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Home » Soothing Natural Cold Remedies for Quick Relief

Soothing Natural Cold Remedies for Quick Relief

Posted September 2, 2024
in Healthy Living, Herbal Remedies, Herbs, Thrive

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Did you know most adults catch a cold two to three times a year? That means we spend about 52 days a year feeling sick. People are always looking for natural cold remedies that work fast. Whether you’re looking to boost your immune system or find remedies for your family, this guide has you covered. It includes remedies for babies, toddlers, pregnant women, and everyone in between.

Herbal cold and flu tea in a half-gallon Mason jar.

Table of Contents

Why I Love Natural Cold Remedies

Years ago, I began growing an herbal cottage garden and studying about medicinal herbs and their uses so that I could safely practice herbal medicine at home and build a home apothecary.

The common cold is among the top viruses that cause illness, so learning how to treat common viruses with medicinal herbs was a logical place to start. Now that we are committed to staying off-grid with our healthcare, I rely on tested and trusted remedies to treat our family naturally.

Whether it’s supporting general wellness or treating an illness or injury, I love to share what I’ve learned so that you can also avoid unwanted side effects from OTC medications.

Check out our herbs archives for plenty of tutorials on growing, preserving, and using medicinal herbs.

It’s important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your medical care professional before introducing new herbal remedies into your wellness routine.

A wooden tissue box with used tissues on a side table.

Cold vs. the Flu

It’s helpful to understand the differences between having a cold and the flu so that you can realistically expect to feel better. Here are some key differences to look for:

Incubation Period – The cold virus takes 1-3 days to show up, but the flu can appear in just one day.
Severity – Cold symptoms are mild, but the flu can be very severe and even need hospital care.
Common Cold Symptoms – If you have a cold, you might have a runny or stuffy nose, sore or scratchy throat, cough, congestion, and/or sneezing.
Flu Symptoms – The flu has worse symptoms than a cold. You might have a high fever, severe body aches, fatigue and weakness, headaches, and chills and sweats.
Recovery Time – Colds usually go away in a week, but the flu can take up to two weeks or more to heal.

Feature	Cold	Flu
Onset of Symptoms	Gradual	Sudden
Fever	Rare	Common, high
Body Aches	Mild	Severe
Tiredness	Mild	Extreme
Runny or Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes

An up close view of a spoon of gelled bone broth.

Immune Boosting Tips

Keeping our immune systems strong helps us avoid colds in the first place. When they do take hold, a strong immune system helps us have fewer severe symptoms and get better faster.

You can adopt simple lifestyle habits such as getting adequate sleep, regular exercise and fresh air, proper nutrition and stress management.

Once you have mastered these habits, learn about elderberry benefits and echinacea’s benefits and start using natural supplements like my herbal remedy for allergies (hay fever).

There are so many medicinal herbs you can grow to make your own herbal tinctures, herbal capsules, teas, smoothies, and more. Here are some of my favorite recipes for homemade supplements:

A pot, a basket of fresh elderberries and a pouch of elderberry syrup mix on a wooden counter.

Natural Cold Remedies

When a cold hits our home, I skip over-the-counter medications and turn to time-tested traditional remedies (like homemade elderberry syrup – grab the pre-made Elderberry Syrup Mix from Farmhouse Teas).

I also love having ready-made capsules on hand filled with my home-grown herbs. We use this capsule machine, and I love these already separated “00” capsules to save extra time.

These natural cold remedies work with our bodies to promote healing rather than suppressing symptoms and prolonging an illness. As an added bonus, most of these remedies are made with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Symptom	Remedy	Administer to
Sore Throat	Peppermint Tea with Honey	Children (Six and up), Adults, and Pregnant Women
Cough	Oxymel	Children (Six and up) and Adults
Cough	Garlic Salve	Babies, Children (Six and up), Adults, and Pregnant Women
Chest Congestion	Homemade Congestion Remedy	Babies, Children (Six and up), Adults, and Pregnant Women
Chest Congestion and/or Muscle Aches	Mustard Plaster	Children (Six and up), Adults, and Pregnant Women
Runny or Stuffy Nose (Sinus Congestion)	Herbal Cold and Flu Tea	Children (Six and up) and Adults
Sinus Pressure and Headache	Steam Inhalation	Older Children (12 and up), Adults, and Pregnant Women

Water being poured into a half gallon Mason jar for herbal cold and flu tea.

Five Stages of a Cold and How to Manage Them

The stages of a cold follow a predictable pattern. They start from the beginning and end with getting better. Knowing these stages helps you better manage cold symptoms and helps your body heal naturally.

Here’s how to get through each stage.

Stage 1: Onset – At the start, you might feel a tickle in your throat or feel tired. It’s important to drink lots of water and rest. Drinking warm herbal teas and eating foods that boost your immune system can slow down the cold progression.
Stage 2: Progression – This stage brings on more throat irritation, sneezing, and a runny nose. To ease congestion, try steam inhalation, herbal teas, and saline nasal sprays.
Stage 3: Peak – Your symptoms get worse, and may look like a heavy cough, stuffy nose, and body aches. Keep resting, drink more fluids, and choose a remedy from the chart above for your symptoms. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks to help feel better.
Stage 4: Relief – Things start to get better, but you might still cough and have congestion. Keep using your natural remedies and focus on eating well. Light exercise (like an easy walk) can help you feel stronger and can help you get over the cold progression faster.
Stage 5: Recovery – You’re almost fully recovered. Keep eating healthy and resting a lot.

A woman holding an amber bottle with jars of dried herbs in front of her.

The Herbal Medicine Cabinet

Are you ready to ditch over-the-counter medications and start stocking an herbal medicine cabinet with your own natural, plant-based medicine?

Join me in my Herbal Medicine Cabinet: Colds and Flus Masterclass, where you’ll learn EVERY SINGLE step and technique of basic herbal medicine making, including many of the secrets your great grandma knew about healing her family, like:

Understanding a few herbs really well is much more effective than knowing a little bit about many herbs.
A few simple, common herbs that you can easily grow or source can be much more effective than a lot of exotic, expensive ones.
You can’t treat an herb like a pharmaceutical drug… dosing with herbs is much different. Think early, often and after!
Having simple, multi-functional remedies on hand is the most effective way to battle common health challenges.

If you’re interested, sign up for my colds and flus masterclass to receive instant access and get started today!

Allergy capsules in a capsule machine and a white bowl.

FAQ’s

What are some natural cold remedies for quick relief?

Use herbal teas, oxymels, saline solutions, and steam inhalation at home. These can ease cold symptoms safely and effectively.

How can I tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Cold symptoms are usually milder. They include a runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Flu symptoms are stronger. They can include high fever, body aches, and feeling very tired.

What is an effective way to prevent colds?

Keep your immune system strong with good food, exercise, and managing stress. Using immune-boosting herbs and living a healthy life also helps prevent colds.

Are there safe cold remedies for babies and toddlers?

Yes, use saline solution for the nose, give warm baths, garlic salve, and humidifiers or cool mist vaporizers. These are safe remedies to help babies and toddlers feel better.

What natural cold remedies are safe during pregnancy?

Pregnant women can safely use steam inhalation, drink plenty of water, rest, and try safe herbs like ginger and garlic. Always check with a healthcare provider first.

What are the five stages of a cold?

A cold goes through five stages: Onset, Progression, Peak, Relief, and Recovery. Stay hydrated, use natural remedies, rest well, and support your immune system to ease symptoms at each stage.