Table of Contents
Cold Remedies
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
MOUNTAIN TEA
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[YEA] 05/04/2008: John from Whitby, ON writes: "Mountain Tea is very effective against the common cold. Drinking tea made out of the Mountain Tea flowers is remedy that has been in my family for a long time. We find it very good in relieving congestion and shortening the length of a cold. The tea itself is very light and has slightly citrusy flavour. One drawback is that the tea it is generally difficult to find. It is primarily imported in limited quantities from Greece. There is a good article about the health benefits of Mountain Tea on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_tea. I'hope this helps. "
Replies05/07/2008: Mary from Toronto, Canada replies: "[Yea] First, let me say that this is a great website! Thank you so much to everyone for sharing. I was surprised to see someone write about Mountain Tea! This tea is very popular in Greece, but I have never seen it for sale in Canada. This tea is supposedly very good at killing cold germs (at least that is what my mother says). I rarely get the opportunity to drink it, but as a tea lover, I must say that Mountain tea tastes amazing, and does seem help you get over a cold. Usually, my relatives bring it back with them when they come home from holidays in Greece. Does anyone know where to get it in Toronto?"
05/12/2008: Drew from Toronto, Canada replies: "Funny, we have been drinking the tea for years but its only now getting popular - I was just in Germany where its pretty popular now. Our Mom make the tea for us everytime we had a cold or allergies. Though we are a Greek family, I know the tea is also popular in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey. Though we get ours from back home as well, I have actually seen it in Toronto at the Big Carrot (www.thebigcarrot.ca), sold in the tea aisle by a company called teas by voudou or something. Good luck."
12/31/2010: Aginto from Toronto, On replies: "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"
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MOUTHWASH
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[YEA] 02/15/2006: Tony from Miami, FL writes: "The next time that you feel as if you are coming down with a cold, gargle Scope or Listerine, diluted with a little water, for one minute when you wake up in the morning. It can prevent you from even coming down with the cold, and will entirely prevent you from having a soar throat if you do catch the cold. These mouthwashes will kill all of the viruses in your throat, before they can cause any havoc."
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MSG (!)
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[YEA] 12/12/2007: Roman from Chicago, IL writes: "This is under the cold remedies cure catgory. Anytime I feel the slightest hint of a cold coming-on, I eat something that has MSG. flavored potato chips,and drink a glass of red wine,or a glass of orange juice. Monosodium-glutamate is also found in canned soup,not all of them use it,you need to read the label. This sounds funny-but it really works. When there was a rash of cold and flu outbreak at my workplace, I made this suggestion, but no-one took me seriously. But I never got sick."
RepliesTed from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Assuming you were right, still the monosodium glutamate would destroy the other functions pituitary, thyroid and most importantly, the control centers of the brain, the hypothalamus. There are countless research on the the dangers of monosodium glutamate. It should also be noted that a chicken soup, not in a canned one as it contains female estrogen, that is found in nearly all plastic lined canned foods and packaged food made from Bisphenol-A, where accumulative effects may also lead to miscarriage, obesity also.It would be a lot safer to take L-Glutamine, which is a close cousin of the Monosodium glutamate, but doesn't have the brain damaging effects of the sodium attached to the glutamine molecules. The L-Glutamine has immune supporting effects and protect against cold. Adding l-glutamine with freshly cooked chicken soup (never canned), which is cysteine rich, with added vinegar would have been a better safer alternative. L-Glutamine is popularly used by body builders to reduce fat, but increase muscle mass, while monosodium glutamate does the opposite, by stimulating the appetite, but yet causes morbid obesity in rat studies, decrease growth and endocrine damages, so well known in many rat studies. A remedy for this cold require about two of L glutamine, with freshly cooked chicken soup and plenty of vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)."
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MULTIPLE REMEDIES
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[YEA] 02/27/2009: Amanda from Chicago, IL, USA writes: "A combination of the following cured my cold. I took Quick Defense liquid phyto-caps (2 capsules 5 times a day for 4 days) which contained echincacia and black elderberry. I also used zinc swabs in my nose 3 times a day. In addition I drank that tomato tea remedy I found on earth clinic (v8, crushed garlic-4 cloves, a couple spoonfuls of chilli pepper hot sauce, and a few drops of lemon juice). My colds usually last 3 weeks and end up as sinus infections. This one was gone in 2 days, a record for me."
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NETI POT
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[YEA] 06/19/2009: VeganGypsie from San Francisco, CA writes: "I have just found this site during my current cold. Having not caught it early, I am having to use several of the remedies and just hoping to shorten the cold and prevent complications. I'm also not being very scientific about it, I am trying ACV, cayenne, garlic, tomato tea remedy, H2O2 (in ears and sniffing method)and eucalyptus oil. If I feel better tomorrow, I will have no idea what to attribute it to. All seem to give some relief, but nothing has cleared it up yet.
