My Top Home Remedies To Kick That Cold

You’ve probably come across this article because you have a cold. Or you know someone who does…. When you or your loved one is sick, you want (them) to get better as soon as possible. Now that you’re down with a cold (or flu) it’s really time to look after yourself (or your loved one). 

I recently got sick with a cold and it inspired me to share these simple home remedies with you to hopefully make you feel better quicker. Unfortunately when you have a cold or flu virus, you simply have to wait for the body to push it out, there is no magic cure but to rest, rest and rest….and enjoy some of my home remedies off course. 

How quickly your body heals depends on a lot of different factors, but the main one being the strength of your immune system. If you generally look after yourself and get your daily exercise, eat healthy foods, and focus on reducing your stresses, chances are that your immune system is stronger. However if you don’t look after yourself and are dealing with big amount of stress, don’t exercise regularly and eat lots of processed foods, chances are that your body will take much longer to recover. 

Here are my top tips to get you feeling better quicker. 

Home Remedy #1 – Home Made Healing Tea

This is one of my favourites as it’s simple to make (yes even your hubby can make this one for you when you are sick in bed) plus you are calling on all nature’s best healers! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 clove of raw garlic
• 1/2 lemon
• a few slices of raw ginger
• 1 teaspoon manuka honey
• you favourite big tea cup

Method:

1. Take the skin off the garlic and press it flat on a chopping board with your palm (no need to chop, simply crush and let the aromas do the rest.) Add to teacup.
2. Cup half a lemon and squeeze fresh juice into the teacup (also squeeze out the fibrous flesh which is great for your digestion and is filled with vitamin c).
3. Slice up some fresh ginger and add to tea cup.
4. Now add your favourite manuka honey.
5. Pour hot water into the cup, stir, enjoy immediately. 

Home Remedy #2 – Home Made Chicken Soup

I can’t take credit for this one quite yet, but a healing chicken soup with cold kicking ingredients will certainly help you feel better and keep you nourished whilst on the mend (Thank Rohan from BodyMatrix). Usually the first thing that goes when I am sick, is my appetite. When I am sick the body is lethargic and just wants to rest and not eat, so I have to force myself to eat. If you are like me and struggle to eat whilst sick, don’t try a big heavy meal because you won’t succeed. Instead, try this simple, light chicken soup which you can sip on throughout the day. Here’s what you’ll need:

Home Made Chicken Soup Ingredients (makes 1 big pot of soup)

• Lots of fresh garlic
• 1 red chilli (if you can handle spicy, I would suggest you add 2 or 3)
• 1 onion
• 2 pieces of lemongrass 
• big chunk of fresh ginger
• 1/2 leek
• 1L chicken stock (or make your own)

Method:

1. If you are sick and making your own soup, you want to make the quick version. The quick version is to peel and chop all ingredients, and put them in a pot, then add 1L of stock to it. 
2. If you want the proper chef’s version, you can peel and chop all ingredients, and brown them one by one. When you brown the ingredients in the pan, the brown sticky lining will give your soup a deeper flavour. However when you are sick you won’t have time or energy to do this so stick with the simple version. 
3. Let the soup sit for a while on low heat and enjoy a few cups whilst you’re on the mend. 

Other Home Remedies To Kick That Cold

• Get enough rest. This is the only way the body will heal… Pick your favourite Netflix show and rest up! If you are looking for some inspirational shows to watch, try “My Dharma – Full Documentary” or “The Keys to a Good Life | Ryan Holiday on Impact Theory“. Also see The Importance Of Sleep For Muscle Recovery and Homemade Bedtime Tonics For A Peaceful Sleep.
• Enjoy a fruit salad. Load up vitamins and chop up banana, apple, orange and pear. This meal is easy to digest even if you’re not hungry. 
• Accept, surrender and let it be. Often when we get sick we cannot rest because we feel that “we have to do stuff”. Just remember that there is only one thing right now that is best for you: get better. So accept that you are sick (you are in no way worthless or useless, you are just sick, it’s a normal human thing, so get over it). Surrender and let go. If it helps, why not listen to some guided meditation whilst you’re trying to rest up. See 5 Free Morning Guided Meditations to Kick Start Your Day or Guided Meditation You Can Do at Home

Final Thoughts

Remember that getting sick or rundown is the perfect time for reflection and quiet time. As your body is in “healing mode” it’s now time to rest up, relax the body and brain and do some stuff you enjoy. Treat yourself to a good book, a movie or think of creating something you’ve been putting off for a long time.

Getting sick never comes at the right time, we all know that. But it’s up to you how you deal with it – so make the most of it and use your time wisely and let the body heal.