There’s never a good time to be exposed to a cold, but this had to be one of the worst. A serious illness had left my body weakened and my immune system compromised. I was just at that vulnerable point where the illness is gone and you’re at the beginning of the climb back to health.  [This post includes affiliate links.]

As a novelist, this was a particularly bad time for me to be sick. I had a brand new book contract, two other authors waiting on my contribution to a romantic suspense series I had to postpone due to my illness, and the third installment in the Tales of Faeraven series lingering in the editing stage with readers asking for it. Stress was already my middle name.

I came down with the cold.

Fighting valiantly to keep up with my workload while also taking care of my health, I lost ground on both counts. From all indications, my cold had progressed into a start on pneumonia. That was yesterday morning. Today I can say my health is on the upswing.

What made such a dramatic difference?

Well, it wasn’t antibiotics or any kind of traditional medicine, in case you’re wondering. After the flubbing of my recent health crisis, I’m not so quick to darken a doctor’s door. This doesn’t mean I’ll never go to a doctor again, but my first reaction to illness is now to search for natural cures to try first.

Cold remedies abound on the Internet, so finding information was easy. Of course, you do have to filter everything you read through your own common sense, and I did gauge the seriousness of my condition before deciding to put together my own natural treatment.

Some people report that high doses of Vitamin C ended their pneumonia with amazing speed, and I read that obtaining Vitamin C from foods rather than supplements works best. Elderberry syrup is said to be effective against colds and viral pneumonia. I learned that vegetable juice helps detoxifies the body and bathing in epsom salt remove toxins from the skin. Putting this all together with things I already knew, I developed my home care treatment.

Important disclaimer: I’m just sharing what worked for me, and this is not meant to be medical advice for you. Try these cold remedies at your own risk. Should you feel the need to visit a doctor, you should do so without delay. I certainly would.

Cold Remedies That Worked for Me

• Cut out sugar and substitute honey in small amounts (as usual, for me)
• Take a teaspoon of Elderberry syrup 4 times a day.
• Increase my consumption of water.
• Sip several cups of ginger tea throughout the day.
• Include a couple of cups of green tea for its detoxifying effects.
• Drink 16 ounces of plain, unsweetened grapefruit juice.
• Drink 16 ounces of spicy vegetable juice.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Soak in an epsom salt bath (using 3 cups of epsom salt) for 40 minutes.
• Don’t swallow phlegm (the body uses it to remove toxins).
• Rest as much as possible through the day.
• Go to bed early.

If you are struggling with illness this winter, you have my complete sympathy. Get well soon!

If you know of other cold remedies, please share them in the comments.