Cold season is in effect and if you haven’t already come down with a cold this winter, you more than likely will before winter is over. Symptoms of the common cold include coughing, sneezing, runny nose or congestion and headaches. While there are many over the counter medications that can help shorten the lifespan of a cold and make you feel better faster, many of them contain unhealthy ingredients. There are many natural cures that are just as effective in curing the common cold and lessening symptoms and they are better for you.

Honey And Tea
If you are suffering from a sore throat or a cough, one of the best natural remedies is a mixture of honey and tea. Honey and tea both have the ability to sooth your throat and get rid of that itchy feeling. Hot tea works best and sipping on this mixture for a few days will quickly lessen your cold symptoms.

Elderberry
Elderberry is a herb that is great at treating cold symptoms and can actually help you get over a cold faster. If you feel yourself getting sick, start taking the herb and you may find that it makes the cold disappear. “It comes in liquid and tablet form, and it’s one of the few that has scientific studies showing it’s very effective against Influenza A,” said Dr. Roberta Lee, Medical Director of the Continuum Center for Health and Healing.

Orange Juice
Many people drink orange juice to help prevent a cold, but if you already have a cold or feel one coming on, drinking orange juice can help you get over it faster. Orange juice can also help sooth a sore throat. If you don’t like the taste of orange juice, consider popping some Vitamin C tablets instead. Vitamin C is what makes orange juice so healthy.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on over the counter mediations that rarely work. The next time you feel a cold coming on, don’t raid your medicine cabinet, raid your kitchen instead.

What other natural cold remedies do you swear by?

Image via Wikimedia Commons.