Home Remedies for the Common Cold and Upset Stomach

Stuffy, runny nose, aches and pains, headache, scratchy throat, itchy and watery eyes, It feels like your head is going to explode. Yes, you have contracted a virus known as "The Common Cold". A typical cold can last from 7 - 10 days. You don't want to go to the Doctor, you say? You may not need to. Here are some home remedies that have been found to work for many.

Lemon, Honey, and Whiskey

Place a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of whiskey into a microwave safe dish. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir well and add more microwave time if it is not warm. (You can also do this on a stove, but microwaving allows you to use a smaller dish for this little amount.) Take a teaspoon for sore throat. It tastes pretty good, and soothes the throat.

Honey and Turmeric

Mix 1 teaspoon turmeric with 2 teaspoons honey. This also soothes the throat and the turmeric has some relieving properties as well. Take 1 teaspoon twice daily.

High Quality H2O

Seriously, tap water is fine if that's where you get your water from, but drink lots of it, at least 6-8 glasses daily. We should be doing this anyway, but especially when you have a cold. This helps in two different ways. The water you drink eventually comes out, right? Well, when it leaves your body, it takes with it toxins and germs that it has flushed from your system. Water also hydrates you, which helps to thin the secretions in your nose and lungs, making it easier to get rid of them.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper has been known for it's healing properties for eons. Cayenne is found in typical hot sauces. The hot red sauce thins secretions also. Maybe have some cayenne pepper and follow with a big glass of water!

Chicken Soup

Self explanatory. Chicken soup has been known as a treatment for anything that ails ya since great-great-great-great Grandma's days. Perhaps it is the chicken soup, and perhaps it is all of the pepper they add to it. Anyway, it thins secretions as well. Add some cayenne pepper and have two glasses of water!

Vinegar or Lemon Juice

Add a teaspoon of either of these to your glass of water for instant relief of scratchy throat. Both have vitamin C which will help boost your immune system.

Hot Bath

To ease your aches and pains, try soaking in a hot bath for about 10 minutes. You can add a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil to act as a decongestant.

OTC Medications

Sometimes we must resort to taking a few pills. I personally do not like to, so this is my last resort. If your aches and pains do not respond to the warm baths or heating blankets you might be ready for some acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Take the smallest dosage that proves helpful and do not go over the recommended daily amounts.

Zinc lozenges have proven to shorten cold symptoms, and if you can't drink orange juice, vitamin C helps boost the immune system.

There are other OTC remedies, some homeopathic, if you wish to take this route.

Thank you for reading, and speedy recovery!

Here are a list of remedies for upset stomach.

• Saltine Crackers
• Dry Toast
• Ginger Snaps (Real ginger)
• Ginger Ale (Real ginger)
• Ginger Tea
• Peppermint Candy
• Peppermint Tea
• Water
• Water with 1 tsp baking soda

If you are well enough to eat, and your upset stomach is not due to over-eating, try a BRATT diet. A BRATT diet is easy on the stomach, and consists of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast, and Tea. Slowly introduce other bland foods as tolerated.