garlic with a cup of water. By the morning my symptoms were OK, not gone but a lot better. I took another clove 4 times through the day, and I feel well enough to go to work tomorrow. Amazing stuff!
Cayenne
Posted by Ted (North Las Vegas , Nv )
★★★★★
Cure for Common Cold. Take as much as can of cayenne pepper while have a cold or flu at least a tsp. A day. Cold will last only 2 days. Ted
Vitamin C
Posted by Corinna (London, Kent, England) on 02/05/2010
★★★★★
When I feel a cold coming on I immediately take 1000mg of Vitamin C and continue to do so every 2 or 3 hours until symptoms subside. I did not get a 'proper' cold in decades. I may have some symptoms for a day or two and then it is over. It also works for my 10 year old son.
Sinus Rinse
Posted by Dale (Omaha, Ne) on 01/25/2010
★★★★★
At the first sign of a cold or other URI, using sinus rinse morning and evening, usually prevents it from developing completely. But the few colds that do take me on are pleasantly mild now. After about 4 days of sinus rinsing, I am back to my old self. I use 50/50 mix of plain salt and baking soda, with about 3/4 teaspoon in to 8 oz. rinse bottle of warm 110-degree tap water. Rest of the year, just once rinse Tuesday evenings.
