Remember the cold and flu armageddon of 2017? I don’t mean to be smug, but I will be. I bypassed it. Completely.
It came into my house and grabbed hold of my husband and youngest son but not me. Boasty much? You bet.
This year, not so boasty. I’ve started the cold and flu season with an annoying cold. It’s now done the rounds of the house and all I have to show for it is a sexy, husky voice and a deficit of tissues.
I hope that’s the extent of it for me this season but who knows? What I do know is that the moment there is a tickle in the throat or a slight sniffle, I immediately enlist every cold and flu home remedy I’ve tried and tested.
OF COURSE, if it’s more than annoying virus, I don’t just rely on below and hope for the best.
I’m not a doctor or health professional.
What I’m writing about below are home (or over-the-counter) remedies that help my family and I deal with cold virus symptoms – to lessen those symptoms and to sometimes speed up the getting better process.
When it comes to taking anything new – even vitamins – it’s a very good idea to talk to your health professional/s first, especially if you already take other medications and supplements.
With all the actions below, I’m essentially trying to give my body and second class immune system a helping hand in the battle of the lurgy. I don’t necessarily avoid drugs or pain relief, I just call on the below to give me a better shot at returning to 100% more quickly.
5 tried and true cold and flu home remedies
1. Onions: If you try none of the other home remedies below, do try this one. The humble onion is my secret weapon when it comes to getting through a cold or flu with some good sleeps under my belt. My girlfriend Kim Morrison, the creator of the Twenty8 range I talk about below, put me on to this remedy about nine years ago. I get quite evangelical about sharing this remedy with everyone I know – and plenty of strangers – who look at me like I’ve lost my marbles but report back with success.
You simply cut up an onion and leave it beside the bed of the afflicted while they sleep overnight. It relieves congestion and they will breathe easier. Over the years I’ve spent a small fortune on vapourisers for two croupy/asthma-ry kids but nothing comes close to being as effective as this. Sometimes if I feel a cold coming on, an onion by the bed that night may stop it in its tracks. What do you have to lose? It’s just an onion. Oh, it may smell like old Chinese takeaway in your room the next day. Not a problem if you’re the one with the cold as you won’t smell anything! Just make sure you don’t use that onion for any food prep the next day!
2. Essential oils: I love using essential oils in just about every part of my life. The Twenty8 collection of synergy blends are incredible – they’re 100% pure organic and the blends are just exquisite. The Twenty8 Immune Boost synergy blend (pictured below) is always in my home remedy kit. It’s a nurturing blend of eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, cedarwood and pine. As soon as one member of the family so much as sniffles, I have this blend vapourising in every room. When travelling, I make up a spritz containing Immune Boost and spray it around me on the plane to ward off potential nasties. Yes, I’m THAT person.
3. Vitamins and supplements: Every time I hear a segment on the news being all Negative Nancy about the supposed help that vitamins and supplements can give our bodies, I say poo poo to that. Whenever the first sign of a lurgy makes itself known, everyone in our house goes on the Olive Leaf Extract and a dose of vitamin C suitable to their age. Last year I discovered BioCeuticals ArmaForce and it was The Business … see above for me avoiding any lurgy. And see last week for me not having it on hand because I had forgotten about its magical powers.
4. Manuka honey: I don’t use this particular honey in my hot lemon drinks. Firstly, it’s not cheap and, secondly, it won’t be effective if heated because the live enzymes in the honey are destroyed. What those live enzymes help with is killing bacteria – particularly soothing on a sore throat. Manuka honey is considered nature’s antibiotic.
5. Lemon and ginger tea: Everyone has a bit of a recipe to concoct a soothing lemon tea. I love to add honey, slices of ginger and fresh lemon juice in a teapot of boiling water. At night time a wee drop of Scotch may also fall into the pot. Oops. It very much helps with sleeping.
It’s over to you now. What are your tried and true cold and flu remedies? Is there one for man flu (asking for a friend)?
