How to Hack a Cold Naturally
Do you feel a scratchiness or a dull ache in your throat?
Are you extra exhausted? Does your head ache a little?
Do you feel a little sinus pressure?
’Tis the season…Cold and Flu season, that is.
“These symptoms (for me) are the first signs that I may be getting sick.”
But because I recognize them as such, I know exactly what to do to prevent things from escalating. That’s right, I can stop a cold in its tracks before it ever really takes hold. And usually in under a day.
Read on to find out how.
But first, let me remind you that I was a teacher. I spent all day in a classroom. Kids (and other teachers) often came to school sick, passing viruses around like candy. I, unfortunately, caught every one of them!
I’d fight the good fight - I’d do what I could to ease symptoms, but I always lost. I’d try to stick it out until the weekend, and usually be able to last a few days or a week. If it got bad enough, I’d have to take a day or two off work to rest and be miserable on my own. Other times, I kept on working but could not shake the nagging symptoms - sometimes lingering for weeks.
In either case, it was an expected outcome every winter - usually a few times each year.
That was back when I ate a nutrient-poor diet and had a very weak immune system. As everyone else around me also got sick, I figured it was normal and just a regular part of working with kids.
Not any more.
Now, I can stop a cold in its tracks by following a simple little protocol that consists of 3 things.
My natural protocol to hack a cold at the first sign
Vitamin C
Zinc spray
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that quenches free radicals and speeds wound healing, in addition to being necessary for collagen formation.
When we start to feel a cold or flu coming on, vitamin C will give our virus-fighting immune system a boost. It is found in citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemons, mangos, papayas, oranges, and pineapples, as well as in green vegetables like asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and kale.
In supplement form, a buffered vitamin C is unlikely to cause stomach upset, while Ester-C is easily absorbed. In either form, vitamin C helps other antioxidants keep their potency and helps their absorption in the body.
Health Benefits of Garlic
There is not much garlic cannot do! The allicin compounds in garlic are absolutely amazing, making it an antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-stress, and anti-aging nutrient. As my dad used to say, it’s “good for what ails you, and if nothing ails you, it’s good for that, too!”
Garlic contains health-promoting phytochemicals and sulphur compounds. When raw garlic is crushed, an enzyme is released and allicin is born. Allicin is what gives garlic its strong aroma and flavour. It also acts as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals and an antiviral to rid the body of any invaders.
With numerous health benefits attributed to it, the allicin in garlic can be used to help acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, athlete’s foot, candidas, canker sores, circulation, fatigue, hemorrhoids, high cholesterol, high toxin levels, high triglycerides, hypertension, pneumonia, sore throats, varicose veins, and more!
Because it helps kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi and helps rid the body of foreign invaders, it’s a perfect compliment to my natural protocol, and I reach for my allicin capsules whenever I feel anything resembling a cold coming on.
Yes, I prefer to use very potent allicin capsules, rather than consume raw garlic - but if you’re brave enough, I’m sure the raw stuff would work just as well!
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral needed for cell division, growth, wound healing, and proper immune function.
I use a zinc throat spray that has no sugar or other added ingredients, and pump about 6 sprays into the back of my throat. Zinc lozenges would work, too, but I couldn’t find any at my local health food store that did not contain sugar.
The combination of zinc, vitamin C, and allicin, gives the immune system a boost, blasts our cells with potent antioxidants that keeps them strong and resilient, and speeds the destruction of harmful bacteria and viruses.
“Taken simultaneously, my protocol provides the perfect combination to give your immune system a boost and get rid of a cold at the first sign! ”
This protocol has always worked for me! Every. Single. Time.
I take all thee of my protocol components (vitamin C, garlic, and zinc spray) at the same time, two or three times per day, for anywhere from one to three days. If you feel really rough, you can take them up to 5 times in one day.
The only caveat? I have to begin right away. Should I wait a day or so after first feeling symptoms, it might take 2 or 3 days of feeling moderately ill and run down while cycling through my ritualistic protocol before symptoms abate. Even still, this is a great improvement from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad colds that I used to get.
So there you have it. The natural protocol I use to fight a cold at the first sign.
I can’t even recount the number of times I have used this protocol. Most of the time I only need to do it once or twice. So now that cold and flu season is upon us, I recommend you stock up on allicin, vitamin C and a zinc spray. Then you’ll be ready so you, too, can stop a cold in its tracks at the first signs of illness!
There are additional things that you can add to this protocol to help even more.
These include:
Getting extra rest - to help your body heal faster (this one is not optional, as so much healing takes place when we sleep). When your eyes get tired and heavy, forget about your evening show, close your eyes, and give in. Your body will thank you for it.
Sipping on bone broth or homemade soup - to provide additional nutrients your body needs to regain strength and build a stronger immune system
Drinking herbal or green tea - to soothe and ease congestion
Making ginger tea - a few pieces of fresh ginger boiled in water may soothe a cough or sore throat
Eating Manuka honey - on its own or dissolved in hot tea for its antibiotic and healing properties
Increasing water intake - to keep mucus membranes moist, relieve dry eyes, and help flush toxins
Taking care of yourself for one or two days at the first signs of potential illness should do wonders and may even prevent a cold or flu from developing.
Should you actually develop a slight fever, try to ride it out rather than rushing to the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever.
Believe it or not, a mild fever is sign that your body is trying to heal itself and that your immune system is working hard to rid your body of an illness. By increasing your body’s internal temperature to a hotter-than-normal environment, your immune system is trying to kill off a virus. This hotter environment also makes the germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate faster and become more efficient. Letting your body work its own healing magic may help you get better faster, while suppressing a fever may actually prevent your body from doing its job.
Do keep in mind that serious conditions like sinus infections, bronchitis, meningitis, strep throat, and asthma can present like a common cold. If you have severe symptoms, or a high fever that does not seem to be getting better, please consult your doctor.
If you would like more information about how to strengthen your immune system naturally in order to be healthier and help you fight illness effortlessly, contact me today - I’m here for you.
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