10 Cold and Flu Home Remedies

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.

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

I made the following mixture: 1 tsp ACV, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp powdered cayenne, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground cloves, 2 tsp water. Then sip it slowly (tiny sips). It is somewhat thick and will coat the back of your throat. It tastes surprisingly good, soothed my sore throat instantly, and started to clear up my sinuses and the "lump" in the back of my throat which was developing. I have taken this mixture a couple times a day for the past two days and I'm feeling much better.

Basically, my recipe is (makes enough for 1 day):
2 small or 1 large clove of smashed fresh garlic
1 rounded teaspoon of ground turmeric (organic works better, I tried),
As much cayenne as you can handle without burning yourself. You want it to really heat you up but not burn your stomach.
2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Simmer those ingredients on the stove in as much water as you would like cups of the brew. 2 or 3 works well. Then sip, gargle and steam your face with the hot brew as you go. You can always dilute if it's too strong. THIS REALLY WORKS. Keep in mind that cayenne and garlic both are stimulating and can actually make you irritated or angry, no kidding; so be aware of that. The turmeric will work wonders on it's own but best with some amount of all three.

I also sipped 1-2 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in a large glass of water 2x/day. way better than nasal decongestant. Amazing. (you can skip it in the recipe if you do this)

I've basically completely recovered from the cold but am still taking the tumeric to help with chronic issues that I have. This stuff is amazing, something about producing white blood cells. Feel better! Earth Clinic Rocks!! Chris

I take it this way: get a large clove of raw garlic or two small ones, chop it up very fine, put it on a spoon and swill it down with a cup of water. When my symptoms are really bad (i.e. At the start) I sometimes take two large cloves at a time. Once your symptoms dip down you'll get a feel for how often to take it thereafter. They'll come back if you haven't taken enough, for long enough. I promise you that it works. I thought I was dying last night cos I felt so bad, but I got up every two hours (I couldn't sleep anyway) and had a finely chopped clove of raw garlic with a cup of water. By the morning my symptoms were OK, not gone but a lot better. I took another clove 4 times through the day, and I feel well enough to go to work tomorrow. Amazing stuff!

Vicks inhalation for a head cold involves using hot steam, either from a bowl of hot water with added Vicks VapoRub or a dedicated Vicks steam inhaler, to help relieve congestion by thinning mucus. It's important to use hot water.

From the book: Town Journal, Vol. 33, p. 29, December 11,1926.

Head Colds relieved with VAPORS

Snuff a little Vicks well up the nose or melt in a cup of hot water and inhale. Medicated vapors reach the air passages direct. For other cold troubles rub Vicks on the throat and chest.

From the label of a Vicks Vapor jar 1950's. (yea… I collect weird stuff)

If there is much MUCUS or PHLEGM in the air passages, or much irritation or COUGHING, melt a spoonful of Vicks VaporRub in a vaporizer or bowel of boiling water. Then inhale the steaming vapors. Every few hours put some VapoRub up nostrils and snuff well back. At bed time, massage on throat, chest, back and bottom of feet as with simple colds.

Note: I've wrote a Article about, DIY Old School Steam Inhaler Nebulizer

See Article here: https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Old-School-Steam-Inhaler-Nebulizer/

I remember as a kid back in the 1970's, my country Grandmother (she was born in 1911) putting a “whistling” tea kettle on the stove and when it started to “whistle” she would set in front of it (about a foot 12”) and inhale the steam. I also remember her putting a spoonful of Vick's Vapor-Rub into the water. As the kettle got hot, the salve would melt and release the medical oils into the steam. I don't remember her ever use the kettle to make tea in so I'm sure it was for steaming only.

I have not seen anyone mention this use of a tea kettle on the internet. It's always some company's selling some fancy electric device or something like that.

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!

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).

From Mrs. De Forrest.

Pare off the yellow rind of the lemon, slice the lemon and put a layer of lemon and a thick layer of sugar in a deep plate; cover close with a saucer, and set in a warm place. This is an excellent remedy for a cold.

From the Book: The Home Cook Book of Formula's, by J. FRED. WAGGONER 1876

COMPILED FROM RECIPES CONTRIBUTED BY LADIES OF CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS, CHICAGO.

