Let’s imagine for a moment that in spite of trying all 9 of my tips to boost your immune system, illness still strikes you or your family. What do you do now?

Well, there are several steps you can take so that it is not inevitable that you will be wiped out for a whole week with a cold or the flu.

Now, I’m not a doctor (and I’m not pretending to give out medical advice), but I can tell you that there are several natural cold and flu remedies that have worked extremely well for me and for other family members. These natural remedies can not only provide relief to symptoms you’re currently experiencing, but they can also dramatically shorten the length of your illness.

Take Care of Yourself

We will get to my 4 favorite cold and flu remedies in just a moment, but first, let’s quickly remind ourselves about the self-care tips that you have probably heard many times before. They are definitely worth repeating because they can be extremely helpful!

If I feel at all like I might be coming down with something (even by just noticing a slight tingle in the back of my throat), I immediately make sure I’m doing the following things in order to give my immune system a chance to fight off whatever I’m coming down with:

• Cut out all sugar. Yes, this means no 7 Up for your stomach, no fruit juices, no candy, no popsicles…you get the idea.
• Get extra sleep. Give your body some extra time to fight off this illness. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep, but if you can get closer to 9 hours, that would be even better.
• Stay well hydrated. Be sure you’re drinking plenty of water or herbal teas.
• Exercise. You don’t have to do an intense workout, but even walking or doing yoga will get your blood moving and help your immune system.

Taking care of yourself by following these steps will improve your chances of fighting off whatever virus or bacteria is trying to invade your body.

Natural Cold and Flu Remedies

After making sure the basics are taken care of, it’s time to try one or more of the following home remedies. Again, it is best to start these as soon as you think you might be getting sick.

Eat Garlic

Garlic has been proven to be really effective at killing bacteria, yeast infections, parasites, and viruses. In fact, one study showed that eating garlic was just as effective at shortening the duration of flu symptoms as Tamiflu!

To be most effective, the garlic must be eaten fresh and used within 15 minutes to 1 hour of chopping or mincing it. What I personally do is to chop up 1 garlic clove and then press it down with a spoon. Let it rest for about 15 minutes to allow time for the medicinal properties in the garlic to be released and activated.

After 15 minutes, add it to your meal or put it in about 4 ounces of water and drink it like that. It’s not the tastiest drink in the world, but it really does work!

Eating one or two cloves of fresh garlic per day can be extremely effective.

Gargle With Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps to alkalize your body, which makes your body more effective at fighting off viruses that cause colds and the flu. I have personally found this remedy extremely effective at warding off sore throats.

To try this remedy, be sure to use raw apple cider vinegar that says “with the mother” on it (click here to see what I use).

Simply put about 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 1 tablespoon of water. Gargle for about 15 seconds, spit it out, and repeat 2 more times. Do this several times throughout the day at the first sign of any sickness.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Another remedy that many people find effective at fighting off a cold, flu, ear infection, or sinus infection is 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is known to be very effective at killing off viruses and bacteria.

If you’d like to use this remedy, simply place 3 or 4 drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide into one ear. It may bubble and feel like your ear pops a little, which is normal. Leave it in the ear until it stops bubbling, and then drain it out onto a tissue. Repeat this process with the other ear.

You can use hydrogen peroxide a few times in a day until the symptoms go away.

Apple Cider Vinegar Tea

Another amazing way to fight off a cold or the flu, as well as a way to soothe an upset stomach, is to make a homemade tea using apple cider vinegar.

To make this tea, place about 6 ounces of warm water in a mug, add in 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and squeeze in the juice from ¼ of a lemon. You can add in a little bit of raw honey to improve the taste, if desired, but try not to use too much as you want to limit the amount of sugar you are consuming.

Drink this tea as often as you would like to stay hydrated, soothe your stomach, and fight off sickness.

Conclusion

I know these natural cold and flu remedies aren’t extremely complicated, so it may be hard to believe how effective they can be. I firmly believe, though, that if you are regularly trying to maintain a strong immune system, and if you take action as soon as you feel like you may be coming down with an illness, you can greatly increase your chances of fighting off whatever you may be coming down with.

Now, I’m not promising that you will never get sick, but I can say that you will probably get sick less often, for shorter lengths of time, and with less severity when following these powerful tips.

Additionally, I love knowing that if I start to get sick, I can rely on natural solutions that don’t come with a variety of potentially harmful side effects.

Let me know in the comments if you have ever tried any of these natural remedies, or if you use other ones that have been effective for you!