2 DIY Remedies for the Common Cold or Flu

It's that time of year again when I go back to teaching high school and lo and behold, I get sick.  I guess you could call it my annual cold.  Not only do the students inadvertently 'share' their illness', but the teachers do too!  It is really inevitable.  We can have up to 32 total students and teachers in a classroom with the door closed (by law) and a few windows open that rarely generate any breeze, especially if they open into a courtyard.  We can bring in our own fans and sometimes, if we are really fortunate, we might get to teach in a room that has an air conditioner once or twice a day (most teachers move from room to room throughout the day).  Just think about how many hands touch the knob on the door to the classroom with 9 periods a day in there and you can see why germs are so easily shared.  And no matter how careful you are, they are in the air after every sneeze and cough too.  

Ok, enough of that.  We all know germs spread.  But what can we do when we get a cold or the flu to help it go away faster and feel better sooner? It's already well known that these are viral and that antibiotics simply won't help. That leaves it up to you.  It is pretty common knowledge to drink tea with lemon and honey, take hot steamy showers to help clear the sinus' and loosen up chest congestion, to keep the house at a cooler temperature, and to sleep in a semi-seated position to prevent post nasal drip. But what else can be done?

After years of getting my 'annual' cold after returning to school in the fall I have come up with two tried and true remedies that I know help me, so hopefully they will help you too!

Disclaimer: Always check with your doctor or healthcare professional before trying any new treatments or holistic medicines. Especially if you or your loved ones have pre-existing medical conditions.

Ceramic Neti Pot

1. Neti Pot - Clear your sinus' and fight infection!

​Rinse Sinus’– Why you should rinse twice a day with warm salt water:

1. Salt helps to fight bacteria and infection in the sinus’
2. Helps to rinse away loose mucous and other allergens and irritants
3. Helps to relieve nasal congestion, pressure, and pain
4. Helps to relieve the inflammation of the sinus’
5. Helps to restore normal moisture to the sinus’
6. Helps to improve ciliary movement in the nasal passages (tiny hairs that help move everything through)
7. Helps to reduce coughing and other symptoms of post nasal drip
8. Helps to alleviate breathing difficulties through the nasal passages

Use a Neti Pot twice a day – mix ¼ tsp sea salt in 1 cup of lukewarm water. Pour through nostril while leaning over sink, keeping mouth open and breathing through mouth at the same time. HINT: Make sure you have plenty of tissues to blow your nose after each rinse!

Check out this You Tube video to see how easy it is:

Electric Room Diffuser

Personal Pendant Diffuser

2. Diffusers: Breathe better and purify the air!

Benefits will vary depending upon the essential oil used in the diffuser.  To ward off cold or illness in the home or in my personal space I will use Tea Tree oil.  If I am already sick or feel myself coming down with a cold I will use Eucalyptus oil.  I will use them in a room diffuser at night while sleeping (with the door closed) or in the main room of the house.  A personal diffuser can be worn all day long at work, school, or anywhere you go.

Diffusing Eucalyptus Oil – Why you should diffuse it regularly to fight the common cold: 

1. Helps to clear sinus congestion
2. Helps to control coughing by loosening mucous and helping to expel it
3. Helps to heal a sore throat because it provides pain relief
4. Helps to kill bacteria (it is an anti-bacterial) so can help to prevent spread of infection
5. Helps to boost the immune system to fight off illness
6. Helps to cool the body during fevers

Diffusing Tea Tree Oil - It can help ward off illness and fight germs by purifying the air.

For the room diffuser, simply follow the directions.  For most of them you simply add water and 3-5 drops of chosen essential oil.  

For the personal pendant diffuser you simply add 1 or 2 drops of chosen essential oil to the felt in the well on the back side of the pendant and it is with you all day long.  If at any time more is needed it can simply be lifted and inhaled from the pendant.  It's that simple!

Thanks for visiting!
I hope you found this post helpful and that if you have a cold or the flu it helps you to feel better!
:-)
Sincerely,