Living in Argentina puts me in the opposite seasons as those I write for.  Even though many don’t think of Argentina as a “cold” place, it can actually get quite chilly. Here many are going through the common winter cold, myself included, which has inspired me to share a bit of information relating to natural remedies for this viral infection that can’t be treated with antibiotics. Even though it is less likely to come down with a cold in the summer, it can still happen, and it’s helpful to know how to pass through it as quickly as possible with solutions that are much more effective then over-the-counter cold medicines.

The common cold is an upper respiratory infection that usually attacks when the immune system is weakened due to any number of factors including diet, stress, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, etc. First and foremost, it’s important to keep the immune system in tip-top shape to help you avoid colds in the first place. Many of the suggestions below are just as good at preventing as they are at treating the virus itself.

Vitamin C

A heavy dose of Vitamin C may be one of the best solutions out there in my experience. Possibly you have heard of a Vitamin C flush which involves taking a high dosage of Vitamin C (preferably in ascorbate or powder form) every hour until you reach a point of diarrhea, an indicator that you’ve reached the maximum amount of Vitamin C that your body can tolerate. The next step is to then take that amount (the total of what you consumed on day 1 until you reached your tolerance point), 3 times daily for the next 2 days. This could be as much as 12g of Vitamin C every 4 to 5 hours, depending on the individual. If at any point, you experience diarrhea, cut back by 1g at the next dosage. After 2 days of this, you should notice a remarkable difference in your symptoms at which point you can begin to wean yourself off of the high dosage slowly until you’ve healed completely.  If the idea of a flush doesn’t feel right to you, instead just try taking a higher dosage then normal and see if your body responds (2-4g). Either way, a vitamin C supplement when you’re sick should be very helpful.[1]

Probiotics

A healthy gut may be one of the most important aspects of good health. As mentioned in my previous posts, it’s extremely important for brain health and can do wonders for your mental wellbeing. However, it also appears to be equally valuable for combating viruses, by impacting the immune system. A new study published in Medical News Today, indicates that our SAD (Standard American Diet) consisting of highly processed food and the overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial cleansers has produced a gut lacking the right balance of good and bad bacteria for many of us.[2]  As the study in Genome Research reports, the human gut plays a key role in the body’s wellbeing and defense against disease.[3] Even though there are a number of good probiotic supplements on the market containing billions of beneficial bacteria, and even better source (containing trillions) are food based. One can easily produce their own fermented or cultured foods at home, which consumed on a daily basis, will provide more health benefits then one can possibly imagine.[4]