10 Cold and Flu Home Remedies

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~

Timh,

Yes, I find the ultrasonic humidifier quite effective and more than capable of delivering an effective dose in just minutes. The oral method is great for going after blood born pathogens, but colloidal silver needs to come into contact or "very close proximity" to pathogens in order to be effective so oral intake is not likely to be very effective for many respiratory issues, but it may be helpful in some cases where pathogens are increasing beyond the respiratory system in which case both methods applied at the same time may be a better option. One problem with an ultrasonic device is that it can cause CS to agglomerate so only small amounts at a time may be a useful thing to do and throw out whatever isn't used.

For people who are using antibiotics, but are having minimal effect or the effects are diminishing, there are quite a few studies suggesting that CS may have synergy with certain broad spectrum antibiotics and in some cases may reverse "resistance" that has developed to a specific antibiotic. Here is a link to an abstract of this type of study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26970828

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016 Jun 1;142:392-9. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.03.007. Epub 2016 Mar 4.

Silver nanoparticles strongly enhance and restore bactericidal activity of inactive antibiotics against multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Panáček A1, Smékalová M2, VečeTMová R3, Bogdanová K3, Röderová M3, KoláTM M3, Kilianová M2, Hradilová Š2, Froning JP2, Havrdová M4, Prucek R2, ZboTMil R2, Kvítek L2.

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics is currently one of the most important healthcare issues, and has serious negative impacts on medical practice. This study presents a potential solution to this problem, using the strong synergistic effects of antibiotics combined with silver nanoparticles (NPs). Silver NPs inhibit bacterial growth via a multilevel mode of antibacterial action at concentrations ranging from a few ppm to tens of ppm. Silver NPs strongly enhanced antibacterial activity against multiresistant, β-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae when combined with the following antibiotics: cefotaxime, ceftazidime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. All the antibiotics, when combined with silver NPs, showed enhanced antibacterial activity at concentrations far below the minimum inhibitory concentrations (tenths to hundredths of one ppm) of individual antibiotics and silver NPs. The enhanced activity of antibiotics combined with silver NPs, especially meropenem, was weaker against non-resistant bacteria than against resistant bacteria. The double disk synergy test showed that bacteria produced no β-lactamase when treated with antibiotics combined with silver NPs. Low silver concentrations were required for effective enhancement of antibacterial activity against multiresistant bacteria. These low silver concentrations showed no cytotoxic effect towards mammalian cells, an important feature for potential medical applications.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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The following abstract suggests that similar synergistic effects are likely in animals as well:

Vet J. 2016 Mar;209:174-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.032. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

Enhanced antibacterial effect of antibiotics in combination with silver nanoparticles against animal pathogens.

Smekalova M1, Aragon V2, Panacek A3, Prucek R1, Zboril R1, Kvitek L1.

Author information

Abstract

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a serious health risk in both human and veterinary medicine. Several studies have shown that silvernanoparticles (AgNPs) exert a high level of antibacterial activity against antibiotic resistant strains in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of a combined therapy of AgNPs and antibiotics against veterinary bacteria that show resistance to antibiotics. A microdilution checkerboard method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations of both types of antimicrobials, alone and in combination. The fractional inhibitory concentration index was calculated and used to classify observed collective antibacterial activity as synergistic, additive (only the sum of separate effects of drugs), indifferent (no effect) or antagonistic. From the 40 performed tests, seven were synergistic, 17 additive and 16 indifferent. None of the tested combinations showed an antagonistic effect. The majority of synergistic effects were observed for combinations of AgNPs given together with gentamicin, but the highest enhancement of antibacterial activity was found with combined therapy together with penicillin G against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. A. pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida originally resistant to amoxycillin, gentamicin and colistin were sensitive to these antibiotics when combined with AgNPs. The study shows that AgNPs have potential as adjuvants for the treatment of animal bacterial diseases.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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I am curious as to what type of colloidal silver you are using and if you are making it or buying it? What color if any could you compare it to? Is the CS crystal clear even if it has color? How many parts per million is it? Is it capped?

Thank you!

Art

Over the weekend I could tell I was starting to get a head cold. Because I really hate having a stuffy nose, I decided to attack that issue first and foremost. In 24 hours I used the neti pot 4-5 times. I boiled water and cooled it to warm. I added a capful of hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to the warm water in the neti pot.

I also used peroxide in my ears several times and had a mug or two of hot vinegar tea. (Apple cider vinegar, honey and hot water.)

The cold completely fizzled out. I think the neti pot nipped the whole thing in the bud.

Ideally for a cold I would have taken extra vitamin C, zinc and gotten more rest. But I had a house guest, a busy weekend and probably had less sleep than normal.

The neti pot takes a bit of getting used to, but the wonderful feeling of clean sinuses makes me want to use it.

Always boil and cool water (or used distilled water) when using the neti pot to avoid risks of bacteria and parasites in the water causing trouble much worse than a cold!

