Homemade Remedies to Ease Your Sniffles

Garlic, though it can leave you smelly also happens to be one of nature's wonder remedies. It has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties. In other words, it stops just about anything in its tracks (including those who might want to get close to you).

Garlic is even currently being investigated as a possible foil for infections that resist traditional antibiotics. Several studies found that a constituent in the aged garlic extract--furostanol glycoside--demonstrated antifungal effects by inhibiting the growth of the common bacteria, Candida albicans, in test tubes.

And, it's even being tested in Russia as a treatment for arthritis.

The first time I learned about garlic was from an Ayurvedic doctor who taught at my Nutrition School. He told this hilarious story about how he had his six children lie on the floor as he inserted homemade garlic infused olive oil into their ears, when one of them had an ear infection. It was his way of preventing a house full of sick children. He joked that the only way he could get the youngest to submit was to do it while he was sleeping. Well, I'm not so good about putting things in my ear, so I much prefer the garlic soup below.

The next time you feel yourself getting a cold or feeling congested, try this great garlic remedy. I learned if from a fellow health counselor, Lisa. Thanks, Lisa.

LISA'S GARLIC SOUP - For colds, congestion, viruses, weakness

For garlic to have any real and true effect, you need to eat a lot of it - like 12-15 cloves. So you may have better sleep, but you'll probably want to sleep alone :).

Peel a bulb of garlic (somewhere between 12-15 cloves) and cut off the woody ends.

Boil it in a cup or so of water until the garlic is soft.

Pour the garlic and the water into a blender.

Add about a cup of organic chicken broth (veggie broth if you are vegetarian).

Blend. Blend. Blend.

Drink.

You may need to make and drink the soup for 3 or 4 days in a row to really alleviate your sickness. Also, be sure to make the garlic soup as soon as you feel symptoms coming on so that you can nip it well before it starts.