Home Remedies for Cold / Flu Symptoms

In my standard approach, here is everything that I did to alleviate cold/flu symptoms while breastfeeding (avoiding Sudafed and all NSAIDs except Tylenol). I don't know which of these were effective or necessary (I didn't use proper experimental protocol, and I'm not a medical professional), but within a day I felt 90% better, so I have no doubt something here really does work. Also, do everyone a favor and please STAY HOME FROM WORK/SCHOOL if you at all can.

Eat/Drink

    • Raw garlic cloves

    • Kelly's Coldbuster Smoothie: 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup carrot juice, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 2 tsp cinnamon, plus a banana to bind it all

    • Hot water + honey + juice of one lemon + cinnamon stick + turmeric

    • Fenugreek 3-4 times a day (decongestant)

    • Vitamin D, 1000IU, 3-4 times a day

    • Spicy broth (I used Sriracha in miso soup)

    • Plenty of water

Gargle

    • Liquid tylenol

    • Salt water

    • Water with turmeric

Use

    • A neti pot

    • A humidifier

    • A hot pack on the shoulders/neck/head/face

Take

    • Frequent hot showers

Sleep

    • A lot

    • On an incline (I used a bed wedge)

    • After taking Benadryl

    • After receiving a back/neck/shoulder rub

Avoid

    • Refined sugar

    • Refined flour

    • Dairy

If Baby has a cold

  • Nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse!

    • Peppermint oil on the soles of feet