Lemon syrup can have several health benefits, including: Lemon syrup can help treat allergic skin conditions and hay fever. Lemon Syrup is commonly prescribed in children to treat symptoms of allergy such as runny nose, sneezing, itching, swelling, congestion, and watery eyes. It may also help in the treatment of asthma and skin allergies. The peel of the lemon contain almost 10 times more vitamin and mineral content than does the juice. This was a popular home remedy for sore throats back in the 1800's.

Lemon Simply Syrup – Modern Version Recipe:

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
– ¾ cup water

– ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

– 1 cup granulated sugar

– ¼ cup (more or less) fresh lemon zest from the peels of the lemons you just squeezed

Instructions
– Put water, lemon juice, sugar, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

– Once boiling, lower heat and let mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup has thickened (note that it will continue to thicken as it cools).

– Strain syrup into a bowl, leaving the zest behind.

– Keep syrup in bowl or pour into a sterile airtight mason jar and place in fridge to cool completely before using.

Dosage: Give one teaspoon to children freely as needed. Adults take one tablespoon

Form the Book: Healing Factor Vitamin C Against Disease – by Irwin Stone, Linus Pauling, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi 1972, p. 121-123

Source on-line: https://vitamincfoundation.org/stone/

Source download book: https://welib.org/md5/35609ae8abf6e1dcb1cc701374943358

With this chapter, we begin the discussions of the use of ascorbic acid in the treatment of various diseases other than scurvy. We start with the common cold because it is a most annoying ailment and it is one to which everyone is repeatedly exposed. It is also the one with which the author has had the most personal experience. From this personal experience, it is the author's belief that this disease could be eradicated through the proper use of ascorbic acid. It is the purpose of this chapter to tell how this can be done.

Let us first go over some statistics and current research on the common cold and then take a quick look at the medical literature to see what has been done with ascorbic acid in the treatment of the common cold over the last thirty years.

It has been estimated that Americans get about 500 million colds per year. Besides causing acute physical discomfort and taxing the individual's health and stamina, the common cold is the greatest single cause of industrial absenteeism. Its cost to industry appears to be well over five billion dollars a year in lost time and production.

Much research money is being expended now in the hope of developing a vaccine for colds. The probability of developing a useful vaccine is remote because of the large number of different viruses and associated bacteria found in common cold victims. For instance, the rhinoviruses which can be isolated from more than half the adults with common colds comprise about seventy to eighty different serotypes. Since a vaccine is highly specific and only effective against a particular viral strain or bacterial species, it is doubtful whether a polyvalent vaccine would be useful because of the great number of serotypes and the short duration of induced immunity. What is needed, instead, is a wide=spectrum, nontoxic, virucidal, and bactericidal agent. Ascorbic acid fills this bill.

One of the difficulties in common cold research is the general lack of laboratory animals that are susceptible to this disease. Man and apes are reputed to be the only susceptible hosts to this disease. Easily managed laboratory animals such as rats, mice, rabbits, cats and dogs are said not to catch the disease, thus making laboratory studies very difficult. It is significant that the two species that can catch colds, man and the apes, are the two that cannot make their own ascorbic acid.

Shortly after the discovery of ascorbic acid, it was found that it had a powerful antiviral activity. This activity was found to be nonspecific and a wide spectrum of viruses were attacked and inactivated. These included the viruses of poliomyelitis (polio), vaccinia, herpes, rabies, foot-and-mouth disease, and tobacco mosaic. The ability of ascorbic acid to inactivate viruses extends to many more and probably covers all the viruses, but these were the ones investigated at this early date. Other workers in the 1930s found that ascorbic acid was capable of inactivating a number of bacterial toxins such as those of diphtheria, tetanus, dysentery, staphylococcus, and anaerobic toxins. These result appeared so promising that, in 1939, they led one worker (1) to state: "Vitamin C, therefore, may truthfully be designated the 'antitoxic and antiviral' vitamin." And in addition it is relatively harmless to humans.

The medical literature on ascorbic acid and the common cold from 1939 to 1961 can be divided into two groups: one group contains the clinical tests where the ascorbic acid was administered for the treatment of the common cold at dosage rates measured in milligrams per day (one gram or less); the other group contains those where it was given at higher daily dosages. The milligram group found ascorbic acid to be ineffective in the treatment of colds; the higher-dosage group reported more successful results.