~Mama to Many~

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:)

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.

I have a cold and decided to try the Hydrogen Peroxide remedy I read about here. Took two drops hydrogen peroxide and deluted with 4 drops water. Gently put a drop in each ear while sitting up. Within a short time I was very dizzy and had a hard time walking for quite a while. Won't try that again. But I love this site and have found several remedies that have worked wonders for other things like my eye sty and migraines. Thank you so much.

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.

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.

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.

Holy cow I tried the apple cider vinegar and baking soda remedy last night. I had had a runny nose all day and was feeling a cold coming on. I made some fresh ginger tea with some honey and added the baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Before I went to bed I also put some hydrogen peroxide in my ears.

Today everything is pretty much gone. I still have a little pressure in my sinuses but I have not sniffed once today.

Thanks for your suggestion, I'm going to use this from now on!!

I am fairly new to natural remedies but I am getting a lot of good information on this site and others. I have always suffered from colds that very often turn into horrible sinus infections. These occasionally turned into bronchitis and even pneumonia in the past from infected post-nasal drip. The nasal congestion is unbearable, severe and very painful, the whole head is affected and sleeping is impossible. Needless to say I am petrified of getting colds. Well, I just felt another one coming on a few days ago, but this time I beat it. I spent one day miserably congested and unable to breathe - the second day I made a tea with organic ingredients only, as follows:

• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1tsp ground ginger
• 1tsp black pepper
• 1tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey

Boil one cup of water, add turmeric and ginger, let steep for a few minutes, add pepper, lemon and honey then strain the tea into a mug and drink it.

After I drank, I could feel a little change in the congestion, it was subtle. It would lessen, then come back. So I was discouraged, but then I fell asleep for a while and when I woke up I was completely decongested and could breathe freely thru my nose! That was 3 days ago, I have been drinking one cup a day and the cold is 95% better! This to me is nothing short than a miracle because I know the misery I can experience with my sinuses. I will continue for the next few days just in case, and as needed if symptoms come back. But in the meantime I am thrilled that it did not progress and make my life hell for weeks. Now I feel have a defense against this condition. Please give it a try, it may work for you as well.

God bless.

I have had a cold and relapse 3 times including strep throat. Went to doctors to get rid of that. Cold was coming on again and I put Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), cayenne pepper, baking soda and I feel great. Will keep sipping ACV with Soda and cayenne ...determined to get rid of this

Everyone hates a cold! My Czech wife makes the perfect cure, but it must be taken daily, don't worry, it's delicious!

I THINK this is the recipe, but fresh, raw, ONLY organic garlic is your cure. All ingredients must be organic and fresh as possible. Ours are picked fresh from our allotment.

Boil up a big pot for a soup, add potatoes, onions etc. The most important bit is 7 to 8 cloves of raw garlic right at the end; don't cook the garlic! Must be as raw as possible.

I had full on flu like symptoms one day, had 2 helpings of soup in a day and the next morning I felt brand new! However, a day or 2 without more soup and the cold starts to return, so I think a week of garlic soup for lunch/ dinner should do the trick.

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.

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!

just this past week aa nasty bug was going around that consisted of nasal congestion, sore throat, and fatigue and i caught it. finally on friday i decided i wanted to be well for the weekend so i fished out my natural cures book and found out the MIRACLE. i ate 4 cloves of garlic uncooked... of course the taste was horrendous but i am not kidding after the first one i could feel the difference. it makes sense because of its anti bacterial/fungal/viral properties and its ability to strengthen the immune system. i will do this whenever i start to feel sick because i'm serious it totally cured me within 30 minutes

I've been fighting a cold for a couple of days, a friend suggested I take 3 cloves of garlic blend with orange/lemon juice and drank it before going to bed. I did this and I have to say within ten minutes of laying down, I could feel the results. My nose became unstuffed and the cough which had kept me up several nights in a row was gone, I feel so much better. ..... IT REALLY WORKS!!!!! Thanks to my friend and this site GARLIC will be on my shopping list each week.

Flu and Colds: Black Elderberry syrup, this stuff was discovered by a doctor in isreal , it had clinical trials cuts cold and flu in half. I used this with great success. It also helped fibromyalgia pain, unusual side effect. It works for anything viral, and I read somewhere it would work for bird flu.

I have twin boys with allergies and they both can't stand to take pills, so I use pharmacuetical grade SODIUM ASCORBATE powder I bought over the internet, and mix 1/3 of a tsp (that's about 1200 mg) in just a small amount of juice or other drink. The sodium ascorbate works faster and your body absorbs it better. If they are coughing and getting congestion I give them 1/3 tsp every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours in the evening time. I also learned this from Linus Paulings writings!

I've been able to deal with congestion and allergies myself over the last 3 years by this same Vitamin C regimen. I just call it Vitamin C "Megadosing". It works great and my blood pressure is perfect!