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.
Baking Soda
Posted by Claire (Horseshoe Bend, Id, Usa) on 12/31/2009
★★★★★
Baking Soda for colds
I had all the early signs of a cold / flu coming on yesterday - achy, runny nose, sore throat, cough. I started taking 1/2 tsp of baking soda in a glass of cold water every 2 hours last night, and cut back to every 4 hours this afternoon. It has been just over 24 hours, and I feel FINE. I can hardly believe it myself, but I KNOW I was exposed, I KNOW I was getting sick... now, I am fine. Absolutely worth trying if you are coming down with a cold or flu!
Baking Soda
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/21/2024
★★★★★
Bicarbonate of Soda in Colds
Medical and Surgical Reporter, Volume 74, page 285,1896
Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley, in Medical Record, January 18, relates his experience in the treatment of colds by the administration of bicarbonate of soda. This use of the remedy he discovered accidentally. When suffering from a cold he took some of the alkali for stomach acidity. In a short time he repeated the dose, and found that the cold was greatly relieved as well as the acidity. On other occasions he tried it upon himself and others, and finds it of the greatest service. His method of employing the bicarbonate is to give twenty to thirty grains (1/2 teaspoon) to an ordinary adult every half-hour, in about three ounces of water, until three doses are given, and then a fourth dose in an hour. In two or three hours the course of four doses may be repeated if the cold is not broken up. He has very seldom found it necessary to administer a third course of four doses. In the influenza type of colds he orders five to ten grains of phenacetine with ten to twenty grains of soda bicarbonate in powders. One of these is taken every two hours in hot water for a day or two.
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Ears
Posted by Anne (Chicago, Il) on 09/24/2009
★★★★★
H2O2 in ear for colds: I get sick almost every month, usually with a bad cold during, or right after, my period. I tried H2O2 in my ears right when I was getting that familiar tingle in the back of my throat and tired feeling I always get before a cold. I used about a half a capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide poured into my ears, one at a time, lying on my side and let it sit and fizz for about 10 minutes each before dumping it out. The itchy feeling started disappearing right away and the next day I wasn't sick as I was sure I would be. I normally get sick for a good week or two when I do, so I was really glad it worked!
Onion
Posted by Gabriela (Pahoa, USA) on 02/01/2008
★★★★★
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide Sniffing Method!
Posted by Grant (Lafayette, Colorado) on 04/21/2007
★★★★★
I have been using the following method to treat all colds for the past 15 years, and since first trying it, use nothing else to treat colds. I use the cap from the peroxide bottle and put 1/4 cap of peroxide the rest of the cap is filled with water dripped from the faucet. I put a finger over one nostril and sniff the mixture up the other nostril. I repeat this with the other nostril. One cap full (1/4 peroxide 3/4 water) usually will treat both nostrils. When the solution drain down the nostril passage to the throat I spit it out and blow my nose. Guess what? Instant relief then and there not ten minutes later but then and there. When you blow your nose you will be amazed at what come out. This is especially great for head colds,but also sore throat and stops coughing colds as well. I usually only have to do this twice at about 8 hour intervals. After that or by the next morning were talking, what cold? I have not tried using the inhaling through the mouth method since I have discovered that the cold always appears to be in the nostril passage. Even the sore throat symptom is in the nasal passage between the nose and throat and you will feel where it is when the mixture drains down the nostril passage. If you find that a 1/4 peroxide to 3/4 water too strong, i.e., stings too much, use slightly less peroxide and more water. I sniff rather than spray the mixture as I found that spraying does not atomize and coat the entire nostril passage as well as when the mixture is sniffed. Try it and you will also be amazed.
Vitamin C
Posted by Raeofsun13 (Colorado) on 12/25/2018
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Danaran (Naples, Fl) on 04/29/2018
★★★★★
1 Mug boiled water
1-2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV w/ "The Mother")
1-2 Tablespoons of raw honey
1/4- 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
Amount of each ingredient should equal tolerance to the strength of the tea. I don't mind spice but you can start with mild strength. ( EX: 1 tablespoon each of ACV and raw honey and 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper)
Drink as hot as you can. Repeat 2-3 times daily. This removed all the phlegm in sinuses and throat and had me feeling better in a few hours.
I felt better within 24 hours. Hope this helps!!
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.
Garlic
Posted by Diane (San Jose, Ca) on 11/09/2009
★★★★★
Eating raw garlic shortened my cold to about 2-3 days. On a Thursday morning, I woke up with an awful sore throat and congestion. By Friday evening it had become a full blown cold, so I went to this site to look for remedies. I decided to try the raw garlic by mincing up 3 cloves and eating it in a tortilla with cream cheese. This was just my way of making it palatable to eat. The only side effect was garlic breath, so you might want to eat it at night. By the next morning my sore throat was better and my congestion was minimal. That evening I was able to go out and felt almost better. My cold ended up lasting from Thursday morning until midday Saturday, which is about 2 1/2 days. Usually I have symptoms for up to a week, so this was amazing. I also advise taking lots of vitamin C. The best part is I did not even need cold medicine at all! Very natural and inexpensive.