I was surprised not to find any mention of Neti Pot or other nasal irrigation method under the colds section. Saline nasal irrigation really helps me to breathe easier, and I'm sure it is keeping lots of that gunk from settling in my throat and lungs and causing complications later. You put 1/4 t of salt (there is special salt made for this but I use table salt) in the Neti Pot (is there a brand neutral term for this?) and fill with warm water. You want it about body temperature, and about the salt concentration of tears. Tilt your head to one side so the water will not come out your mouth, but out your lower nostril as you pour the water in your upper nostril. You should be able to breathe through your mouth while the whole thing pours through. blow nose and repeat on other side with a new batch of salt water.
My husband made me promise to go see a western doctor since I am sick while he is out of town. The Doc said that Neti Pot was a great idea and keep it up, that ENT's he knew thought that it had prevented the need for nasal surgery in some of their patients."
EC: The Neti Pot is a popular remedy on the sinus infection remedies page! http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/sinus_infection4.html#NETIPOT_13663
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OIL OF OREGANO
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[YEA] 11/09/2010: Kaite from Windows, Ontario, Canada writes: "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!"
Replies11/09/2010: Traveler from San Antonio, Tx replies: "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. )"
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[YEA] 03/08/2009: Nanci from Berwick, PA. USA writes: "I have been using oil of oregano for over a year. I put a drop on my finger and apply it to a tooth that was starting to abcess. I had to put it on about five times a day but in two days the pain was gone and never got as bad as the one that had to be pulled. I would get it in a healthfood store to make sure it is safe for digesting. I'm not sure if essential oils for inhaling are the same. *oreganol* is the brand I have
I start to put a drop on my finger and apply it to the glands under your ear by your neck. One or two drops per side. Then I put a drop on my finger and put it under my arm pit because there are glands there also. I do this about five or more times a day. I have been able to ward off a cold completely when everyone else has it. I didn't have any because I lent it to someone and I went a few days with out using this. I got very sick and was in bed for five days. when I got it back I used it and two days later was up. I think I should have used it longer and I didn't. Now I got it back. I guess because the cold got a start here, now it is going to be hard to get rid of it. Now I made a cup of hot water, 1/2 a large garlic diced, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of ACV and the juice of a Lime. I am loosening up already. Oh and the acv cured the hot flashes I had."
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[YEA] 12/18/2008: Craig from Felton, CA writes: "I have been using oil of oregano for almost a year, after a suggestion by a naturopath. It seems to work to ward off the many tingles in the throat. I would suggest however, that anyone who is thinking of trying this for the 1st time start with one drop in a half glass of water. The aroma is so strong that most people I give the remedy to are turned off by the very pungent odor. I am able to take it without water but do not suggest it. 3 to four drops in a couple ounces of warm water is very tolerable after a few times of the lighter dose. I have acid reflux and taking the remedy too often definately brings it on, so I do it once in the morning and another time at night. Hope this helps."
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[YEA] 09/21/2007: Melissa from San Diego, CA writes: "I was suffering from a very bad cold/flu, specifically horrible sinus pressure and chest tightness and coughing, and clogged ears. I love ACV, Cayenne pepper, and hydrogen peroxide for many things, but none of these provided any releif for this. I also tried Grapefruit Seed Extract, sea salt, and borax to try to kill the virus. The last thing I tried was Oregano Oil. I used one drop sublingually and put a few more drops in water and felt immediate relief from the cough/chest tightness and sinus pressure as I was able to expectorate all the mucous. I think all the remedies listed for colds, sore throats, coughts etc. have merit but apparently different people require different remedies. So keep trying until you find the one that works for you. I was starting to get discouraged that I couldn't find any relief from natural remedies and figured I would have to succumb to cough syrup and sudafed. I'm glad I tried one last thing."
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[YEA] 09/05/2007: barbara from camden, ar writes: "I have been using oil of oregano every time I feel that I am coming down with sore throat, it stops it almost immediately and it does not turn to sinusitis as in the past. I would recommend it to any and every body!"
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OIL OF OREGANO, ECHINACEA, GOLDEN SEAL
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[YEA] 01/31/2007: Liz from Chandler, AZ writes: "I recently got a natural cure for the cold and or flu. Our amazing chiropractor let us in on this secret. When you fist start to feel sick, ie: sore throat, runny nose, etc., take this remedy morning and night after you eat. Get empty gel capsules, the small size. You will also need the liquid form, with droppers, of OIL OF OREGANO and ECHANACHA with GOLDEN SEAL. Put 8 drops of each liquid in capsule and take with a full glass of water. NOTE - you may burp this up a little when you first start, but it just tastes like you ate pizza. Also DO NOT take if you are vomiting! Good Luck. This will make you fell better!"
