Natural Cold Remedies: Naturopathic Treatments and Tips for Fast Relief

     The common cold is like a bird that is flitting in the sky, eventually flying away as your immune system gets into action and clears the clouds. Although total relief can be achieved in a matter of days, the common cold may cause a wide array of symptoms that can affect your overall health and well-being. Medications for the common cold focus on treating your symptoms, allowing you to get through the day without coughing and wiping your nose all the time. Although beneficial, these may put you at risk of having side effects that can trigger entirely different symptoms and affect your long-term health. Rather than solely relying on allopathic treatments for the common cold, exploring naturopathic approaches for your condition will not only help relieve your symptoms, but, most importantly, nurture your body’s natural ability to protect and heal itself.
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Understanding the Common Cold

Generally, the common cold is caused by viruses that can trigger inflammation to the lining that protects your throat and nose.₁ Symptoms caused by the common cold may be mild and include a stuffy nose, cough, sneezes (which can be uncomfortable in social settings), and sore throat. The common cold may also trigger headaches, fever, joint and muscle pains, and fatigue, all of which can affect your productivity (and willingness to go to work). The good news is that these symptoms are self-limited, which means that they typically resolve on their own. However, having the common cold won’t protect you from getting infected with another common colds in the future, as the strains of the viruses that cause the condition are over 100 in number, which means your immune system has to adapt every time.₁ To help your body prevent the common cold, we have the perfect blog post for you!

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The Power of Naturopathy
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The naturopathic approach for the common cold focuses on nurturing your body’s natural ability to protect and heal itself through supplemental vitamins and minerals that regulate the processes within your body, herbal medications that target the virus and your holistic health, and home remedies to support your immune system that you can easily make in your kitchen!

Natural Supplements
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1. Zinc. As one of the most predominant minerals in the body, zinc is used by your immune system to power up its processes. Zinc does this by regulating your white blood cells, which are responsible for initiating your immune responses and healing your body after damage!
2. Vitamin A. As an essential vitamin for growth, development, immune function, and healthy tissues, vitamin A supplementation is an effective approach to protect and nurture your body against the common cold. Deficiency of this vitamin may compromise your immune system and put you at risk of developing infections.
3. Vitamin D. To help nurture and regulate your immune response against foreign pathogens, vitamin D is the right supplement for you! Vitamin D helps with the growth and development of your white blood cells and their abilities to remove viral particles off of your body.​ ​

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Botanical Medicine

Managing your symptoms through conventional medications are typically not needed, since these are only helpful in minimizing your symptoms without guarantee that you will not experience unwanted side effects. More importantly, antibiotics are not and should not be used for treating the common cold, since these target bacteria whereas colds are caused by viruses! Instead, natural remedies that will not only help relieve your symptoms, but also help nurture your overall health, are your best options for your long-term well-being!
 

1. Garlic (Allium sativum L.). With antibacterial and antiviral properties, garlic is an effective herbal remedy in relieving the common cold.2 Aside from helping the body kill off harmful pathogens, garlic also helps prevent tissue damage and chronic inflammation.2
2. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). This medicinal herb has immune-modulating properties against upper respiratory infections through effectively stimulating the production of enzymes that stimulate and regulate your immune response. 
3. Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus L.). Eucalyptus has antitussive (cough suppressant) and expectorant properties, helping to ease your cough. Additionally, eucalyptus is effective for use as nasal irrigation, relieving your problems with nasal congestion.2 Talk to your naturopathic physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using herbs in sinus irrigation.  
4. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.). Beneficial in minimizing inflammation and regulating your immune response, licorice is effective in relieving your cough and sore throat by regulating the signals and enzymes that trigger your immune system! If you have high blood pressure, avoid licorice as it can elevate your blood pressure further. 
5. Aniseeds (Pimpinella anisum L.). This medicinal herb can help bring up your phlegm and remove it from your body as you cough!

 
And the list goes on! 
 
Exploring herbal medications for your health can be overwhelming, but with the guidance and expertise of your naturopathic doctor, you are guided to the right medication, preparation, dosage, and timing for your fast recovery and optimal well-being! 

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​Home Remedies

​Aside from the wonders of botanical medicine for your health, strengthening your immune system can be as simple as making fresh pressed juices with vegetables, eating produce rich in vitamin C, and incorporating ginger, turmeric, and lemon in your meals and juices. Additionally, you could make your very own elderberry syrup! Here’s our version of this wonderful concoction:

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups dried elderberries (Sambucus nigra)
• 1-2 inches fresh ginger, sliced (Zingiber officinale)
• 1-2 sweet cinnamon sticks (Cinnamomum verum)
• 4 cups filtered water
• 1+ cup raw, local, unfiltered honey
• 15-30 drops ConcenTrace Trace Minerals (optional)​

Directions:

1. Combine water, berries, and spices in a pot with a lid and bring to a boil. 
2. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, until reduced by half. 
3. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 1 hour. Allow to cool enough to handle. 
4. Strain through fine cheesecloth, squeezing out extra liquid. 
5. Measure liquid and add at least half the same volume of honey (ex: 1 cup liquid + 1/2 cup honey). Be sure the liquid is room temperature or at least below 90F so the honey is not damaged by the heat.
6. Add trace minerals, if using. These can be in the form of dietary iron, zinc, selenium, or copper, all of which are vital in nurturing your body’s optimal health and wellness through strengthening your immune system!! ​​
7. Stir/shake in a sterilized mason jar. 
8. Store in the fridge!

Key Takeaways
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1. For prevention, the recommended adult dose is 1-2 teaspoons daily, while you can take 1-2 teaspoons 3 times daily during illness. It is important that you consult with your healthcare provider before using this concoction if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have been diagnosed with autoimmune disorders. 
2. Talk to your naturopathic doctor about an appropriate dose before using it in children. Always remember not to give honey to babies under 1 year-old, as this may put them at risk of having infant botulism which can cause harm to your baby’s well-being.
3. You can enjoy this concoction alone, mix it with your favorite tea, add it into a switchel, or drizzle it over a delectable dessert!
4. You can always experiment and add other beneficial culinary herbs like vanilla bean, cardamom, thyme, cloves, fennel seeds. Always remember to add fragile leaves during the steeping time, but seeds, bark, while very sturdy leaves can be added in the initial decoction. More importantly, do not forget to check with your naturopathic doctors for safety before adding non-culinary, medicinal herbs! 

Kids are no exception for the common cold and may have more exposure to the virus that can cause the condition as they play and go to school. Making a kid-safe herbal tea with fruit puree and turning them into popsicles can help soothe a sore throat. By simply mixing your favorite tea with fresh fruit juices (carrots, oranges, fresh turmeric, pineapples, or lemons) and popping them off into the freezer in your coolest popsicle mold, your child (and you!) will be able to enjoy a healthy and immune-boosting treat!  Make sure to press out the extra water from the tea bags since that will be very concentrated and beneficial. Bonus point! You can actually make your very own Elderberry Popsicles for Sore Throats.
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The First Step
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Managing the common cold is simple and with the right expertise, your short-term symptoms are relieved and long-term health is nurtured. Since the common cold is a condition that eventually comes and goes, you should help your body prepare as it strikes again! At Natural Path to Wellness, we are committed to guide you as you make conscious decisions for health. Excited to take the first step? Talk to your naturopathic medicine advisors today!
 
 
 
REFERENCES:
 1. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Overview: Common colds. [Updated 2023 Dec 11]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279543/
2. Mammari N, Albert Q, Devocelle M, et al. Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Common Cold and Viral Respiratory Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023;16(5):662. Published 2023 Apr 28. doi:10.3390/ph16050662