There is an old saying that if you treat a cold it will last a week and if left untreated it will last seven days. There is some truth in that saying, colds are what we call a self-limiting illness, usually a cold will go on its own after seven to ten days. But that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer if you do get a cold, or resort to drugs to get some relief.

Will a cure be found for the common cold? Is there ever going to be a magic bullet that will zap a cold at the first sign? Who knows. Scientists have been researching the common cold for a very long time and they are no nearer to finding a cure. That said there are things you can do to help yourself.

There are herbal remedies that are able to boost your immune system so that it is able to fight off the hundreds of different cold viruses that are lurking about just waiting for the opportunity to invade your body. Once a cold develops, the viruses very quickly reproduce until you have billions in your nose, throat and lungs.

Herbal remedies fight colds in a few different ways, the first is to actually help your body to fight these viruses before they ever get a chance to multiply and develop into a cold.

You may have noticed that you often come into contact with people who have colds but you didn’t develop one, why is that?. How is it that one time you seem to be immune to colds and another time, Wham! you get a cold but don’t remember coming into contact with anyone who had a cold. This is all down to your immune system.

There are a lot of factors involved in having a healthy immune system, one common culprit for suppressing the immune system is stress. So what can you do to try to keep your immune system in top form, some things are just common sense. Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest and exercising regularly, all of these things will help reduce stress and boost your immune system.

There are several remedies that are worth keeping in your medicine cupboard, one of these is Echinacea purpurea. You want to make sure you get the Echinacea root which has the highest concentration of active ingredients, rather than the leaf. Echinacea can be taken as a tea, capsules, tinctures or tablets, the dose is dependant on the product you take. Do not exceed the recommended dose for the make you are using. Also do not take Echinacea daily as it looses its immune boosting power if taken too often. To help prevent colds take Echinacea for five to six days then have two or three days off, this way you will still get the immune boosting power of this herb.

When you have a cold the strategy is very different. If you are unfortunate enough to develop a cold then take Echinacea every hour or two for at least two days. Depending on the severity of your cold you can take this dose for four days. Then drop the dose down to three times a day until your cold has gone.

So what else can you take to fight your cold. If you have a cough then there is nothing better than garlic, garlic has antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal properties. Unfortunately it is the allicin (the part that makes garlic small) in the garlic that has most of the medicinal properties.

The reason garlic is so good for any chest problems is the fact that the allicin is excreted out of the body via the lungs, therefore taking all of the antiviral and antibiotic properties where it is needed. Don’t worry if you don’t like the taste of garlic, just rub a couple of cloves onto the bottom of your feet, and hey presto in a short time your breath will smell of garlic, wonderful isn’t it.

The mucus membranes of the respiratory tract can get very inflamed when you have a cold, drink ginger tea for this, it will reduce the inflammation and help open up the nasal passages.

There are several supplements that are worth a mention, they are vitamin C, zinc, vitamin B complex and a really good multivitamin can all help you fight your cold. After your cold has gone it is a good idea to carry on with these supplements to help build your immune system back up.

Headaches can start in many different places. A prescription from your doctor or an over the counter pill is not always the only option. Headaches can be caused by many different factors. Some of these include, but are not limited to, tension, stress, eyestrain, dehydration, low blood sugar, and sinusitis. Finding the remedy for your headache will be easier if you know what is causing them. There are many home remedies that you can use to treat headaches, such as: aromatherapy, exercise, and massage.

Aromatherapy is known as one of the most powerful home remedies for headaches. This works though scents and works differently for everyone. This is because people relate different smells with different things. There are some scents that are known to work out for many people. They are sandalwood, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender. These scents can be used alone or mixed together. You can try these scents in candles, essential massage oils, or soaps. However, when buying these you may want to buy higher quality products. With the cheaper products you may make your headache worsen.

Regular exercise can help you be able to cope with the pain easier. This method is especially effective for those of you that suffer from migraines. You may even try doing some exercise while you are suffering from a migraine. This may help to ease the pain. You can begin by starting to walk half an hour a day.

If you are in the middle of a headache you can try taking a brisk walk outside. This seems to work because the exercise helps your body release endorphins. Endorphins are the bodyís natural painkillers. You will do well with this remedy if you ease into it. By starting something suddenly, you run the risk of making your headache worse, so start slow.

You can try using massage as a home remedy for headaches too. You may want to use your essential oils with the massage. If you have help you can ask someone to massage your shoulders and the back of your neck. You will then ask them to press their fingers on the base of your skull. They will need to slowly release the pressure when done. This can be done repeatedly. It seems to feel better when you have someone else doing it for you.

You may want to find a masseuse in your area that specializes in this. If you do not have help, you can do the massaging yourself. You can begin by rotating your fingers over your scalp. You can try putting pressure on your hand between your index finger and thumb. This will need to be done on the webbed part. A foot massage is also good for a headache, because you will hit certain pressure points in your feet that trigger your brain.

Headaches do not have to be treated by medications, and if you treat them that way you will notice the loss of effectiveness with each additional dose. Natural remedies are best and do not introduce chemicals to your body, so if you can, by all means try out these home remedies before turning to medication.

Exercise
Exercise has been proven in several studies to be just as effective for mild to moderate depression as antidepressant medication or therapy. Engaging in exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s happy hormones. The difficulty may lie in getting the depressed person to exercise, so coaching and accountability may have to come into play here.

Omega 3s
Omega 3 fatty acids are showing amazing promise in studies as a natural remedy for depression, especially among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, who are often unable or unwilling to take the risks of antidepressant medications. Omega 3 fatty acids inhibit inflammation, which can play a role in depression. While you can obtain Omega 3s from foods such as salmon, grass fed beef and flax seeds, supplementation is easy and inexpensive too.

Sunlight
Sunlight is free and easy to avail yourself of. It’s also absolutely essential for good health and good mood. Far from being an evil cancer cause, the sun is our friend especially if we have a mood disorder. Some people are especially sensitive to light deprivation. If you become blue on overcast, rainy days or in the wintertime, this might be true of you. While it’s easy enough to simply spend time out of doors in nature, you might need to invest in a lightbox to use during the winter that will expose you to light that mimics the sun’s rays. Sometimes insurance companies will reimburse you for these products if you can get a diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Nutrition
While it may be difficult to believe, food plays a powerful role in how we feel. Eating spicy foods for example, cause the body to flood itself with endorphins. Eating white flour products and sugar, on the other hand, cause blood sugar imbalances that can lead to chronic mood disturbances. If you think this may be contributing to your low mood, try eating a high protein diet with frequent small meals – such as every 3 hours. Focus on whole foods and avoid caffeine and other stimulants.

There are other herbal remedies that have been effective for many individuals who are depressed, and it’s certainly worth exhausting these options before considering expensive, potentially dangerous medications. Talk with a Naturopath about your feelings and see if you can find a plan that will help you feel happier again.