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OIL PULLING
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[YEA] 01/30/2009: Michele from Laytonville, CA writes: "December of 2008 I had gotten a really bad cold, it felt like it was attacking my entire body, I found your site online and was reading about Oil Pulling. It made sense to me so I decided to try it. I immediately felt better, I had more energy, colors seemed brighter, I felt so much better. I kept doing oil pulling faithfully. I then got a really bad cold, I have never had so much mucous. I am wondering if it is because of the oil pulling and if it pulled the virus to come to the surface? I also had read about ACV and I am a true believer. I did not realize how much my digestive system was unbalanced until I started using ACV. I had had a problem with bloating and gas for over 6 years, everyone said it was just old age (I am only 54). So after 1 day of drinking ACV 3 times a day, 2 tsp. with 1 tsp of honey I am cured. Thank you, I have told all my friends and family about your wonderful website. I hope they are as enthusiastic as I am. Thank you Ted and Deirdre and all the wonderful people that have written in their testimonials."
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ONION AND SUGAR
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[YEA] 07/14/2011: Bjjohns from Cadillac, Michigan, Usa writes: "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:)"
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ONION JUICE
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[YEA] 05/06/2009: Gabriela from Pahoa, HI writes: "I am very excited to share some thoughts on the cause and instant cure for a cold. I am not much a believer in viruses anymore but didn't know why some people catch a cold and others don't. I got a stuffy nose one day and started getting the well known symptoms of a cold. This time I drank the juice of one pungent onion (2 oz) pure as this is my remedy right now to work with. I instantly vomited some large amount of mucus and understood that I simply had too much of it in my system. So the cold seems to be a way to get rid of that - but with my way of dealing with it, I had some short very unpleasant feeling (I had to drink it one sip per time slowly and later on I could drink it in one piece) and then everything was cleared away. So, I cured my cold in about half hour. I was very happy as I had a visitor coming and wanted no cold."
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[YEA] 02/01/2008: Gabriela from Pahoa, USA writes: "When I had a cold or the flu in the past, my body could never get rid of it. I always got bronchitis and always had to take anti-biotics to finally stop it all. One day I said to myself with TOTAL determination: I will not allow to get a cold again, because my body can't fight it. Since then I have had only one cold (in 10 years). That one I cured with the juice of one large organic onion per day(made in the Champion juicer) and mixed with fresh orange juice. I had to drink this for 2 days only and was fine again. I regard onion juice as a natural anti-biotic."
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ORANGE JUICE, WHISKY, HONEY
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[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 09/20/2009: St from Oconto, Wi writes: "cold -OJ, whiskey, honey
Now this recipe never CURED my cold, but it ALWAYS made me feel better. My dad always made it for us when we were younger, and I just remembered all about it! It defintely made us fall asleep ;-) and feel better, though. He would take about a cup of orange juice, a splash of some kind of whiskey (or rum-whatever), and a spoonful of honey. He mixed it and gave it to us hot."
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OREGANO
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[YEA] 03/07/2007: Ahmad from Calgary, canada writes: "I would like to enlighten you with one of my ancient arabic cures for the common cold and a congestion in the chest in nasals. Oregano is the cure. You take water and boil it then you add some organic oregano to the boiling water and inhale the steam for as long as it stings and then you drink the water with honey. I give it my double money back guarantee (as long as the oregano is a natural strong scented one and not commercially produced)."
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ORGANIC WHITE TEA
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[YEA] 09/17/2008: Vicstor from Scranton, USA writes: "Organic White Tea with Raw Honey and 1 Slice of Organic Lemon (eat the lemon, peel skin), preferrably with 16 oz. of Hot Distilled Water, cures and prevents colds. Have it for breakfast, it will prevent you from having a cold, if already have a cold, drink at least 3-4x a day. I used to get the worst colds ever during the fall and winter months, but I don't anymore."
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PAINTING INSIDE OF THROAT WITH TURMERIC AND SALT
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[YEA] 10/06/2006: Anj from UK writes: "Mum always used this when the cough/cold would not go away. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 teaspoon of turmeric and couple of drops of water to make this into paste. Wrap cotton wool around your finger or toothbrush and put the paste on the cottonwool and try and paint the inside of your throat as deep down the throat as possible."
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POTASSIUM IODIDE
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[YEA] 09/08/2008: Glenn from Rohnert Park, CA writes: "I've used potassium iodide for some time for sinus infections, colds and for my girlfriend's bladder infections.
