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We may be only one month into the new year, but so far that has brought more sickness to our family than the past 6 years!

I’m always looking for inexpensive and effective remedies to fight back when illness starts showing up in our home. Here are several remedies you can use to fight the infection of common colds, sore throats, and coughs that often affect us this time of year.

10 Natural Remedies for Winter Sickness

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Drink water. And more water. Ideally, drink half your weight in ounces every day. For instance, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink at least 70 ounces of water daily.

2. Drink Herbal Tea

Traditional Medicinals are great for various illnesses. Their Echinacea tea is great to prevent sickness, but if you do get sick, Gypsy Cold Care is very helpful. (This sampler pack has these two, plus Throat Coat and Breathe Easy.) Drinking herbal teas also helps you take in more water!

3. Try Lemon Ginger “Tea”

Ginger has many incredible health benefits, and soothing a sore throat, cough, and congestion is no exception! Drink this flavored water for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients that will also boost your immune system.

2 cups water
1-inch slice of fresh ginger root, peeled
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp honey

Boil the water in a small saucepan, then add ginger and remove from heat. Cover and let steep about 10 minutes. Strain the water to remove the ginger. To hot water, add lemon juice and honey. Delicious hot or cold!

4. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Another drink to soothe a sore throat is apple cider vinegar mixed into lemon water. This recipe is also safe if you’re pregnant/nursing and unsure about ingesting certain herbs.

1 cup water
2 Tbsp organic apple cider vinegar
dash of cayenne pepper
juice of one lemon wedge

Boil the water. Stir in vinegar, cayenne, and lemon juice.

5. Gargle with Salt Water 

It’s been a long-time trick in my family to kick a sore throat quickly by gargling with a salt water solution (including hydrogen peroxide for extra bacteria-killing power!). Beyond easing a sore throat, this method is also effective for colds, post-nasal drip, allergies, and more.

1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp hydrogen peroxide (optional)

Stir together this solution to kill infection-causing bacteria and reduce built-up mucus in your throat. Gargle thoroughly with the mixture and spit it out. Gargle several times per day, if necessary.

6. Increase Your Vitamin C Intake

Choose to eat lots of foods packed with vitamin C, such as grapefruits, oranges, red pepper, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Additionally, consider taking a supplement.

7. Eat Fresh Garlic

Garlic is a natural antibiotic, and your body won’t become resistant to it! This means it has ongoing positive benefits. However, for medicinal use, garlic should be consumed raw. (Yes, raw! Not even the “fresh” minced garlic from a jar!) Cooked garlic retains some amazing benefits, but to really amp up your power to fight sickness, try one of these methods to eat raw garlic:

• Stir fresh minced garlic into your favorite guacamole, hummus, bean dip, etc.
• Top a piece of buttered toast with fresh minced garlic.
• Add fresh minced garlic to your favorite salad dressing. Try the simple and delicious dressing that accompanies this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.
• Finely chop 1-2 garlic cloves and sprinkle them onto a teaspoon of honey. (Take a deep breath and) swallow.
• Some people can simply chew on a piece or two of garlic and swallow it. (Give it a try!)
• If you really can’t stand raw garlic, try taking garlic capsules instead.

8. Make Homemade Chicken Soup

There’s a reason chicken soup is always recommended when you’re sick. It works! If cooking up a pot of homemade soup doesn’t fit into your schedule, try drinking a mug of homemade chicken broth instead.

Related Recipe: 20-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

9. Take Steam Showers

Taking a hot shower (or bath) helps clear nasal passages and reduce congestion as you inhale the hot steam. You could also add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. To clear congestion without showering, pour boiling water into a bowl and hold your face over the bowl for 5-10 minutes. Cover your head with a towel to prevent steam from escaping.

10. Get Extra Rest 

This should be a no-brainer, but unfortunately it is probably the hardest one for us to do. Pushing ourselves to work and stay busy as usual rather than listening to what our bodies really need will prolong the healing process. Remember that rest doesn’t necessarily mean  sleeping; your body can benefit from taking time to prop up your feet and escape mentally and physically from work, household chores, etc. This is a great time to sip some tea! No matter how you do it, be sure to schedule the time to rest well.

When sickness begins to spread around your home, be prepared to fight back with these methods. Care for yourself and your family this winter!

What are your favorite home remedies to ward off sickness?

Original post: January 28, 2017. Updated: January 30, 2019.