5 Ways To Naturally Clear Cold & Mucus From The Body
- Shanicia Boswell
- Mar 7, 2016
- 4 min read
I think we can all agree that being sick is no fun. Especially when you have little ones and the activities of everyday life that give you no time off to heal. It is even more tedious if you strive to cure yourself naturally versus the over the counter treatments.
This past week Kamryn picked up a nasty little cold from another baby who lives in our building. A quick 30 minute interaction managed to take out our entire house because in true toddler form, she became sick and infected EVERYONE. It spread quicker than a rogue virus! Naturally, I try to stay away from store bought medicines unless her cold is really severe. Most of those medicines, even the "natural" ones are pumped with so many sugars and sweeteners, that your child is so wired, you only think that they are feeling better after taking them but in reality, they are just on the swift end of an intense sugar high. Once that high has run its course, you still find yourself with a miserable and sickly baby.
So instead of going the medicinal route, I wanted to share with you 5 Ways To Naturally Clear Cold and Mucus From the Body.
1. You Are What You Eat: Growing up, I hated being sick because it meant an entire week of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Or Tomato Soup. My mom swore by this...and in some ways she was right. Becoming a mom myself, I have adopted this habit but instead of buying my soup, I just make my own. Veggies work to heal the body. Try to stick to a plant based diet during times of sickness. Put your veggies in a soup or purée them for easy consumption for your little ones. Things like red meat and especially dairy (cheeses, ice cream, and milk) only work to thicken the mucus and help harbor your cold longer in the body. For the little ones, I would suggest cutting milk (unless breastfed) for a couple of days until their cold is cured. Also, lots and lots of oranges for direct intake of vitamin C. Lay it on thick! I'm talking 3-5 oranges a day. This is a fun treat your little ones will love!
2. Teas Are Your Friend: Another great way to get over your cold is tea. I am a huge fan of Yogi's Throat Comfort Tea with Echinacea. Echinacea is a healing herb used to fight respiratory infections and other ailments of the body. If you do not have time for store bought tea, you can always make your own. Steep some water on the stove, add a couple teaspoons of echinacea, cinnamon, honey, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, and fresh lemon. For adults: add a dash of cayenne pepper. Drink 3-5 times a day to help break up mucus in the body and soothe sore throats.
3. Make Your Own Cough Syrup: There are many ways to make your own cough syrup. Two true and tried methods I love are a basic honey syrup and an elderberry syrup. The honey syrup is pretty simple and made from a lot of the same ingredients used in your tea.
Try This: On a tablespoon, use one part coconut oil, one part honey, and sprinkle with cinnamon for a quick way to stop coughing and throat irritation. Your children will love the taste.
Elderberry, also known as Sambucus is a flowering plant normally used to help fight colds and flu. Little did I know, this stuff is the truth. This is the one item that I will buy from the store. It is sold over the counter at CVS and most drug stores.
I love Sambucus because it is not really a medicine and has little additives. You give it to your children 4 times a day when sick and once a day daily to help prevent the cold from reoccurring. You can also make your own Elderberry syrup. Wellness Mama has a pretty straight forward recipe on her site.
4. Sweat It Out: When your little ones have a cold, the best way to get it out is by letting them sweat it out! Detoxify their bodies by clearing their pores. For toddlers, keep them warm. Socks, sweaters, and thick pants when in the house. For older children and adults, if you have access to a treadmill or sauna, get to work. It is definitely good to rest during a cold but get on the treadmill for about 30 minutes a day and run (or walk) to build up a sweat while wearing thick clothing can help you to overcome a cold quick.
5. Chew Garlic: This is not suggested for younger children but works great for older children and adults. Garlic is rich in mustard oil and helps to flush our system and boost our immune systems. Take a garlic clove and cut it in half. Chew it for about 30 minutes and swallow it. I know I just wrote this like it will be easy but I believe in you! Garlic is hot and not very pleasant tasting but the benefits are instantaneous. Chewing garlic helps to break up the mucus in the body for instant relief in breathing and helps to clear the nose by being able to blow the mucus out. If your children are not able to chew it, blend several cloves with tomato for a yummy tomato and garlic soup.
Happy Healing!
Have you tried any of these methods when trying to heal yourself of a cold? Share your experience below in the comments!
With love,
-Shanicia
Comentarios