How I Stopped a Cold in Two Days Right Before a Flight
I could feel it coming. That funny feeling in the throat, the heaviness in the head, the dreaded lack of energy, the subtle signals from your body that says: a cold is on the way. Normally I might ignore it for a day or two and hope it passes… but this time I didn’t have that luxury.
I was about to fly to Thailand. The thought of sitting on a long flight while getting properly sick filled me with dread. Let alone the idea of going on holiday sick! The timing could not have been worse. My throat felt slightly irritated, my body felt a bit heavy, and I knew from experience that if I didn’t act fast, I’d probably wake up the next day with a full-blown cold.
I had to act fast. But I knew exactly what to do. Its not a supplement, or a pharmacy run, and definitely nothing expensive. Just a very simple kitchen remedy that I’ve used a few times before, and every time it surprises me how powerful it is. Within about one to two days, the cold was gone. The remedy itself is so simple and you probably have at home.
You might not like it… but it works. It’s simple, homemade, cheap, and incredibly powerful: raw garlic. Before you imagine me chewing cloves like some kind of vampire repellent, don’t worry, that’s not how I take it (and honestly the whole room would stink). The trick is how its done.
First, I cut the garlic in half using a fork and knife so that my hands dont stink. Then I peel it, its somehow easier to do it then. Then I cut each half again into about four thin slithers in a vertical way so that they resemble the shape of a supplement and go easier down the throat. Instead of chewing them, I simply gulp the pieces down with warm water mixed with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) on an empty stomach. That’s it. No chewing. No garlic breath explosion. Just swallow the pieces like tiny capsules.
Garlic is incredibly potent. It’s often called nature’s antibiotic because of its strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. When taken raw, it keeps all of its natural compounds intact. Which is exactly what we want when the body is trying to fight something off. The apple cider vinegar helps too. Go with the one with The Mother. It softens the flavour slightly and has its own antibacterial properties, so the combination is surprisingly effective.
For me, this works like a treat. Within about one to two days, the cold never fully developed. The scratchy throat disappeared and I boarded my flight feeling perfectly fine.
When I feel something coming on, I also like to support the body with Mullein tea for the next few days. Mullein is wonderful for the respiratory system and helps the body gently clear out mucus and irritation as well as acting a powerful antihistamine. Highly recommended for COVID and strong flu like symptoms. I usually drink it for about 5–7 days, which is a nice little reset for the lungs and throat, especially if the immune system is already working overtime.
Is this the most glamorous remedy? Definitely not. But sometimes the simplest things are the most powerful. And if swallowing a little garlic can help stop a cold before it really begins, I’m more than happy to do it.
Are you up for trying this trick? If you don’t want to be sick do it and leave your comments below.
— Lana
Founder of Herb Ritual 🌿