Herbal Cold Remedies

According to the National Institutes of Health, NIH, a staggering 1 billion-plus colds occur each year in the United States alone, with the average child experiencing as many as eight colds yearly. Because it's caused by a virus, which doesn't respond to antibiotics, there's little you can do to treat this all-too-familiar condition, but take heart in the fact that you may be able to ease some of the irksome symptoms of the common cold with a variety of herbal remedies. Don't forget to talk to your doctor before using any herbal cold remedies on children or if you're pregnant or nursing.

Echinacea

Commonly called the purple coneflower, echinacea is a perennial herb that may boost your immune system and help decrease the number of days you suffer from a cold, according to Dr. Earl Mindell, registered pharmacist, professor of nutrition at Pacific Western University and author of "Earl Mindell's New Herb Bible." Dr. Mindell suggests you look for echinacea in an herbal formula that combines it with two other herbs known for their cold-fighting abilities, feverfew and goldenseal.
Consult with your doctor regarding specific dosages, but in general, you should be able to take echinacea several times daily for up to 10 days to fight colds. The University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC, cautions that you should not take echinacea if you suffer from certain diseases or health conditions, including leukemia, tuberculosis, AIDS or HIV and multiple sclerosis.

Slippery Elm

If you're suffering from a sore throat, one of the characteristic symptoms of the common cold, you may want to sip a hot cup of slippery elm tea. According to Cindy Jones, Ph.D., author of "The Antibiotic Alternate," slippery elm bark possesses mucilage, a substance known to lubricate and soothe sore throats. Look for slippery elm bark at your local natural health center in the form of tablets, lozenges or powder. The UMMC recommends that an adult use approximately 2 tbsp. of the powder and 2 cups of boiling water to create a tea to drink three times daily.

Thyme

Those dreading the decongestion and wracking cough associated with the common cold may opt to use thyme, an herb people have turned to for centuries to relieve these symptoms. Use dried thyme leaves to create a tea; Dr. Jones suggests that you also add honey to your thyme tea to soothe your throat at the same time. Use 2 to 3 tsp. of thyme leaves for every cup of boiling water, drinking your thyme tea three times daily for maximum benefit. Never use thyme oil in your tea, as it's extremely concentrated and toxic if ingested.