Homemade Cold Remedies

Homemade remedies for the common cold have been spooned down the throats of children and adults for as long as the cold has been around. While most of them are nothing more than "feel good" concoctions, some of the more common remedies that are made from scratch actually help relieve cold symptoms the moment they enter your system.

Chicken Soup

• Chicken soup has been fed to those with the common cold for a long, long time. While some swear by it, others laugh at the notion, questioning why, out of all items you could pick up in a regular grocery store, is chicken soup so special?

  According to the National Institutes of Health, chicken soup actually does contain properties that are of a healing nature when it comes to cold symptoms. Not only does the fluid and steam of the soup help lessen congestion, but even better, an unidentified substance in the soup may help lessen inflammation, which also relieves symptoms associated with the cold.

Green Smoothie

• Since colds strike when your immune system isn't in tip-top shape, it only makes sense that naturally boosting your body's internal germ-fighting systems is the way to go. The fastest and easiest way to do this is by introducing vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to help ward off infections and other bad stuff.

  A delicious and extremely nutritious way of getting enough healthy and cold-fighting food (fruits and vegetables) into your body is to blend them together into a smoothie, often called a "green smoothie," since the base of the drink is often a dark green veggie like spinach or kale. Try blending ice, a cup of fresh spinach leaves, half a carrot, strawberries, blueberries and a banana for an amazingly healthy and potent disease-fighting drink that you can enjoy anytime. The boost of antioxidants will help strengthen your internal systems and fight the cold virus more efficiently.

Ginger Tea

• Another painful symptom of a cold is sore throat. A bad sore throat can ruin anyone's day, and sometimes it can impair eating and drinking altogether. To help fight a sore throat, mix up a batch of ginger tea. The tea contains natural antiseptics and also has a soothing effect to help quell the pain of a sore throat.

  To make this tea, simply boil 2 cups of water, add a few slices of fresh ginger root (available in nearly any grocery store), reduce heat and let it steep for about 10 minutes. When ready, strain the tea into your favorite mug and add a touch of honey and lemon for an extra boost of natural healing and soothing power.

Natural Cough Syrup

• Coughing during a cold can be especially discomforting, and unfortunately, coughing is a symptom of most cold infections. Instead of filling your stomach with over-the-counter cough medicines, a natural approach can work just as well, without the need for extra chemicals in your body.

  Brewing up your own batch of cough syrup couldn't be easier. Get a large bowl and pour in 1 cup of honey (use Manuka honey for optimal effect), and then stir in 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice. After those ingredients are combined, stir in 1/4 cup warm water until everything is blended. Take 1-2 tablespoons as needed. This delicious concoction has the added benefit of soothing your throat.