Comments 24
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I will be giving the onion a definite go & I already use many of the other remedies you have mentioned Nikki but I would love to add that I also take a good pro biotic such as Nutri Vital SB 5 Billion Plus & I swear by Thomson’s Astra Forte to support my compromised immune system & have been taking it on & off for many years.
Just recently the guy at my local health shop commented that if more people knew about the Astra Forte there would be no need for the flu injection in his opinion. My holistic GP whom studied Chinese medicine whilst in the air-force put me onto it after an acute infection left my immune system shot long term. Most definitely worth a try for those struggling especially throughout winter. 🙂
Olive leaf extract is awesome – and you can get it in capsule form so you don’t have to taste it. It kept sickness at bay during a recent overseas trip and I had to buy more supplies in Paris. Apparently “olive” in French is “olive”.
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Yes, I’ve used capsules for flying. I don’t mind the taste though (probably strange!)
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Well there you go! I did not know that!!
Vicks on the soles of your feet then socks on when you go to bed helps with a cough and congestion!
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My husband like this one!
I take vitamin C and zinc every day and the first sign of a scratchy/sore throat I use Betadine Sore Throat Gargle.
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Good formula, for sure!!
Our house uses the onion and I also rub garlic on the souls of our feet twenty8 immune boost like you I am that person on the plane and also that person in the hospital OMG ………..the Drs look at me funny but my son immune system is suppressed so use the immune boost spray all the time with him.
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YAY! I love that I’m not alone, Caryn!! x
Hi Nikki Thanks for your tips! I haven’t heard the onion one so will keep that in mind. I started taking daily last month (in readiness for cold and flu season) a broad spectrum probiotic and garlic, Echinacea, zinc and C tablets. I also just bought (and am waiting for it to arrive any day now) the Twenty8 immune boost synergy blend oil and a spritzer bottle. I actual bought it because of your notes about it in your travel guide. I am travelling to Hawaii in July and want to take it on the plane – yes I will be one of those people too! – and I want to have it in the office at work to spray around. Do you just put normal tap water in the spritzer bottle then add some drops of the oil? Hope you feel better soon 🙂
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Oh YAY … it will most definitely help. How exciting! The countdown must be on? x
I always get a flu needle Nikki but lasts years flu was horrendous I unfortunately got the flu,I think from the Drs surgery,hopefully this years flu doesn’t mutate as fast.I do take vitamin C daily, I mostly avoid colds but I think it’s more down to luck than anything else.
Great tips thank you Xx
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I hope you avoid it too, Lisa xx
I have come down with a nasty cold this week and someone at work recommended ArmaForce which I started taking straight away. Unfortunately, I think cold had already set in but I’m going to continue to take it over winter. A few people I know took it last winter and swear by it’s “majical powers”. Fingers crossed this is my one & only flu/cold this season.
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EEK. It can help lessen the duration (even if you’ve got it already) … that’s what I found, anyway!
Hmm.. vitamins….I know many medical professionals who refer to them as ‘expensive wee’ 🙂
Find out what evidence there is to support their use rather than believe those who sell these products.
The best advice I’ve heard for staying well is eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep and washing hands
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I know a lot of medical professions who think that too, Angie. Thankfully I see a GP who treats holistically and isn’t so cynical. Everything I take has been recommended and approved by him. Yes, you need to do all that you say for staying healthy but that doesn’t help you work through the symptoms when you do come down with something, especially someone like me with a compromised immune system.
Nothing beats the a really spicy Tom Yum soup! Always sorts me out, probably all the delicious asian ingredients… will try the onion when the opportunity arises…
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oh YES … flushes everything out! HAH.
I love all the old remedies, like an onion by the bedside. I take zinc and vitamin C every day, and wash my hands constantly. Saying that, I have been slightly sniffly for over a week. One remedy I have heard for man flu is to drink neat brandy, rug up and stay in bed. Sounds like a man plan haha! x
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I’d like that man plan. HAH!!