There are many things you can do to feel better quickly when a cold sets in, but you can't wait continue working and you can't run yourself down for a week and then employ these measures. The following ideas work best when started immediately as initial symptoms emerge.
Rest
Colds can sometimes linger when you push yourself to keep up with the daily grind, drink coffee to summon some energy and drag yourself through the day. Give yourself a break and do what your body is asking. Take a sick day, lay on the couch, read a book, take a nap.
Fast
A cold is sort of housecleaning. Help your body clean up as quickly as possible by abstaining from foods for day, particularly sugar and dairy products which can feed infections and be mucous forming. Often we're naturally not hungry with colds and flus. If you are a feeling a little hungry, have some chicken soup or make some fresh juice. Plenty of fluids, in the form of water and herbal teas, are a good idea.
Sweat
Fever stimulates our immune systems and speeds the resolution of an infection. Take a "Fever Bath." Brew a pot of fresh ginger root tea by simmering 3 to 4 tbsp. of grated fresh root in 4 or 5 cups of hot water. Add the juice of 1 orange or lemon and a bit of maple syrup or honey to taste and strain. Grab the whole pot and your favorite tea cup and drink this warming tea while you take a hot bath. Get the water as hot as you can comfortably stand and drink as much tea as possible while soaking for a half hour or more. Do not allow yourself to get chilled when getting out. Wrap up in a comfy robe or get into bed. If you don't have a bathtub, you can heat a wet towel in the microwave, place it in a ziplock bag, and wrap in a soft, dry towel and place against your chest while seated with you feet in large pan of hot water. For best results, do this three times in the day.
Herbs and Vitamins
Herbs and vitamins work best when carefully selected by a professional to suit you. Take 500 mg of vitamin C every hour or two. Use garlic pills or fresh garlic and onions. You can saute garlic and eat it whole. You can juice a whole onion and combine with orange and ginger juice. Thyme, sage and rosemary make excellent herbal teas for colds because they are drying to mucous and have antimicrobial properties. Steep 1 tbsp. of dried herb per cup of hot water and sip as much as possible throughout the day.
