When I was growing up my mom had millions of home remedies for everything from a cure for an ear ache to a salve for open wounds. Some of them really worked and some of them I think were just smelly placebos to make you think it was working. Here are some of the remedies my mom used to use to get us better fast when we had a cold.

Lemmon:
My mom always said that Tea with lemon was the best thing for a cold, and many experts now agree with her. The vitamin C in the lemon helps strengthen the body's immune system. They also say that it should be in warm water which is why they put it in tea.

Garlic:
Back in the day my mom would give my brother and I garlic soup. The soup has antiseptic properties, the oil in the soup help open the repertory system and it helps reduce fever in the body, and by adding some onion juice to the soup you can help flush unwanted toxins from the body, but be prepared because you will sweat them out.

Ginger Tea:
If you have a cold with a fever the answer is tea with ginger. This does not mean make a cup of tea with a tea bag of ginger tea. This does not have enough ginger in it to make a difference. What you need to do is cut up several pieces of ginger, approximately a quarter of an ounce, and put it in a pot. Put a cup of water in the pot and bring it to a boil. After the water boils, strain the chunks of ginger out of the water and pour the remains into a glass add sugar for taste, and drink it.

Lady Fingers
For those who may not know another name for Okra is Lady Fingers. Lady Fingers are great for sore throats because they contain a large amount of mucilage that sooths a sore throat and

helps keep the throat moist. Take a ¼ pound of okra, cut them into small pieces and boil in a liter or water. The steam can also be used but it is not as strong as eating the vegetable.

Peppers:
Whenever I had a stuffy nose my mom would always make us a Tamarind and pepper soup. This would immediately make my nose flow a river and my eyes tear out of control. The hot peppers open the nasal passages and cause everything to flow out.

Go for the Source:
All of the remedies so far have been ways to relieve the effects of the cold, but this remedy is aimed at curing the entire cold. The Bitter Gourd Root is made into a past and mixed with homey. For every 1 teaspoon of Bitter Gourd Root add 1 teaspoon of honey. Take a tablespoon of the mixture every night for 30 days to rid yourself of the cold germs and to help rebuild your immune system.

Turmeric:
Turmeric is a cure all. It not only relieves the symptoms of the cold like runny nose and sore throat, it also helps kill the cold germs and strengthen the immune system all at once. The turmeric is bought as a powder. Add half a teaspoon is added to a cup of milk them boiled. The steam should be inhaled while it is boiling then poured into a glass, allowed to cool slightly then drink twice a day. Your nose will start to run much more then before but in a day you will feel much better.

These were just some of my mom's home remedies from the old country. I hope they help keep your kids as well as they did my bother and I.

Ella Philipini is the daughter of 2 immigrants who run a homeopathic health store, but she writes freelance online casino reviews and enjoys a game of blackjack once in a while.