Let us skim through this record, covering over a quarter-century, and see what it shows. We will take the inadequate, low-dosage tests first: Berquist (2), in 1940, used 90 milligrams of ascorbic acid per day. Kuttner (3) used 100 milligrams daily on 108 rheumatic children and found no lessening of the incidence of upper-respiratory infections. Cowan, Diehl, and Baker (4) used 200-milligrams per day. Glazebrook and Thomson (5), in 1942,200 used between 50 and 300 milligrams daily on boys in a large institution. They reported no difference in the incidence of colds and tonsillitis, and the duration of the colds was the same in the group getting the ascorbic acid and that not getting it. The duration of the tonsillitis was longer, however, in the control group, and cases of rheumatic fever and pneumonia developed; but none occurred in the group getting the ascorbic acid. Even a these threshold levels there seemed t be some protection. In 1944 Dahlberg, Engel, and Rydin (6) used 200 milligrams per day on a regiment of Swedish soldiers and reported, "No difference could be found as regards frequency or duration of colds, degrees of fever, etc." Franz and Heyl (7) and Tebrock, Arminio, and Johnston (8), in 1956, both used about 200 milligrams daily in combination with "bioflavanoids, " without reporting notable success. At this late date these workers were still proving the pharmacologic fact that you cannot squeeze consistent good therapeutic results from ineffective threshold dosages. Shekhtman (9), in 1961, used 100 milligrams of ascorbic acid for seven months of the year and then 50 milligrams for the rest of the year. He reported a decreased incidence of colds, but the difference was not striking. These are some of the reports of those who used the threshold of "vitamin-like" dosages of milligrams per day. Now, let us turn to the other side of the picture -- the group that used higher dosages.

This group includes Ruskin (10) who, in 1938, injected 450 milligrams of calcium ascorbate as soon after the onset of cold symptoms as possible. (this report is included among the higher level group because giving ascorbate by injection is several times more effective that the equivalent dosage by mouth.) In over 2,000 injections there were no complications incident to the injections. Forty-two percent of his patients were completely relieved, usually after the first or second injection. Forty-eight percent were reported as "markedly improved." Ruskin, in his summary, states, "Calcium ascorbate would appear to be practically an abortive in the treatment of the common cold." This statement appeared in 1938, and an astronomical number of colds could have been prevented in the intervening years if only this early work had been followed up. Van Alyea (11), in 1942, found 1 gram a day of ascorbic acid a valuable aid in treating rhinosinusitis. Markwell (12), by 1947, using 3/4 gram or more every three or four hours stated:

My experience seems to show that if the dose is given both early enough and in large enough quantity, the chances of stopping a cold are about fifty-fifty, or perhaps better. It is an amazing and comforting experience to realize suddenly in the middle of the afternoon that no cold is present, after having in the morning expected several days of throat torture... I have never seen any ill effects whatsoever from vitamin C and I do not think there are any... The number of patients who have taken large doses of vitamin C to abort colds during in the last three years is considerable -- large enough to allow an opinion to be formed, at any rate, as a preliminary to more scientific research.

Albanese (13), in 1947, injected 2 grams of ascorbic acid a day to fight off "la grippe" and reported an immediate alleviation of symptoms, a rapid drop in fever, and shortening of duration of illness. The injections were well tolerated and there were no complications. Albanese reported his observations in the hope that it would stimulate others to try his treatment and obtain additional clinical data. Woolstone (14), in 1954, obtained good results in treating the common cold with 0,8 grams of ascorbic acid hourly and vitamin B complex three times a day. He stated, "although I can only offer my own observations as proof, the results have been so dramatic that I feel others should be given a chance to try it." Miegl (15), three years later, described the excellent relief of 111 of 132 common cold sufferers in half a day by taking 1 gram of ascorbic acid in tea, three times a day (3,000mg). In 1958 (15), he published another paper extending his previous good results and recommended 2 to 5 grams of ascorbic acid a day for the prophylaxis of respiratory diseases, nosebleeds, radiation sickness, postoperative bleeding, and other conditions. Bessel-Lorch (16) in tests on Berlin high school students at a ski camp gave 1 gram a day to twenty-six students and none to twenty others. After nine days, nine members of the "no-ascorbic" group had fallen ill and only one member of the "ascorbic" group. All students catching colds were given 2 grams of ascorbic acid daily, which produced a general improvement within twenty-four hours so that increased physical exertion could be tolerated without special difficulties. The significant observation was made that, "all participants sowed considerable increase in physical stamina under the influence of vitamin C medication." Ritzel (17), in 1961, reported on a larger experiment in a ski camp. One gram of ascorbic acid was given to 139 subjects and 140 others did not receive it. symptoms were reported in 119 cases from the "no-ascorbic" subjects and 42 cases from the "ascorbic" group. Ritzel stated in his summary, "Statistical evaluation of the results confirmed the efficacy of vitamin C in the prophylaxis and treatment of colds."