KI [potassium] works so well against bladder infections that Kaiser refused to treat my girlfriend with antibiotics on the day of a severe attack because she showed no signs of the usual bacterial infection since, apparently, the KI had destroyed the bacteria by the time she arrived at the doctor's office. She was also asymptomatic by that time.
If taken at the first sign of a cold or flu, it appears to prevent infection or reduce the symptoms. For those who have sinus infections, I add KI or I [iodide] to a saline rinse and that seems to help keep the sinuses clear.
I read that PI [potassium iodide] was used by ophthalmologists, along with niacin, to clear arteries of plaque back in the 60's since it, apparently, dissolves fat. Older doctors said that once upon a time their instructors would mention this fat dissolving ability of iodine.
Research hydrogen peroxide, it's deadly against certain types of cancer. Most organisms that harm the body like low oxygen environments. Hydrogen peroxide is thus toxic to cancer and the bad bacteria found in the body, but not the "good" bacteria.
I've removed basal cell carcinoma an inch in diameter and about 1/8 inch this with 35% hydrogen peroxide in less than a week. I'm not recommending it. At this strength it is quite dangerous unless you know what your doing. I used a Q-tip to administer it and the opposite end to dab off the excess.
3% hydrogen peroxide works quite well for infections. You can find instructions for its use on the internet."
EC: Potassium Iodide is also referred to by its latin initials, "SSKI".
Read more about potassium iodide here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_iodide
or here:
http://www.tahoma-clinic.com/iodide.shtml
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REMEDIES NEEDED
04/22/2011: Thalia from Melbourne, Victoria writes: "I had a very bad cold about 4 months ago... Cough, phlegm and runny nose. The cough has subsided but still hacking up phlegm. I am thinking of acupuncture as it may help me.... Anyone have any suggestions that may help me?"
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02/10/2011: Carreen from Greenwich, Ny writes: "HELP!! 11 days ago I started with a sore throat which I discovered 3 days later that ACV works great for that. Cayenne pepper worked very briefly, tomatoe tea just gave me bad breath and here I am on my 4th day of antibiotics. I have an ear infection in both ears which isn't the problem. The congestion in my head has created my whole head to be "under water". I actually started getting worse after I started the antibiotics and I don't feel any better.
Please give me any advice to clear my head!! I've tried ACV, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, cigerette in my ear, steam inhalation, hot clothes on my ears, netti pot! Please help!!! Thanks everybody. I love the idea of this website and I've told everybody about it but I feel like a hipocrate b/c all the stuff I tried didn't work. Please give me something else to try!! "
Replies02/12/2011: K9kid1 from Nashville, Tn replies: "I was congested for weeks last summer until someone suggested I try honey for relief. I put about a tablespoon (maybe 2) in hot mandarin orange tea to be exact and my head cleared up within a day. Drink a normal cup of tea as hot as you can stand without burning yourself. I believe honey is also a natural antibiotic."
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02/28/2009: Jimmy Jr from LaCenter, Washington writes: "Hello, my grown son has had a bad chest/head cold with what sounds like a sinus' infection too. He has only one lung because of an auto accident when he was a teenager, so we do worry about him more than most would about a healthy child/grown child.
Any suggestions I would appreciate grately.
Sincerely,
Linda ~~ Jimmy's Mom"
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SEA SALT
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[YEA] 12/06/2011: P from Middle, Fl writes: "Last couple of weeks I was assisting an elder to hospital & doctor visits and at the same time we cought a cold front. Well my hubby, son and myself caught a cold in the same order. Well I helped them get over it with my usual concoctions and made them to tea for myself, but I must have stopped a day too short because it hit me real hard the day after and man I haven't felt that in a long while! Being angry at myself for getting fever, running nose, sleep I went to EC my favorite site in the whole wide world! ;) and searched cold remedies, hoping to find a quicker remedy than the one I do; and low & behold I did!
1 teaspoon in a glass of water knocked it right out; like minutes later my congested head stop feeling congested, my nose immediately stopped running and my cough subsided, fever went down! Wow!
It suggests 2tsp, but I couldn't, it was too much! Maybe my new excitement will allow me to do it again.... U know; one for the road!"
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SERBIAN REMEDY: ACV, GARLIC, HONEY AND WARM WATER
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[YEA] 09/18/2007: Dragica from Edmonton, Canada writes: "One of the best remedies for colds, and to boost your immune system is apple cider vinegar, chopped garlic, honey, and warm water. Mix all the these ingredients together and drink it. Instantly you will feel better. This recipe is from my Serbian grandmother. I have been drinking since I can remember, and I have never taken any medication for colds."
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