Home Remedies For The Common Cold

Easy herbal practices for cold & flu season: Part Two

Just when we think cold season is finally over, someone gets sick and the miserable hot-potato-like game of shared colds starts all over again. If you’ve read Part One of this letter, then you already know a few at-home cold remedies: like how to make an herbal steam tent, or concoct an amazing immune-boosting broth.

But what about when your body needs something a little stronger? That’s where these next few remedies really shine.

In herbal practice we like to start with the gentlest solutions first. That’s why the first installment of this letter is filled with ideas for gentle immune support. And while the following herbal remedies are still incredibly easy on the body, they’re also a bit more likely to help you recover faster, and make your day-to-day more bearable.

Here are three of my favorite at-home herbal remedies for treating the common cold.

Start drinking fire cider asap

(Pictured: Elderberry fire cider, pre & post shake)

At the first sign of a cold, this is always the bottle I reach for. While you can buy fire cider online or from your local health food store, having some of your own is always the cheaper (and more rewarding) option¹.

Keep in mind that fire cider (like all good things) takes time. After combining these ingredients, you’ll have to wait 4-6 weeks to let the vinegar work its magic before it’s ready to drink. If you need it sooner, see if you can find a local herbalist willing to sell you some.

There are a number of fire cider recipes out there, but this is one of my favorites—especially with regards to how versatile and adaptable it is. Don’t have any elderberries? Go buy some pomegranate. Fresh out of lemons? Swap in some lime.

Fire Cider is a folk remedy, which means it’s less about measurements and more about feeling into the medicine as you make it. Add the proportions of things that feel right, and have fun with it!

Fire Cider Recipe

• 2-3 cups of an immune-boosting fruit or herb (ex. fresh or dried Elderberries, Hibiscus flowers, oranges, pomegranate)

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 10-15* garlic cloves, minced (depends* how much “fire” you want to breathe!)

• 1.5 cups fresh grated ginger root

• Zest & juice of one lemon or lime

• Chopped sprigs of fresh Rosemary, Thyme, or Oregano (or all three!)

• A generous dash of powdered Cayenne pepper & Turmeric

• Large bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar

• Honey (to taste)

• Sterilized jars, with lids

Directions: Combine all of your ingredients (besides vinegar and honey) in a large bowl, then use the mixture to fill your jars 3/4 of the way, covering the mixture with vinegar. Be sure all of your ingredients are fully covered² with vinegar, then shake the jars and store them in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks. Visit them often and shake up the ingredients. After the 4-6 weeks, strain out your material into clean jars and add honey to taste.

Fire cider can be consumed directly (I like to take it in shot glasses), or diluted with water or sparkling water. As a vinegar-based remedy, it also makes for an amazing salad dressing! You can get even more fire cider recipes by snagging a copy of Rosemary Gladstar’s book.