How do you treat a bad cold?

goldingoddess · Dec 8, 2010

I'm realizing I need to develop a 'system' for treating bad colds. In the past I've been able to depend on my super-strong immune system to knock out bugs, but as I've gotten older my colds seems to be more severe and last longer in duration. 
 
Basically I do I a lot of emergenCs, cut and wheat and dairy and rest. Now I'm looking for herbs and homeopathics to treat the sore throat/hacking cough and mucus production.
 
I also need recomendations that ar safe for my 2 year old to do. He currently has a hacking cough that is holding on, he's been sick for over a week now.
 
Thanks!

tanyalynn · Dec 8, 2010

For us, a few of the things that have helped (some are longer-term than others):
 
-getting our vitamin D to a better level---some people use high doses as treatment for illnesses, I haven't tried it but it's something to consider (high doses being, say, 50,000 IU which is about 2 days' worth of summertime/swimsuit sun exposure)
 
-vitamin C -- I use sodium ascorbate, it's cheaper for the doses the kids and I need when we're sick--tends to be at least 15-20 grams/day for me, and sometimes that high for my kids but they're atypical, most kids would be lower
 
-if you see good results cutting wheat and dairy when you're sick, much as it's a pain, have you considered cutting them for several months? quite a few people in the Allergies forum found that they got sick less often by cutting foods they're intolerant of (didn't help us, but I think it would've made other things less effective if we hadn't done it, and it had other worthwhile benefits)
 
-zinc, you can supplement zinc at fairly high dosages for a few days/a week at a time
 
-during an illness, cell salts have really helped this year, ferr phos seems to be the usual one at the start of an illness, and I think it's significantly reduced the severity of a couple illnesses this year, but there's a long thread on Cell Salts and there's a little $4 booklet mentioned that's super helpful
 
I haven't tried them yet, but a friend and I made up a batch of elderberry syrup a week ago, and a batch of master tonic. I think the idea of master tonic is that it's so scary to consume that you are frightened into good health. <img alt="lol.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/lol.gif">

Panserbjorne · Dec 9, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by tanyalynn <a href="/community/forum/thread/1284276/how-do-you-treat-a-bad-cold#post_16102014"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> For us, a few of the things that have helped (some are longer-term than others):
 
-getting our vitamin D to a better level---some people use high doses as treatment for illnesses, I haven't tried it but it's something to consider (high doses being, say, 50,000 IU which is about 2 days' worth of summertime/swimsuit sun exposure)
 
-vitamin C -- I use sodium ascorbate, it's cheaper for the doses the kids and I need when we're sick--tends to be at least 15-20 grams/day for me, and sometimes that high for my kids but they're atypical, most kids would be lower
 
-if you see good results cutting wheat and dairy when you're sick, much as it's a pain, have you considered cutting them for several months? quite a few people in the Allergies forum found that they got sick less often by cutting foods they're intolerant of (didn't help us, but I think it would've made other things less effective if we hadn't done it, and it had other worthwhile benefits)
 
-zinc, you can supplement zinc at fairly high dosages for a few days/a week at a time
 
-during an illness, cell salts have really helped this year, ferr phos seems to be the usual one at the start of an illness, and I think it's significantly reduced the severity of a couple illnesses this year, but there's a long thread on Cell Salts and there's a little $4 booklet mentioned that's super helpful
 
I haven't tried them yet, but a friend and I made up a batch of elderberry syrup a week ago, and a batch of master tonic. I think the idea of master tonic is that it's so scary to consume that you are frightened into good health. <img alt="lol.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/lol.gif">
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I'm just going to pay to have a smilie made that says "I agree with Tanya." This. Nutrition/supplements which are primarily A, D, glutathione, C and sometimes zinc. Cell salts always (perfectly safe for kids. And homeopathy-when needed. Usually that's not much if I've started with the cell salts.
 
I also have a few other home remedies that I'll pull out when necessary-but really that's kinda rare.

Ravenlunatic · Dec 9, 2010

Two of my main ways of dealing with cold season are; 
 
I always have some elderberry syrup on hand. It is best to take it as a preventative and so at the first sign of a cold (or when a my dd's friends are starting to get a cold) I give my dd some. I make it myself and give a couple of tablespoons once or twice a day. Also, if we get by without coming down with a cold I might keep the routine up for a week or so. I have also read that you can eat a teaspoon of fresh elderberries every day through cold season... but I can't get fresh elderberries.
 
I also make a tonic broth. I use homemade chicken stock and add lots of onion, garlic & greens. I boil all of this until the veggies are very done and strain all the veggies out. The remaining broth is really a wonderful tonic, drank warm several times a day or continuously really. I use lots of garlic.

tanyalynn · Dec 10, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Panserbjorne <a href="/community/forum/thread/1284276/how-do-you-treat-a-bad-cold#post_16103402"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> I'm just going to pay to have a smilie made that says "I agree with Tanya." This. Nutrition/supplements which are primarily A, D, glutathione, C and sometimes zinc. Cell salts always (perfectly safe for kids. And homeopathy-when needed. Usually that's not much if I've started with the cell salts.
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 <img alt="ROTFLMAO.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/ROTFLMAO.gif"> Still laughing over that, you know with this handy Search feature (not sure I'm thrilled with the new Search function yet), I've totally stalked old posts by you and a few other regulars. Some days I think every answer to everything is somewhere here at MDC, I just have to keep searching.
 
Ravenlunatic--I forgot to quote, but I was glad to hear how you use elderberry, like I said above, this is my first year making a syrup of it and it was nice to hear a) that it works for someone and b) how you use it. And I appreciate the broth idea--I need to do something to keep my mom healthy when she comes to visit, last time she was horribly ill visiting our house of little-kid-sickness (the kids and I bounced back, she didn't... I felt so bad).

Llyra · Dec 10, 2010

We rely heavily on bone broths, during a cold.

How do you treat a bad cold?

goldingoddess

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tanyalynn

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Panserbjorne

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Ravenlunatic

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tanyalynn

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Llyra

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