There are two things that should be noted in these provocative reports. First, the unheeded appeals for additional extensive clinical research on the high-dosage ascorbic acid treatment of the common cold. Second, the levels of ascorbic acid dosages which were considered "high" by these various authors, who still thought of it as vitamin C, were still far below the dosages that would be considered adequate under the teachings of the genetic disease concept.

In keeping with this new concept, the following regimen for the control of the common cold has been devised and should be subjected to thorough clinical testing. The rationale is based on the known virucidal action of ascorbic acid and the general mammalian response to biochemical stresses. The strategy is to raise the blood and tissue levels of ascorbic acid, by repeated frequent doses, to a point where the virus can no longer survive. It is really difficult to understand how this simple and logical idea has escaped so many investigators for so long. This regime is not untried: the author has been his own "guinea pig" and has not had a cold for nearly two decades. Many of the author's family, colleagues, and friends have volunteered to follow it and have reported successful results. When used as directed it has been practically 100 percent effective.

An individual continuously on the "full correction" regimen of 3 to 5 grams of ascorbic acid daily for an unstressed adult will have a high resistance to infectious respiratory diseases. Should the exposure to the infectious agent be unduly heavy or some other uncorrected biochemical stresses be imposed, the infecting virus may gain a foothold and start developing. Treatment is instituted at the very first indication of the cold starting, because it is much easier to abort an incipient cold than to try to treat an advanced case. If a known heavy exposure to the infectious agent is experienced, such as close contacts with a coughing and sneezing cold sufferer, then prophylactic doses of several grams of ascorbic acid, several times a day, may be taken without waiting for cold symptoms to develop.

At the first symptoms of a developing cold I take about 1.5 to 2.0 grams of ascorbic acid (1,500mg – 2,000mg), dissolved in a couple of ounces of water, unsweetened or sweetened to taste. Within twenty minutes to half an hour another dose is ingested and this is repeated at twenty-minute to half-hour intervals. Usually by the third dose the virus has been effectively inactivated, and usually no further cold symptoms will appear. I watch for any delayed symptoms and, if any become evident, I take further doses. If the start of this regimen is delayed and it is instituted only after the virus has spread throughout the body, the results may not be so dramatic, but ascorbic acid will nevertheless be of great benefit. Continued dosages at one- or two-hour intervals will shorten the duration of the attack, often to a day. The great advantage of this common cold therapy is that it utilizes a normal body constituent rather than some foreign toxic material. This regime should be the subject of large-scale, long-range clinical studies in order to establish its efficacy and safety, and to provide the data required by medicine for any new suggested therapy.

In 1966, this regime was sent to Dr. Linus Pauling. As a result of his successful personal experience and other work, he published in 1970 the book (18) Vitamin C and The Common Cold. This volume, the first published book in the new fields of megascorbic prophylaxis and megascorbic therapy, gives a more detailed and practical account of the use of ascorbic acid for this condition than is possible in the space of this short chapter.

With the publication of this book, there was a rash of unjustified criticism heaped upon Dr. Pauling by the medical establishment as well as the lay press. In the second edition of this book, published by Bantam Books in 1971, Dr. Pauling answers these criticisms. Chapter 12 ends with the statement:

With the increasing recognition of the value of vitamin C and the increasing use of this natural and essential substance to strengthen the body's defenses against infections, this universal scourge, the common cold, can be brought under control.

Up to the date of the publication of this book, the author is not aware of any clinical tests planned or started that follow the suggested regimen of: 1. long-term correction of hypoascorbemia to improve resistance against the cold virus, and 2. massive mirucidal therapy with ascorbic acid once the symptoms of the cold appear.

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~

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!