Getting a Cold or Flu? Get Better Fast!

by wrylilt

It maybe just a tickle in your throat or a stuffy nose - but when you feel it you know something bad is coming. Here's a quick guide to avoiding and getting rid of colds and flus!

Every winter millions of people fall prey to the common cold. Usually it starts out with a sore throat and develops into a snuffly nose and a cough. Worse colds can result in sinus headaches, a chesty cough and even pneumonia.
Colds have a magical way of striking at the worst possible time - whether that be at the start of your holiday or when you have a big meeting at work. Of course everyone who gets a cold wants to get rid of it as fast as possible.
The following tips are great ways to get rid of a cold or at least get you feeling a little bit better. Remember though, there is no instant cure for a cold. These remedies may cut down on recovery time but they won't make a cold disappear in minutes or even hours.

An oncoming cold can be quite uncomfortable.
An oncoming cold can be quite uncomfo...
Shower, Bath & Bed

This is an old trick that works very well - if you do it exactly as described below. It's best to complete the steps as fast as possible.

  1. Have a hot shower - as hot as you can stand.Get into a bath filled with tepid (only slightly warmer than cold) water.
  2. Splash yourself with water as much as possible for about 20-30 seconds.
  3. Rub yourself down briskly with a dry towel.
  4. Dress in warm comfortable pyjamas or clothing.
  5. Get into bed and sleep for a minimum of 2 hours. All night is better.

Why it works: This process helps your white blood cells ('the good guys') become more active and fight harder against the virus that has infected your body.

Water Overdose

Everyone tells you to drink lots of water when you're sick. But that's a lot harder to do than it sounds, isn't it? However this way is sure to help if the following instructions are followed:

  1. Fill a bottle or bottles with 2 litres of water.
  2. Make sure you're doing something you're comfortable doing in one spot such as reading a book. 
  3. Set a timer and drink the water in 2-3 hours at most. The faster the better.

Why it works: Water helps your body to flush out all the bad virus cells and speeds up its processes. Sitting in one spot allows you to remember to drink and measuring the water makes sure you know you've drunk a lot.

Tossed Salad

A hot day is a great time for a tossed salad but in midwinter, when most colds occur, it's another story. However now is the time to steel yourself and have a good healthy salad.

  1. Chop up as many salad greens as possible - sprouts, lettuce and baby spinach are a good start.
  2. Chop up some raw garlic and raw ginger - as much as you think you can stand.
  3. Mix in other favourite salad ingredients such as tomato, carrot and beetroot.
  4. Cover with lemon juice and toss.

Why it works: Garlic, ginger and lemon juice all have healing properties that help your body. They are most potent when taken fresh and raw. They are also great for preventing a cold.

Soothing Drink

Sore throats can be a pain - a pain in the neck that is. This drink is especially good if you have bronchitis or can barely swallow.

  1. Boil some water.
  2. Mix fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey in a cup.
  3. Add boiling water and mix till honey is melted.

Why it works: Honey has a soothing effect on the throat and lemon juice helps combat your cold. This drink goes down easy and keeps you hydrated. 

I've tried to mention only the less common remedies for the common cold in the above article. However there are plenty of more common remedies you can try:

  • Lots of rest.
  • Humidifiers.
  • Avoid strenuous excercise - this will stress your healing body too much.
  • Avoid alcohol & coffee.
  • Hot soup.
  • Nasal spray.
  • Over the counter cold & flu medicine.
  • A prescription antibiotic from your doctor.
  • Keeping nose and lips moist. Water helps, but so does natural healing lip balm
Updated: 06/26/2016, wrylilt
 
Thank you! Would you like to post a comment now?
3

Comments

Only logged-in users are allowed to comment. Login
Jimmie on 06/05/2011

I'm a huge fan of the lemon and honey drink. I use that every time my throat starts to feel even a tiny bit scratchy. It always soothes my throat and often seems to nip a cold in the bud. I think you are right that if we are attune to our body's signs, we can keep a cold from becoming terrible. Sleep is really the main weapon I use.


You might also like

Matthew Sanford - Inspiration From a Paraplegic Yoga Teacher

Matthew Sanford was paralyzed from the chest down when he was 13. Now he is ...

Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing Year-Round, Indoors and Outdoors,...

Forest bathing began in Japan in 1982 for wellness outdoors even though it no...


Disclosure: This page generates income for authors based on affiliate relationships with our partners, including Amazon, Google and others.
Loading ...
Error!