Natural Remedies

When my body aches, my throat is sore and I start sniffling, I know I’m coming down with a cold. On school days, I wake up knowing I’m not sick enough to skip school; I dreadfully carry myself through the day until I make it home in one piece. My mom checks up on me — with her hand on my forehead — making sure I’m not getting worse. Seeing I’m all right, she does something I’ve been looking forward to all day. She hands me a warm cup of tea. However, it’s not just any kind of tea, it’s paired with ingredients known to have healthy benefits: mint leaves, ginger, lime and honey.

“Don’t forget to drink it while it’s hot!” she told me as I added in some more honey. The hot tea rushes down my throat and works its magic: my throat is soothed and my body feels relaxed. According to my mom this tea works best when you think you might be coming down with something. However, in my opinion I think it’s good to drink even if you’re not sick.

If I continue to grow sick and my symptoms are not serious — before taking any medications — I try my mom’s natural remedies. I found that eucalyptus oil and water vapor with turmeric help alleviate my sinuses. A hot shower can help ease body pains and applying vaseline overnight on the nose can reduce the redness caused by using tissues. However, these remedies are only for colds with minor symptoms; if you are feeling seriously unwell make sure to visit a doctor for professional help.