What Are Your Cold and Flu Remedies?

Congestion: Traditional Medicinal's teas
Coughing: Tea with as much black pepper as you can stand.
General cold and flu symptoms: Chicken soup with LOTS of garlic.
Squirt or Fresca or Vernor's for nausea.

i take aleve at the first sign of sickness and it stops me from getting sick. i dont take anything after i get sick accept albuterol.

Hi S.,

You've got lots of answers here. My kids and I all have come down with bronchitis due to asthma flair up. A steam vaproizer with Vicks at night helps, Vicks on the chest for older kids and adults, bottom of the feet with socks for little ones, raise the head of the bed (they can slide off pillows) for congestion, home made chicken noodle soup if you have the time to make it, if not Mrs. Grasses is pretty good, too. (Better than Campbell's I think.) Keep Vernors stocked, the ginger it's made of does wonders for nausea. A little fresh ginger root in applesauce will do the same thing, too. Popsicles are good for sore throats and keeping fluids going. Oh and don't forget the oyster crackers or original Goldfish crackers in case of the dry heaves or nausea. They're easier to eat when your stomach is upset vs. regular saltine crackers. Keep a good thermometer on hand with new batteries (digital) and have Mortin on hand if a fever rises above 101 or 102. Tylenol can affect your kidneys where Motrin will not. I tend to keep Robitussin in the cupboards, too. There are different formulas so you need to get what best fits the situation at the time. Don't give anything extra if you can help it. Epsom salt baths will help with the aches and pains, too. A cool bath can bring down a high fever faster than Motrin, too.

There are a lot of organic and all natural remedies as you've seen. While these work for some they don't work for everyone. In any case, I would ask your doctor for recommendations and then follow your gut instincts. "Mom's intuition" is rarely wrong.

Good luck - S.

Hi S.--I prefer to work hard at making sure my immune system is strong so that we don't catch colds or flu. Eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and legumes. Avoid too much sugar, as sugar makes the immune system lazy. Get plenty of rest and fluids. Be sure to AVOID health compromising activities and foods.

If some opportunistic bug were to slip through my defenses, I would employ the same strategies as avoidance. I also have a great recipe for a special flu 'therapy' chicken soup. I have also comprised a list of foods that will help support a healthy immune system and to comfort if one would get sick. Feel free to contact me for that information.

Good luck, D.

lots of water.
Golden Seal
immune boosters
colloidal silver

there's another herb that often is combined with goldenseal but I can't remember the name right now. Better Health or Whole Foods could help

I have avoided many colds by using Zicam rapid melts at the first sign. It really works! You have to have it ready to go though. Which means, buy it now and have it in your cabinet. You take it every 3 hours until symptoms go away and then for another 24 hours. You let it dissolve in your mouth. It's great.

Sudifed, shot of apple cider vinegar every day(it works!) shot of water with lemon and honey!
Good luck!

lots and lots of water, especially for a cough, that and I find vapor rub on pajamas also helps. For a persistent cough, ten minutes in a steamy bathroom with hot shower running followed by 5 minutes ouitside in the cold or in front of an open freezer if too cold outside.

http://www.mothercupboards.net/my-blog.html

Hi S.!

I use a rehydrating drink (that is shown not to increase the chance of kidney stones) since staying hydrated is one of the most important things, especially when we should let fevers run their course...they are beneficial if they don't go too high.

I use a combination of supplements and herbs to strengthen my immune system before hand and boost it when I feel a tickle in my throat or start to feel achey. Are these the kinds of things you're thinking about?

I have a zinc product I use if there is diarrhea. Onion juice if there is an ear infection. There are so many effective things we can do to strengthen and support the immune system we were given. I am passionate helping Moms learn these things.

Would you like more?

warmly, M.

What if you could do preventing measures that would minimize colds and prevent flus? A diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, water (1/2 their weight in ounces), exercise (which at their age I am certain they get exercise in just playing), and whole food supplements because we can't everything we need from food.

Being a parent is like a game of Follow the Leader. Take care of yourself first.

If I can be of furter help, call me at ###-###-####.

Hi S.!

I believe our best defense is our own immune system.
We need to keep our immune system healthy and strong. For 6 years our family has been using nutritionals from USANA HEALTH SCIENCES. They are rated the top nutritional in the US and Canada for potency and purity. (Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements, by Lyle MacWilliam - you can find this book at Barnes and Noble!) Yes, I do this as a home business now because after using these products we have seen the benefits, not only less sickness, but also more energy and overall well-being. They have childrens chewables, nutritionals for teens, and adults. We need to keep the cells in our bodies healthy in order to keep our immune systems up and we just dont get all that we need from our foods anymore. If you want to learn more about it, you can go to the website or email me. I'm so glad someone told me about these!! I hope all the best for you!!

B. Hooyer (wife and mom of 3 beautiful children)
www.bhooyer.usana.com
____@____.com

S.,
I start taking Arbonne's Get Well Soon at the first sign of anything and I also drink a lot of tea and Arbonne's Detox Tea daily even when I am not getting sick. I also like to soak in a tub with the Arbonne's Herbal Vapor Soak and I also use the Arbonne's Herbal Vapor Rub way better than Vicks or anything like that. That seems to do the trick for me when everyone around me is sick I kick it in a day or so but most of the time I don't get whatever it is or was coming on. I like to keep things natural so I try to avoid RX or OTC products. Respond privately for my web site and or email address for more info.

K.

Elderberry syrup. You can get it very cheap here and read the reviews:

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Sambucus-Syrup-Original

I've added some essential oil of Eucalyptus or Tea tree to some lotion and to a bottle sprayer. I use the lotion before bed, and spray the pillows . It helps w/ the sinus congestion. Also you can make a steam w/ it, and do the towel over the head, eyes closed, and inhale thing.

I always make sure to flush my child's system. I would give my daughter some Castoria or a little Castor Oil to cleanse her out (I may use Correctol or Ex-lax now that she's older). I give her lots of liquid, homemade chicken noodle soup with lots of veggies (I try to mash them a little so it's not so chunky). Her colds usually last no more than three days. As of late, it seems harder to get rid of the cough. I tried rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on her feet and covered them with socks. That seemed to help a lot. I also try to vaccuum out all the vents and do a thorough cleaning, making sure to disinfect all doorknobs, drawer pulls, and other frequently handled items that most times get neglected during normal household cleaning.