We’ve all probably used a few natural cold remedies in our lives. Even if you’re not as holistic and crunchy as me or you prefer to just go for the over the counter stuff, you’ve probably had some herbal tea to sooth your cough or taken some lemon and honey to help your sore throat…these simple things are natural home cold and flu remedies!
We are so used to taking these holistic things that we forget that there’s a reason why you turn to honey, lemon and herbal tea while you’re sick…because they have therapeutic components like antioxidants, antiviral properties and more!
They may not give relief as fast as over the counter drugs, but these holistic treatments will be better for you and your immune system in the long run. You see, there’s no real way to cure a cold or the flu–only ways to shorten it’s duration, strengthen the immune system or relieve symptoms. They are viruses that you just have to let run their course.
Over the counter drugs can actually make you worse!
All the medicine that you get for colds and flu are not to cure it, they just help temporarily mask the symptoms so you can be more comfortable. However, oftentimes the ingredients in these over-the-counter drugs can be harmful to your immune system and gut flora, and research shows that they can actually make you worse.
The best way to avoid sickness in the first place is not with any drug, home remedy, tea or tincture…it’s simply to be proactive in living a lifestyle that supports a healthy immune system in the long term.
Living a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy diet is hands down the best insurance against getting sick. In fact, after I really started eating a clean diet and focusing on quality ingredients I noticed that I hardly ever got sick anymore. I used to get several really bad colds each year, but I’ve gone the past 3 or 4 years with only a few mild colds.
However, when you come in contact with a sick person or think you’re catching something, there are lots of things you can do with natural remedies to help.
How do you support your immune system to prevent illness in the long-term?
Living a healthy lifestyle that supports a healthy immune system is the best way to protect yourself from catching colds and flu and even more serious long-term illnesses. For a more in depth guide for eating a real food diet and living a healthy lifestyle click here. For now, check out the tips below for living a lifestyle that supports a healthy immune system….
- Have a good sleep routine. Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
- Move your body and do some time of exercise 5 times a week (this doesn’t have to be strenuous, it can be as simple as walking, stretching, yoga or swimming)
- Lower stress as much as you can. Take time for yourself for relaxation. Stress is one of the worst things for your overall health.
- Support your gut with probiotics and fermented foods. (Recent research has proven time and again the vital link between gut health and immune health)
- Eat a good diet
- Cook your own meals as much as possible.
- Avoid industrial seed oils. Only use healthy oils.
- Choose organic foods.
- Avoid processed foods and choose whole foods.
- Choose pasture raised and grass fed meats and avoid factory farmed meat. (Use this free guide to help you pick the right stuff!)
- Avoid sugar as much as possible.
How do you boost your immune system in the short-term to prevent catching a cold?
Ok, say you saw a friend who is getting a cold and you know that you are susceptible to catching it from them. Or maybe your spouse is sick and you’re worried you’ll get sick too from being around them. Well, there are several things I like to take that really attack sickness and boost my immune system in the short term if I’ve been exposed to sick people.
I know these things make a difference because before I started this healthy lifestyle I used to get sick EVERY SINGLE TIME my husband got sick without fail…I thought there was no hope! However, since I started eating better and learning more about holistic treatments, my husband has gotten colds and I’ve slept in the same bed as him and STILL not caught his cold with the help of these tips. Check out some of my favorite ways to avoid getting sick below…
- Colloidal silver
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Essential Oils
- Elderberry Syrup (Buy it or See how to make your own below)
- Garlic (Eat it in food, swallow small cloves coated in olive oil or take capsules)
- Turmeric (Tea or Capsules)
Those are a few of my favorites, but that’s not all there is!
There are so many great home recipes, tips and tricks to naturally suppress a cough, soothe a sore throat or help a fever.
So without further ado, below are all the holistic tips, resources and natural cold remedies that you need to keep your immune system strong!
Natural Cold Remedies:
Click here to Pin It!
Elderberry Recipes
How To Make Elderberry Tincture
Elderberry Syrup: A Natural Cold and Flu Remedy
The Backyard Medicine Cabinet: Elderberry
Making Elderberry Winter Tonic Syrup with Fresh Elderberries
Elderberry Gummies with Ginger and Turmeric
Immune Boosting Teas & Drinks
DIY Electrolyte Drink :: Natural rehydration for colds, flu, food poisoning, & physical exertion
Fire Cider: All Natural Cold and Flu Remedy
How to Make an Elderberry Elixir
DIY, Herbal Immune-Boosting Sore Throat Tea
Herbal Infusion for Fevers + Flu
10 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Holistic Cough Solutions
Instant Pot Cough Syrup {with fresh thyme, ginger, & lemon}
Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe – Only 1 Ingredient Required!
Stopping the Cough, Naturally {3 Homemade Cough Remedies}
Simple Medicine: Sage and Honey Cough Syrup
Challenging Mainstream Tips
Why You Shouldn’t Treat a Fever (Most of the Time)
What’s really in the flu shot + bonus flu fighting elixir recipe!!
Why You Should NEVER Use Hand Sanitizer
Supporting the Immune System
10 Best Essential Oils to Support the Immune System
Thump Your Thymus for Immune Health
14 Herbs to Boost Immunity {pssst! 8 may already be in your kitchen!}
Colloidal Silver: No, It Won’t Turn You Blue. Yes, It Can Prevent Illness!
Other Natural Cold Remedies
Hydrogen Peroxide + Ears = Bye to Colds. A Remedy that Works
Soothing Herbal Salt Steam for Lung and Sinus Health
Get My FREE "6 Easy Tips to Quit Sugar" Guide!
Get instant access when you subscribe!
Get My FREE "6 Easy Tips to Quit Sugar" Guide!
Get instant access when you subscribe!
Thanks so much for including my post. What a great round-up.
My pleasure! Great post!
So handy to have this time of year!
So true!
I love your long term immune system building thoughts. Sleep and stress was SO huge for myself in healing my overdone immune system – thank you for addressing that! I am pinning this to keep on hand for this winter! Thank you!
Thanks!
This is a very comprehensive list, and thank you for the link!
Of course! 🙂
I love this post about natural remedies! I always try to think of alternate ways to get better before taking medicine =) thanks!
Fabulous udeas!
Living overseas, I realized how over medicated we are in the States– I take less medicine now, and I rarely ever get sick now.
Amen! Totally agree 🙂
Awesome! I am a huge advocate of healing the body holistically, with that being said, my boyfriend is ill right now so will try some of these recipes to boost his immune system.
Hope he gets better soon!
Great information for natural remedies. I’m definitely about using things that help support a healthy immune system.. I’m already a big fan of ACV. 🙂
Thanks for putting this comprehensive list together for us! There are so many natural ways to boost your immune system, and this post shows you just that! Thanks for putting this together. I find that turmeric is incredibly helpful to boost my immune system. LOVE it in tea!
Me too! Turmeric tea is so nice!
What a great post. Something I’ll definitely be keeping handy since this year seems to be a doozy already with the sicknesses.
This is awesome! So many good recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Perfectly time roundup! Everyone has been getting colds lately! thanks for including me.
Thank you for this wonderful post ! It’s so useful for this cold and flu season particularly ! Bookmarked and saved for me and my husband !
Wow- so many great tips and links here! So perfect for cold and flu season!
This is a great list and also great from this time of year. Thanks for sharing.
I love all of these home remedies! This is such a great resource! Thank you for including my elderberry rose hip syrup too!
What a great roundup of remedies! I’ll return to this post next time I’m under the weather.
So so so helpful! Especially for preschool teacher like me who are constantly battling the germs! Pinning for later when those germs find me!