The common cold crashes down on us unexpectedly, without any respect for our busy schedules.  But why should you leave the house, when you can find some simple remedies in your kitchen?  I’m not talking about chicken soup.

In one episode of Sex and the City, Charlotte feigns sickness in order to jump from one dinner date to another one with a different man. As Charlotte kisses her second date goodnight in front of her apartment building, the first date walks out the door, bewildered.  He had brought chicken soup.

The men left Charlotte standing alone, but even if she had been sick, the chicken soup wouldn’t have helped.

Though it may help sooth a sore throat and clear clogged nasal passages, chicken soup only provides short-term relief. However, sipping the soup does conjure memories of mom, staying home from school, and watching cartoons all day, which can help us feel better almost right away.  Other natural remedies around the house can help us as we fight the uncomfortable symptoms.

As the weather changes and flu season creeps up on us, our bodies respond poorly. It’s crucial that we keep our health in check with the coming cold months (though they certainly are taking their time). To prevent ourselves from catching the common cold, we need to wash our hands, wash our hands, and then, wash our hands. Drink lots of fluids and breathe humidified air if possible to add that extra oomph to our immune system. Don’t forget that lack of sleep, stress, proper nutrients can weaken our immune systems immensely.

But the truth is, though we may try to prevent our bodies from catching the cold, it hits us anyway. There is no cure for the cold; most last about ten days before they completely leave our systems. So if there’s no cure, it couldn’t hurt to try a few natural remedies instead of resorting to the typical Western response: decongestants and antihistamines.  For those sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, need to sleep better so you can feel better kind of nights, don’t waste time fishing through the medicine cabinet. Just head straight for the kitchen.

Drink lots of hot liquids. They will help make your body sweat out the bad bacteria. But if you’re not in the mood for something steamy, cold liquids will also help fight dehydration, which can cause those painful headaches among other symptoms.

Got garlic?  Aside from warding off vampires, this plant is used medicinally to treat a number of infections and illnesses. Sometimes referred to as the “wonder drug,” garlic has been used for centuries to cure ailments including the common cold and cough.  Take a dose of two or three raw or cooked cloves a day until the cold goes away, and continue to use it increasingly in your regular diet.

However, do not overcook the garlic because the Allicin element in the plant will be destroyed and it will become ineffective in treating the cold or flu. Cooking cloves hole, as opposed to crushing them, will also reduce the medicinal effects immensely, so eating it raw is really your best bet.

To clear up that stuffy nose, add ¼ teaspoon of table salt to about four milliliters of lukewarm water. With a dropper, set one to two drops into each nostril a few times every day. A few drops of eucalyptus oil added to boiling water can help you breathe easier by inhaling the steam. You can also use fresh mint leaves or pine drops.

Three vitamins that have long been used as natural remedies, have also become controversial cures. However, increasing your intake of each can do absolutely no harm. Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea are taken to help reduce symptoms and improve your immune system. You should introduce each element to your body slowly, especially if you do not consume these vitamins and herb on a daily basis.

More importantly, natural remedies like these can sometimes interfere with medications that you are currently taking. So give your doctor a quick call before doing anything drastic. You still don’t have to leave the house!