Top 4 Alternative Medicines for Cold and Flu Season
It is that time of year again… cold and flu season. It’s freezing outside, the sun is behind snow clouds, and there are not many fruits and veggies in season. Everyone is sneezing, sniffling, and coughing and it is quickly going around! No one wants to get sick. So how do you protect your family from the flu at this time of year?
I am not a huge fan of antibiotics. I believe there is a time and place for them, but they are overused. At the first sign of a cold, many of us run to the doctor for antibiotics for a quick “fix” that just causes more problems.
Some believe holistic alternatives do not work as well as pharmaceuticals, but those people have never tried them! Alternative medicines can actually work better, plus they have no harmful side effects. Stock up your cabinet with these alternatives and save yourself a trip to the doctors office this winter!
Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver is literally microscopic pieces of silver (my father-in-law calls it necklace juice) that are suspended in water.
Say bye-bye to nasty chemical antibiotics! Colloidal silver has amazing antibacterial effects. This can knock out any sickness fast! But how does it work?
NaturalSociety.com says this: “Keep in mind that while antibiotics don’t touch viruses and fungus’s, colloidal silver eliminates them – making colloidal silver benefits incredibly useful. It eliminates anaerobic pathogens [Bacteria that requires no oxygen for survival] by destroying the enzymes that fend off oxygen molecules, thus oxidizing them to death.”
I just dropped some in my eye a few hours ago because I am developing an eye infection. There are countless stories of colloidal silver curing pink eye overnight! You can also use it for ear infections, cuts, sinus infections, and more.
Some say that colloidal silver is not safe to use internally. Before taking colloidal silver do more research and check out this article by Wellness Mama! Also make sure to take a good probiotic when taking silver as it can kill good stomach bacteria as well.
Vitamin C and Zinc
Sorry if this one is a no brainer, but seriously. Have is on hand! I had a bad case of pleurisy which is an infection in the lining of the lungs. It was so bad I had to sleep on the couch because I couldn’t lay down without crying in pain. After I started taking vitamin C and zinc, I got better within a few days.
Vitamin C is essential for our immune systems to function properly. When our immune systems need a little boost, vitamin C and zinc work together to boost our immune systems and get rid of that cold for good!
Activated Charcoal
No one likes waking up in the middle of the night with the stomach bug. I really, really, REALLY hate the stomach flu. I cannot stand it. So whenever my husband or I start feeling even the slightest bit nauseas, I give us both at least two capsule of activated charcoal just to be on the safe side.
While I was in the process of writing this article my husband actually got struck with the stomach flu. He woke up around midnight saying he really didn’t feel well so I took four capsules of activated charcoal. Then around 4 a.m he got back up and started throwing up. I look two more capsules a few hours later, and then two more a few hours later, and then two more a few hours later. I also took 2,000 mg of vitamin C and rubbed essential oils (more on that later) all over me as well as diffused it in the air.
Guess what?! I didn’t get as sick as he did. I had a little diarrhea (sorry for the TMI), but I never threw up and I was able to have the energy to take care of him. And if you are wondering, I did give him some charcoal as well, but he couldn’t keep it down long enough for it to work.
So what is it? Activated charcoal has millions of little pores. These pores trap in bacteria or any other toxins and take them out of the body. Toxins have a positive charge and the pores in activated charcoal have negative charges so the toxins bind to the charcoal. They were made for each other!
Not only does activated charcoal stop the stomach flu in its tracks, but it also can help food poisoning, bloating, drug overdose, insect bites, and more. Check it out!
Thieves Essential oils
I love thieves. That is why I am always out of it when I need it! I often hear of thieves essential oils going hand in hand with activated charcoal. If your child starts throwing up, give them some activated charcoal in some water to sip on, rub some thieves on their feet, and diffuse it in the room to kill bacteria. You can also use this method on you of course!
Thieves essential oil is usually a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. These essential oils kill bacteria, boosts your immune system, and smells AMAZING! I love clove… love it. I also love that you can diffuse this next to your sick family member and it kills the bacteria that is floating around in the air. This reduces the risk of you and other family members getting sick!
Also, read where thieves essential oil got it’s name! It’s pretty cool. (Note that some essential oil companies do not call this blend “thieves” that is just the most common name).
Garlic
Garlic is an amazing natural antibiotic! As soon as you feel a sore throat coming on, grate some garlic, mix it with a tablespoon of honey, hold your nose, and gulp! You won’t smell the greatest afterwords, but this is one of the easiest methods for getting rid of a cold or flu fast. Plus almost everyone always has garlic on hand.
Before trying any of these please do more research first! While these are all safe alternatives, you should always know how to use them best for your family.
Have you tried any of these alternative medicines for cold and flu? How have they helped your family? If you haven’t tried them, which ones are you most excited to try?
