How to fight off colds and flu naturally

With the shorter days and colder temperatures I’m seeing many more people with colds, coughs and flus.

Analysis of current evidence has recently concluded that Echinacea is effective in reducing both the incidence and duration of the common cold. Echinacea was found to decrease the odds of a patient contracting a cold by 58% and to decrease the duration of a cold by 1.4 days. Also, in a human trial for the immune effect of Echinacea the results showed Echinacea to have a sustained level of immune cell activation. In my experience Echinacea is of most use as a long term remedy to build immunity and to prevent colds and during the winter months I recommend taking Echinacea (liquid form is best) daily to help ward off colds and flus. Echinacea is also a blood purifier and stimulates digestion.

Olive Leaf Extract is a powerful anti-viral and is of good use in fighting any condition where the immune system is compromised. It will also detox the body so take in conservative amounts as there can be detox side effects as the body cleans out if taken at too high a dose. Feel free to check with me before starting.

If you find yourself with a cold starting, treating it quickly will help to either stop it fully developing or will greatly reduce the duration and intensity of the cold.

At the very first onset I recommend you take a clove of garlic, chop it finely, and take it on a spoon with water and swallow (take after food). This can help to abort colds if done early enough. Another way to prepare this is to take 10 cloves of garlic and chop up finely. Add three table spoons of honey and store in a jar. Take a teaspoon as soon as you notice a sign of cold for flu. If you already have a cold take one teaspoon three teaspoon three times per day. This mixture should also be taken after food.

Secondly I recommend quite high doses of Vitamin C two times per day until symptoms pass – contact me to find out more, as this will depend on your age and constitution.

During a cold I recommend avoiding sugar and dairy because of their mucus forming properties.

Blackmores do a good product called PCIP which is effective against colds and this should be taken with Vitamin C. This is particularly useful in treating infection accompanied by mucus and fever.

Homeopathy is also a powerful tool against the common cold and flu. There is a particular homeopathic remedy I like to use as a cold and flu preventative (one dose is taken every two weeks) and can be used by all the family from toddlers to adults. There are also other homeopathics that can be used to help reduce a colds duration and intensity – let me know if you have any questions relation to these.