How to Overcome a Cold
Most colds will disappear in 3-7 days but, whether you’re at home or traveling, getting one is not that fun.
Yesterday I got my first cold in 13 months, plus fever, a cough, and a sore throat. I’m rarely ill. Usually I catch a cold about once a year or every second year, fever a bit more seldom.
Here’s what I use to do to get well as soon as possible:
1. Make sure to get plenty of sleep, at least 8 hours every night.
2. Stay warm while I sleep to “sweat out my cold”.
3. Add an extra pillow, or sleep sitting up (with a few pillows behind my back), to avoid coughing when lying down.
4. Do some stretching in the morning to release tension.
5. Take a hot shower or bath, shower cold if I have fever.
6. Eat lots of fresh fruit, berries and vegetables for vitamin C.
7. Avoid diary products.
8. Drink plenty of water, green tea, or hot water with lemon juice and honey.
9. Eat vegan ice cream, or sorbet of frozen berries and oat milk, to reduce my temperature if I have a fever.
10. Eat spicy food if I have a high fever.
11. Wash my hands often.
12. Eat hot soup.
13. Go for a short walk to get some fresh air if my fever is not too high, but avoid any physically exhausting activities.
14. Rest my voice, or avoid speaking, if I have a sore throat.
15. Drink the herbal supplement Kan Jang every morning and evening. This cold remedy from the Swedish Herbal Institute contains the active ingredient Andrographis paniculata, a plant called “Kalmegh” by the Chinese. Two 15 ml cups a day can make wonder for any cold or flue.
16. Relax.
That’s it.
Did I miss anything? What’s your advice for treating a cold?
Hi Erica
Your blog post is perfectly timed. I woke up this morning feeling totally rubbish! My first cold in about 8 years! That’s what having children does to you.
My tip – buy a big pack of Kleenex Balsam – so soft -they make all the difference.
Sending you a warm bowl of chicken soup.
Airborne usually does the trick when you feel a cold coming on or are forced to hang out with sick people (often happens in family situations and travel!)
I also drink echinacea tea the moment I feel sick like symptoms and that usually knocks it right out for me.
like orange super
Hi Tamara,
First cold in 8 years? That’s a long time! Thanks for the tip. Hope you’ll get better soon!
Hi Ian,
Make that a tofu or miso soup instead. I’m a vegetarian
@Kirstin, @Debo Hobo and @holiday, Great tips!
My spanish husband insists on the following remedy:
1) in bed all day (your #1 on steroids
)…
2) ….under lots of covers (your #2)
3) and- the special secret ingredient: chicken soup with tabasco (got the spicy food thing going!) and garlic (supposedly a home remedy cure-all….like penicillin!
Works every time!
Here in the Maldives, we drink lots of fresh orange juice or hot black tea with lemon. I personally prefer fresh orange juice. Its the only liquid I drink whenever I have cold.
My mind is blanking on the name … but last time I traveled I took those preventative fizzy tablets (grapefruit flavor — not very tasty), and still ending up getting a cold. What are those things called? They come in a little tube of maybe 10 dissolvable tablets? I think it’s best to just wash hands often and stay away from people sneezing. Though maybe i’m not the best person to ask — i happen to have 3 sick kids at home right now…
Ah…airborne…sorry I hadn’t read the comments carefully. Well I’m glad it works for someone!
@Jenn, Your husband clearly knows what he’s talking about!
@Maldives, I prefer fresh orange juice too, and usually drink tea if I have a soar throat.
@Dana, No problem! I’ve never tried those fizzy tablets, but it’s good advice to stay away from people sneezing. Hope your kids get better soon!
Tea, yogurt, and honey…everyday.
My personal cold prevention remedy.
Great tips! I’ve just recovered from 4 days of having something horrific. I get sick about once a year, and it’s nearly always when I’m on a big trip and bouncing all over the planet and simply can’t stop to stay in bed OR I’m in write-up mode and can’t take time out or I’ll miss deadlines. I’m going to take your advice next time!
To avoid getting cold/flu
. avoid crowded venues and closed spaces like shopping malls and cinemas (I want to see “the Reader” at the Watershed, but that can wait!)
. keep your immune system strong; take multu-witamins, try to reduce stress levels, and get plenty of sleep.
. slice or grate some fresh ginger root in a mug of hot water, add half a lemon juice, stir in some honey and drink it, preferably , before bed. Ginger root is a natural antiseptic, and helps digestion also. Don’t discard the ginger bits, just eat them after you finish your cuppa. Bitterness of ginger is good for your liver, which works especially hard during flu to get rid of the toxins.
To overcome cold/flu quickly depends how strong your immune system is. If you have lowered your defences then you may even get cold sores. Personal hygene is important, so was your hands with soap and water whenever you clean your nose. Kleenex balsam tissues are good as they do not damage the tissue around the nose and upper lips but if you have a runny nose which need cleaning at short intervals then use water, if possible, as you do not damage your skin, therefore avoiding any possible cold-sore break out later.
Don’t forget to wash hands afterwards!
I hope this helps. If you are already suffering from a cold or flu I hope you recover soon and please do not cough or sneeze in others’ general direction and please have a hankie handy.
@Anil, Tea, yogurt and honey daily. I’ll second that!
@Lara, Good to hear you’ve recovered. And I get what you’re saying. It’s not easy to take time to rest when one has planes/trains/buses/taxis to catch or a to-do list with uncompleted deadlines. Luckily, the state of being sick usually doesn’t last for too long.
@Ginger Root, Avoiding crowded and closed spaces is a good advice. Better to be outside in the fresh air. Fortunately I recovered from my fever and cold after about a week, but I will keep the rest of your tips in mind in case I need them in the future. Thank you!
Always stay calm & then try to achieve your goal in life .
Erica i am feelin absolutely shit. but after readin your blog, lughd. love it………………………..
@Muhad, Great to hear you enjoy the blog. Hope you’re feelin better now. Take care.
i would like us to be freinds
Ah, this is great. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
for me
plenty of steaming
bascially inhale a lot of steam
it will make your nose runny
blow nose in tissue.