Scott has been sick for the last week with a cold.
He had a runny nose, a general lack of energy, a cough, all of that good stuff. Normally when I’m around sick people I try to juice up my natural remedies, but I was too busy making fun of him for being sick and berating him for having a poor immune system, like any other good girlfriend. I was also busy making him take spoonfuls of coconut oil, echinacea and green kombucha tea with grape seed extract, food that didn’t upset his stomach, apple cider vinegar, raw garlic and whatever other forms of torture I felt like imposing on him. In reality, it’s not that bad, but he’s a huge baby, like most men when they’re sick. So in the midst of all this, I neglected to take the remedies myself, and now I’m sick. I don’t take over the counter medicine because it’s toxic and generally ineffective because it doesn’t actually cure anything, just masks the symptoms. So I thought I would share some of my natural remedies to cure a cold.
(Yes, that is a pot full of bones, beef liver and chicken feet. You’re welcome!)
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has strong antiviral properties. I’ve even read testimonials that it’s cured people of HIV. Therefore, I find it pretty effective in treating the common cold. I try to take at least two tablespoons of coconut oil a day (Truthfully though, I forget!) and more when I’m sick. What makes coconut oil an antiviral (as well as antimicrobial) is its rich lauric acid and monolaurin content. This can inactivate certain viruses, including measles, hep C, and herpes.
Echinacea and Green Tea
Green tea contains ECGC, which is effective in warding off the common cold virus. It’s also high in antioxidants. A study from Harvard Medical School found that green tea
- Decreased the number of people having cold and flu symptoms by 32 percent.
- Decreased the number of symptom days by 36 percent.
- Reduced the need for medical treatment due to cold and flu symptoms by 58 percent.
- Enhanced innate immune function by 28 percent.
Both echinacea and green tea are powerful immune boosters. Echinacea boosts white blood cells and effectively reduces the occurrence of upper respiratory tract infections.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is an expectorant, meaning that it stimulates the production of phlegm. This is especially helpful for a dry cough. It also helps balance the pH of the body, making you a little more alkaline.
Raw Garlic
They don’t call garlic Russian penicillin for nothin’. Garlic really is an antibiotic (but it won’t destroy the good bacteria in your gut or impair your GI tract). It contains allicin, which is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. Not only is it a powerful immune booster, it also helps ward off cancer, which is always a plus.
Grape Seed Extract
GSE is extremely potent. If put directly on the skin, it will leave a burn (this isn’t just a slight warning on the bottle, it happened to me and it hurt like hell). It has to be diluted, I dilute it by adding drops of it to my tea. GSE contains OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) which are bioflavonoids, an antioxidant. It is stronger than vitamin C and is also antibacterial and antiviral.
BONE BROTH
There’s a reason soup is a popular choice when people are sick, it’s the broth. The broth has been used for thousands of years for illness. It is a multivitamin. One that the body can easily absorb, unlike most on the market. It is also rich in minerals and saturated fat, which helps to seal the lining of the gut and strengthen the entire body. I actually suggest drinking bone broth every single day. It is highly anti-inflammatory.
Probiotics
Probies are another supplement I recommend taking daily. If they aren’t coming from fermented foods, they should at least be coming from a decent supplement. You have to get your probies in! If not taken regularly, the bad bacteria in the gut will take over, ensuring that you will continually get sick. 90% of the immune system is located in the gut, if there are inadequate levels of good bacteria, the immune system will be weak.
This post is a part of Fill Those Jars Friday and Fight Back Friday
