Home Remedies When a Cold Strikes Your Home

I have three kids and all three are sick at the same time. That's the good news; the bad news is that the oldest is five and the youngest is 9 months. I can give my 5 and 3 year-old over-the-counter medicine, but unfortunately my stash is almost depleted and hubs is out of town—again. Rather than bring three snotty-nosed, cough-hacking kids to the store, I am going to try a more natural approach to treating their colds. I recently bought a book while shopping at Sam's Club (Don't you just love browsing the book section while letting your milk spoil!) called “More Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things”. I knew this book would come in handy. Here are some tips from the book to fight colds with things you have at home:

• Fire up the hairdryer. Inhaling heated air can stunt a cold's severity when you feel one coming on. Studies show that warm air kills rhinoviruses working their way up the nose. Set your hairdryer to warm not hot, hold it at least 18 inches from your face, and inhale the warm air for as long as you can—preferably 20 minutes or so, but 2-3 minutes at the very least.
• Kick the chicken soup up a notch. Chicken soup really works not only because steam rising from the bowl helps clear congestion, but also because anti-inflammatory compounds in the broth slow the movement of neutrophils, white blood cells that spur the formation of mucus in the lungs and nose. Add two peeled and minced garlic cloves to the soup to add even more punch and help boost the immune system.
• To get rid of Rudolph Syndrome (the reddening and soreness around the nose that comes with constant nose blowing-aptly named after Santa's beloved reindeer), rub a little petroleum jelly or Chapstick on the rim of the nostrils, replenishing as necessary.
• Fight coughs with thyme. Thyme is a natural expectorant, so brew a pot of thyme tea to fight that nagging cough. Just steep 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves in 6 cups hot water for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid into a teacup, sweeten with honey if desired, and sip a couple times a day.
• Three Simple Sore Throat Gargles

1. Honey—Stir 1-3 teaspoons of honey into 1 cup warm water and gargle 2-3 times a day to relieve a sore throat.
2. Salt water—It has been used for centuries because it works so well. It draws moisture from the mucous membranes and helps cleanse the throat of phlegm. Dissolve ½ teaspoon salt in 1 cup warm water and gargle 3-4 times daily.
3. Peppermint—The menthol in peppermint helps open the nasal passages, especially when you gargle strong peppermint tea. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 3 peppermint tea bags and let steep for 4-5 minutes. Gargle with the cooled solution 2-3 times daily.