A few years ago I wrote an article about natural remedies for colds and flu a few  and since that time I have experimented with many more remedies. So this is a catch up of a few more things that I now have in my illness armoury. I am also writing this because at the moment I am suffering from what many of my female friends would call Man flu and it feels good to do something about it.

The term “Man flu” really alludes to the notion that women cope better with colds than men do. It means that us men might now live up to a stereotype and indeed allow the cold to develop further as we are less likely to be active. Activity will help a cold as it helps loosen snot so that our noses run more thus expelling the cold. So in my opinion manflu is a little dangerous as this coupled with Dr. Charles Raison findings that men are more likely to feel helpless and depressed when suffering from a cold means that we enter a vicious circle, lolling around and prolonging illness.

Some Advice to Naturally avoid colds

If a friend is suffering do not drink from the same glass and avoid as much as you can any personal contact. This can be tough on your friend but they should understand, I am sure they would not want to give you a cold as much as you would not want to catch one. The cold I have at this moment has been caught from sharing the same beer glass as a friend and thus not following my own advice.

Keep your immune system healthy. Try to quit smoking if you can or at least reduce the amount you smoke when there is a cold doing the rounds.

Don’t run around naked outside in the rain hugging people with colds. This is probally good advice anyway as it is liable to get you arrested.

Herbs that will help if you actually do have a cold

I am not a medical practitioner and this is just a website so don’t just take my word for it that these all work and you won’t get any side effects. I sort of legally have to say.

There are a mixture of herbal infusions you can try if all else fails and you do end up with a cold.

Personally I like Fresh Yarrow (foraged) and peppermint from the garden using some rose hips (foraged) for to sweeten and add a little vitamin C. This for me this is what works best and I use about a teaspoon of each.

As an infusion of the following herbs will also help –

Blackberry leaf, white horehound and hyssop, elderflower, wood betony, rose hips and vervain.

Extras just to boost your immune system and alleviate symptoms might include

Elderberry syrup

Put a couple of handfuls of elderberries in a saucepan with a ratio of 2 parts elderberries to every 1 part water simmering for 30 mins then strain. Add 1 table spoon of sugar, tsp cloves, tsp cinnamon, rum and half a lemons worth of lemon juice to taste.

Chicken Soup

This really is food for the soul (as some might say), home made from an organic free range chicken is in my opnion the best as is will contain more nutrients than tinned mass produced rubbish. Make from Chicken stock , to make chicken soup have a look here on our forum for some very good guidelines.

By Andy Hamilton