7 powerful home remedies for cold and flu

Like it or not the cold and flu season is here. Just like that tune “love is in the air”, germs are in the air, and on the shopping cart handles, and well just about everywhere. Really that’s no need to panic, take a little immune-boosting practice. Toss in a few natural remedies to beat the cold and flu and you will be the champion this cold and flu season!

Recently I had a friend share a post that said “it’s flu season… if you so much as hiccup near me.. I will mace you with Lysol”.

For someone (me) who swears by natural health and uses, almost exclusively, home remedies for cold and flu, I was like “gosh Karen that’s a little much”.

Then you have those that swear by the flu shot even while many recent studies are showing the flu shot has an extremely low efficacy rate, and in many cases still shed that flu to other people.

But we and anyone with kids knows they are little germ magnets. So there is no realistic solution for “keeping the germs away”. So as we head out with a car full of gymnasts to hit the mats with other kids who have recently been doused with live virus germs, I know my kids will pick those up. Is there anything to fear? Pst… Nah. Immune systems were designed for this, and with a little knowledge, we won’t have much more than a runny nose.

Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

Home remedies were once the main source of healing and protecting one’s family from common illnesses. The same remedies that cured and healed people for ages have not completely been lost to the ages. 7 amazing immune-boosting home remedies to help you skip cold and flu season altogether!

1. Vitamin C 

This sounds crazy, right? Like Grandma used to say honey, lemon, and green tea. Well turns out grandma might have had it pretty right. Vitamin C plays a huge role in every single level of your body. If your body is trying to fight off the cold or flu vitamin C is very important at a cellular level.

Crazy thing is that compared to other OTC drugs vitamin c is extremely cost-effective and yet still completely natural. So when that tickle shows up in the back of your throat, or when your littles have been around another sick child go ahead and step up that Vitamin C dosage.

2. Fire Cider

This age-old remedy has been coming back in popularity and it’s no wonder why! This stuff is jammed packed with vitamins, minerals, and herbs that boost your immune system. The anti-viral as well as white blood cell stimulating properties of garlic to the warming and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, make this a cold-fighting champion.

Feeling that pressure start in your head is the surefire sign of a head cold? Yup take a few shots of this stuff daily and you will beat off those nasty germs and you won’t even have to mace ANYONE with Lysol!

Related Reading:

How to Make Fire Cider

3. Gut health with Probiotic Foods

Probiotics are all the rage right now sure, but there is nothing new. What has changed is our scientific research to prove what our ancestors knew and encouraged with the use of traditionally fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and more. If you want to really get a handle on health begin with gut health, in fact, science is now calling the gut our second brain, and realize gut health has a larger impact on our health than just about anything else.

Looking to ride through this winter season unscathed by illness? Then look into improving gut health with probiotics as the top natural remedies to beat the cold and flu. Fermented foods or naturally cultured foods are one of the best ways to get probiotics and dramatically improve your gut health and therefore your immune system.

4. Cold Fighting Crockpot Tea

This is a family favorite for fall and winter seasons, holiday get-togethers, and more. The great thing is that this all-natural immune-boosting recipe is packed full of ingredients that don’t only taste oh-so delish but are also antibacterial, antiviral, antinausea, and anti-inflammatory. With ingredients like whole cloves, ginger, and cinnamon you can’t help but feel better after a mug full of this

Needing a little immune support? Look no further than your crockpot warming with a tasty healing elixir that also happens to smell downright amazing! Easy to make, delicious to drink and your immune system will be thanking you.

5. Fermented Cod Liver Oil

I can not express how much I believe in fermented cod liver oil. This ancient superfood has been a huge part of healing my hypothyroidism, and since then in keeping our family healthy ever since. It is an ancient superfood that has a history going back a VERY LONG way.

What ancient northern fishing cultures knew back then, and we are rediscovering now is that fermented cod liver oil has many health attributes to it. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation

In numerous studies, the elongated omega-3 fats found in cod liver oil have been shown to improve brain function, memory, stress response, immune response, allergies, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, including bipolar syndrome and manic-depression.

So adding a little amber bottle of Cod Liver Oil to your medicine cabinet like the Grandmas in the days of old does more than just fight the cold and flu. That next rumor you hear about someone you know getting sick, pull out the fermented cold liver oil and a tablespoon and know you got this one beat!

6. Immune Boosting Pickled Garlic

Garlic has been a long-time cure for all sorts of illnesses, and it is an anti for just about everything. Garlic is a natural antibiotic, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antiseptic herb. The garlic herb has the ability to stimulate the production of white blood cells making it a very powerful player when fighting many forms of infections. Additionally, garlic has also been proven in lab studies to be a powerhouse in fighting antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria as well as treating humans and animals alike for intestinal worms.

Since garlic can do all that, keeping a delicious jar of pickled garlic on hand is one of the many great natural remedies to beat the cold and flu. If you want to drop those annoying illness germs at their source try this wonderful homemade Pickled Garlic Recipe and you won’t find yourself under the weather for very long!

Related Reading:

3 Natural Ear Infection Home Remedies

7. Bone Broth

Bone broth is the healing food of our ancestors. What people have known for eons and were somewhat forgotten is that bone broth is full of amazing healing capabilities. Bone broth is full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and healing fats that help your body to recover from just about anything faster including those pesky cold and flu symptoms.

Next time you start to get those body aches put a few bones in a stockpot and you will be well on your way to cold and flu season vitality!

This winter you have no need to fear the “cold and flu” time. Heck, you got 7 amazing natural remedies to beat the cold and flu. With everything from ancient superfoods to a mug full of immune-boosting herbs and spices on your side, you can scoff at all those cold and flu germaphobes. Move over Lysol macers, get out cold and flu fearmongers, this winter you have mother nature on your team ♡♡♡

Comment, Share and Enjoy

From our family to yours, thanks for stopping by

P.S. Looking for more natural health? Subscribe to the Upcycled Family community and get weekly family-friendly health tips, recipes, and more!

Beth

Beth is a mother of 6 living on a handful of acres in an old farmhouse in central Kansas. Beth has a background in the military and health and fitness however her passions come from her homestead life. Beth is an enthusiastic homeschooling mom, avid organic gardener, chicken & goat wrangler, who is obsessed with herbs and natural remedies and maintaining an all-around Do-It-Yourself lifestyle. Beth loves to share all she has learned about and sustainable living. While striving for a healthy, natural life, family-centered life.