There was a time when catching a cold for me meant popping as many OTC meds as possible to mask the symptoms.  I’ve learned better though.  Now, it means lots of rest and extra natural immune supports to help my body do what it’s designed to do … heal itself.  I’ve learned that I recover so much faster when I support my body instead of when I muscle through by masking symptoms with drugs.

So when I recently came down with a common cold, I put my natural immune support arsenal to work immediately.  A cold that could have lasted a week (or more) in the past, only hit me hard for 2 days.  Two days.  That’s such a big win knowing what my to-do list and schedule look like.  Mama does not have the time to be sick!  In fact, I’m fairly confident that it was our highly-committed schedule that kept my immune system from fully functioning in the first place.

The good news, though, is that our bodies are amazing, intelligent designs that are completely capable of healing themselves, given the right conditions.  We simply need to provide them the proper support.

So when I’m feeling sick, I pull out all the stops to help my immune system fight.  Depending on the severity of symptoms, I use a variety of natural supports.  I do not use all of them at the same time.  Before adopting any of these ideas, please do your research about what is best for your family.  The following list is for informational purposes only and in no way guarantees to cure a common cold or any sickness.

1. Skip the sugar and processed carbs.  Eat whole foods.  It feels basic, but our bodies need the proper nutrition to effectively fight off germs.  It can be difficult because we just want comfort food when we’re sick, but making the effort to eat light, wholesome foods can make a big difference.  Sugar, especially, weakens the immune system and prolongs the healing process.
2. Extra rest and fluids.  This seems like a no-brainer, but it can be so difficult to make time for these extras.  Sometimes, we have to be very intentional to make it happen because they’re so important.
3. Vitamin C.  It’s been proven over and over that Vitamin C helps support a strong immune system, so why not up our doses when we’re sick?  I like Young Living’s Super C and Chewable Super C (for the kids), but I’ll jump to Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C instead when I need the big guns.  It gets mixed with a bit of water and then it’s downed like a shot, so I add a drop of Thieves Vitality for even more immune support.
4. Vitamin D. Another immune-supporter, Vitamin D is a fantastic addition.  Do your research on how much you feel is safe, but there’s often room for supplementation because research shows most of us are deficient.  I like Pure Encapsulations or Nordic Naturals gummies (for kids).
5. Bone broth.  Bone broth is a fantastic way to get extra fluids and help support the immune system because it’s so soothing for the gut.  Grandma’s advice of eating chicken noodle soup was spot on!  Did you know that up to 70% of our immunity comes from the gut?!  I prefer to make homemade bone broth to keep on-hand in the freezer, but it’s also easy to purchase online.  Quality matters though – make sure it comes from organic pasture-raised/grass-fed animals. I trust Kettle & Fire to buy online, but if you’re local, my favorite farm also sells bone broth.  When thawing bone broth, avoid the microwave to maximize the nutritional value.
6. Elderberry Syrup.  I love keeping homemade Elderberry Syrup on hand.  It’s super easy to make in the Instant Pot and is even more powerful with the addition of a few carefully chosen essential oils.  The raw honey in Elderberry Syrup also touts cough-calming and healing properties.  Plus, it’s much, much more economical to make your own versus to buy it in the store.
7. Thieves Roller.  We always keep our Perfect Attendance oil rollers (a 10ml roller bottle filled with 20 drops of Thieves essential oil, 10 drops of Oregano or Immupower (if you have it), and then the rest with your favorite carrier oil) on hand once the homeschooling year starts, but I get super serious about rolling with Thieves around the clock when we’re fighting something.
8. Extra probiotics.  Extra probiotics are always helpful to support the 70% of our immune systems found in the gut.  I like Young Living Life9 and MightyPro, as well as Nordic Naturals probiotics.
9. Alkalime.  This is another quick way to get extra fluids.  I always keep individual Young Living Alkalime packets available to mix in water for when I’ve eaten too much, but it’s also awesome to drink when we’re feeling sick.  Why?  Because it helps to neutralize acidity and support a desirable bodily pH.  Maintaining an alkaline pH makes it much more difficult for germs to survive in our bodies.
10. NingXia Red.  I’ve written before about all the benefits of this super juice supplement, but NingXia Red is helpful for us to get extra antioxidants that fight off free radicals, especially when we’re also fighting sickness.
11. Throat Coat.  I am not much of a tea drinker, but this Traditional Medicinals variety does wonders for a soar throat.  Even my kids ask for it when they’re feeling scratchy and sore.  Also worthy of mentioning is adding a drop of Thieves Vitality mixed with honey into the tea for added benefit.
12. Thieves Cough Drops.  Yes, Thieves has come up several times already.  But I truly believe this oil should be in every household!  I love the Thieves Cough Drops for scratchy throats and to open up the nasal passages.  And happily, they’re sweetened with stevia, not sugar.
13. Essential oils.  I know I’ve already suggest Thieves, but many other essential oils can be serious players.  There are several oils that come to mind immediately for diffusing.  First … you guessed it, Thieves.  Next, Raven, R.C., Purification, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Ravintsara, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Palo Santo, and Thyme.  I’m sure there are more, but these are the ones that come to mind.  Also, SniffleEase and the Breathe Again Roll-On are good ones to keep in the natural medicine cabinet.  Steam inhaling oils like Eucalyptus, Raven, or R.C. can also be helpful.  If the symptoms are severe, I’ll consider taking oils internally using vegetable capsules also, though this is something I do infrequently.
14. Quick Defense.  As an herbal supplement, Quick Defense is one I’m happy to keep on hand.  Loaded with echinacea and elderberry, it’s meant to be taken at the onset of sickness to support the immune system and a healthy inflammatory response in the sinuses.
15. Gaiakids Echinacea Goldenseal.  For the kids, Echinacea Goldenseal Herbal Drops are a great addition to the NingXia Red or Elderberry Syrup to support a healthy immune response.
16. Inner Defense.  Another Young Living supplement, Inner Defense is loaded with Oregano, Thyme, and Thieves to reinforce defenses and make our terrain unfriendly for yeast and fungus.  Because this one can be not-so-gentle on the stomach, I only use it when symptoms are more severe and always take it with food.
17. Unda Gemmo Rosa Canina.  I first heard about this natural supplement from Wholistic Kids, which claims that Briar Rose (as it’s also called) is great for adrenal support and decongestion.  It’s a newer supplement for me and because we use it in conjunction with other immune supports, it’s hard to tell how effective it is as a standalone support.  But the research looks promising!
18. Kombucha.  Another way to get extra fluids is by drinking kombucha.  It offers up more gut-soothing and gut-healing properties, which are important to support our immune system.  You can keep a brew going at home (get your supplies HERE) or purchase pre-made at a local health food store.  One note of caution – if you don’t regularly drink kombucha, it may be best to skip because it can produce detox symptoms in the beginning (which isn’t what you want while trying to heal from a sickness!).
19. Zinc.  This mineral is required for over 300 enzymes in the body, but it’s also thought that supplementation can help reduce the symptoms of a cold.  Zinc supplements can usually be found in pills and lozenges, though I typically stick with Pure Encapsulations.

At this point, you’re probably thinking that this long list is overkill.  I agree.  Ha.  As stated before, I don’t use all of these immune supports at the same time.  Also, I did not build up my natural medicine cabinet overnight, and I don’t suggest you do either.  That’s why I’ve listed the immune supports in order of priority.  Take my opinion for what it’s worth, but the first several are the ones I go to first.  And yes, even those can seem like a lot, but I truly feel they make a difference in helping the body to heal more quickly.  I hope you’ll find a few new ideas in this list to incorporate in your healing routines this winter!