The best natural remedies to treat a cold

You can treat a cold with various natural remedies: plants, essential oils, certain foods or even homeopathy.

Honey softens and heals. By combining it with turmeric, anti-inflammatory and stimulating natural defenses, we can fight colds, sore throats, bronchitis or even calm a stubborn cough, explains pharmacist Christine Cieur in her book “At the counter of the ‘herbalist’ published by Terre Vivante. In practice: 1 heaped tablespoon of organic turmeric powder and around 200g of organic honey of your choice (lavender, thyme, forest, chestnut, etc.). Mix gently to obtain a homogeneous paste and take 2 teaspoons, 3 times a day, for 5 to 7 days, preferably before or without meals. Avoid if you have gallstones or are taking anticoagulant medications (because of turmeric).

This aromatic plant has expectorant, anti-infectious and thinning properties of bronchial secretions. Taken at the first symptoms, it can eradicate bronchitis, colds and tonsillitis. To benefit from its benefits, prepare an herbal tea using a teaspoon of dried leaves in 150 ml of simmering water. To complete, also prepare an inhalation by throwing a large tablespoon of leaves into a bowl of boiling water. Breathe in the vapors for 15 minutes, covered with a towel. You can also use this recipe to purify the air in a room, the living room or bedroom for example, to avoid contaminating the entire household!

Thanks to its richness in vitamin C, lemon is an asset to support the body’s defense effort and, because it promotes the multiplication of antibodies, it helps to slow down respiratory diseases. “Every day, first thing in the morning, squeeze an organic, untreated lemon and drink the juice, diluted in a little water“, recommends Dr. Jean-Michel Morel, general practitioner and phytotherapist.

“These berries are rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as stimulating vitamin C, and have expectorant properties.“, specifies Dr. Morel. Prepare yourself a herbal tea, letting it infuse for 5 minutes one sachet in 250 ml of simmering water. These products are available in pharmacies, drugstores and organic stores.

This Mediterranean plant contains an essential oil with anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties which help to overcome these diseases. Fumigation will combat the symptoms of the disease. At the first signs, put a small handful of flowers in 1 L of boiling water and breathe in the vapors for 15 minutes.

Essential oils of myrtle and ravintsara as a priority

Certain essences can help eradicate colds. Please note, they should not be administered to children under 7 years old.

► Red Myrtle essential oil: a real Swiss army knife for coughs, it has fluidifying, decongestant and antispasmodic properties. Place 2 drops (only one for a child under 15 years old) on a neutral tablet or in a teaspoon of honey, three to four times a day.

► Ravintsara essential oil: it has exceptional antiviral properties in the treatment of flu, colds and other winter conditions. Carry out an inhalation by mixing 2 drops (only one in children under 15 years old) of ravintsara essential oils with two drops (only one in children under 15 years old) of radiant eucalyptus essential oil in a bowl of lukewarm water. Breathe 3 to 4 times a day.

Several homeopathic medicines can be taken preventatively and curatively for colds. Among these;

Allium cepa 7 CH is recommended in cases of clear and abundant nasal discharge. The dosage is 3 granules every two hours, spaced out depending on improvement, for a period of one week. Allium Cepa 7 CH is also indicated against irritation of the nose and eyes and frequent sneezing, which often accompany this clear and abundant discharge.

Nux Vomica 9 CH is to be taken in case of frequent sneezing accompanied by chills and clear discharge, at a rate of 5 granules every 2 hours, spaced out in case of improvement, for a period of one week.

Sticta Pulmonaria 5 CH is to be taken in case of dry stuffy nose, at a rate of 5 granules every 2 hours. The doses should be spaced out depending on the improvements for 4 days.

Natural remedies for stuffy nose

For prevention, clean your nose with an isotonic seawater spraywhose concentration of mineral salts is approximately 9 g/L, which allows for gentle washing. “Because it thins secretions, it rids the nasal passages of microbes that may have entered there, it prevents and treats nasopharyngeal conditions, and thus avoids developing colds, rhinitis and sinusitis.“, explains Dr Jean-Michel Morel. If your nose is blocked, prefer “hypertonic” sea water : its concentration of mineral salts rises to 22 g/L and helps unblock congested sinuses, the minerals attracting fluids from the nose. Repeat two to three times a day. Then place the blowing: inhale through your mouth and blow one nostril at a timekeeping your head straight and without forcing too much. Is there any mucus left? Repeat your action, because the worst thing would be to sniff, this action dragging the impurities into the back of the throat.

Cough remedies

The remedy depends on the nature of the cough. If it is dry, it can be irritating and tiring due to the absence of sputum which prevents the relief linked to the clearing of the bronchi: you can then resort to cough syrups or herbs to calm it down. A wet cough causes expectoration of mucus or phlegm blocking the respiratory tract. They can sometimes be colorful. Its aim is to free them. When this mucus is too thick, it tends to stagnate in the respiratory tract. To make decluttering easier, it may be helpful to turn toexpectorant medications whose role is to fluidify bronchial secretions. They most often appear in the form of syrups.

“In case of symptoms persisting for more than 3 days, chest pain, pain in the sinuses with purulent discharge, shortness of breath, prolonged or too high fever in children, bloody sputum“, specifies our expert.

Thanks to Dr Jean-Michel Morel, general practitioner and phytotherapist.