Garlic
Posted by Susan (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) on 08/04/2008
★★★★★
This is going to sound hideous... and it is, but it does the trick.
When ever I have a cold I have a number of remedies I use.
In Scotland we have a thing called a hot toddy which is basically whiskey, cloves, honey and lemon made into a tea.
However, my other remedy (and this is the disgusting one) I have used and it works... is blend some garlic cloves and water into a blender. Then gulp down some of the brew at night. I normally just try to drink the whole thing. I don't really bother with measurements, Just play about till you find something that works for you. It's the garlic your eating, the water just helps it go own. Plus it's broken up and therefore absorbed into the body quicker and easier.
I also do the same as a mosquito repellent. Blend the garlic and water together and pour through a siv. The pulp I place in plant pots on my pation and the water garlic solution I place in a squeezy bottle and go around spraying my windows and door frames. All blood eating creatures hate garlic.
You can also use Listerine which surprisingly mosqutios hate for some reason. I use a combination of the two.
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Ears
Posted by Kiti (San Diego, CA) on 12/29/2008
I did that one day and i had a violent dizzy spell it scared me so much but mainly it's the temperature of the peroxide. If you put anything in your ear that is room temperature it is still colder than the temperature in your ear so it causes the dizzy spell you need to warm up the bottle in warm-hot water filled sink before doing that.
Cayenne
Posted by Leota (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/21/2008
★★★★★
ok. so the first time i really found out cayenne pepper could cure sickness was when my ex put it in tomato soup when i was really sick with bronchitis. the first day he put it in i didn't taste it and the second day i finally did. i took no antibiotics. just cayenne pepper in tomato soup. healed myself in a matter of 4 days so now, i make cayenne pepper beans and soups to protect myself from getting sick. ill eat it when i'm tired and feel like im coming down with a cold. It works, it's like it burns the germs away.
Cayenne
Posted by Barbara (Baltimore, MD) on 12/26/2007
★★★★★
From infancy through childhood, teenage years, young and middle adulthood I have always been blessed with excellent health -- with one exception. I suffered from one cold and sore throat after another. While none ever progressed to pneumonia, I would recover from one and then two weeks later feel the start of the next cold. Yet I have never smoked and have had excellent health habits. For whatever reason, about 15 years ago I started to take two to four cayenne pepper capsules a day. A miracle occured. Since then, I rarely contract a cold -- maybe one a year and not as severe as the ones I used to experience. I can't laud the properties of cayenne enough. Be sure to swallow the capsule with enough liquid and you'll have no uncomfortable effect.
Cayenne
Posted by Rani (Brookville, Ohio) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★
I will have to try the ACV, but I have found cayenne to be fantastic for many things. Energy definitely. And also good for colds and sinus. For really bad colds and sinus, I like to mix, garlic, cayenne, lemon juice, a little honey and a little orange juice with some boiling water and it does miracles!!
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Ears
Posted by Kingq (Chonburi) on 04/11/2016
★★★★★
Works great for me. Have used this remedy two times in the past 3 months. If only I could convince my wife to try it on herself and our son.
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
Black Elderberry Syrup
Posted by Veronicac (Tx) on 10/11/2020
★★★★★
I work in different schools for a large school district. I used to get sick a lot. Now I order dried elderberry off Amazon or other websites and make my own syrup. When I feel a sore throat coming on, I take about a tablespoon once an hour. It usually either knocks out the cold completely or cuts the symptoms and time down considerably. You can make a batch and freeze it for when you need it since it can ferment in the fridge if kept too long. There have been studies done that prove elderberry's therapeutic efficacy.
Even my husband, who doesn't like the taste, will ask for it when he is getting sick. It's the only thing I've found that actually works.
Vitamin C
Posted by Susan (San Francisco) on 03/01/2020
★★★★★
I woke up with the beginnings of a cold Friday morning. I generally take 1,000 mg of Vitamin C every hour every day. I started taking it (1,000 mg) every half hour and from the hours of 1:30pm – 4:00pm I took it every 15 minutes. I went back to every 1/2 hour after I started getting gassy. I did the same thing on Saturday. Today is Sunday and I'm back to my usual schedule of 1,000 mg every hour and I don't have a cold anymore. The Ascorbic Acid got rid of it FAST. FYI – I'm a 65 year old female and I've never had the flu. I've always gotten colds (bad ones). This is the first cold I've had where I hardly felt like I had one.
Mama's Thai Pumpkin Soup
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 11/19/2017
★★★★★
Okay - I have another recipe for colds and immune support. I am so excited when I find a way to get goodies like fresh ginger and garlic into recipes that actually taste amazing. My husband and I LOVED this one. I think I will be making it often this fall. And it is super simple!
Thai Pumpkin Soup
Blend:
- 1 14 ounce can pumpkin
- 1 14 ounce can coconut milk
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 ¼ teaspoons sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 Tablespoon fresh ginger root
Blend in vitamix (or regular blender if you don't have one).
Heat on stove until hot. Or put in a crock pot on low for 2 hours.
~Mama to Many~
