Recently, Mathew had his first common cold. Sure, he has felt under the weather from time to time but his symptoms usually only lasted 24 to 48 hours. The common cold generally lasts between 7 and 10 days. We have no doubt been lucky and “luck” was on our side when he had his cold during  mid-winter vacation. Therefore, he had no tasks or responsibilities; all he had to do was rest and let the cold take its course.

During the course of his cold, Mathew exhibited new symptoms and was open to trying remedies that I suggested. Some of the remedies were tried and true, others I concocted. Mathew was a true guinea pig. One remedy I heard of but never had the opportunity to use was garlic oil for earaches. It was no big surprise that Mathew got an earache as the mucus was flowing like a river and he spent more time sucking it back in than blowing his nose. The poor guy, he was in tears from the pain. I told him that I heard warm garlic oil in the ear might relieve the pain; he was willing to try anything. I had garlic oil on hand, as we use it as a cough remedy. I warmed the oil to body temperature, putting 3-4 drops in each ear and then put a tissue gently in the ear (not too far in though) to keep the oil from leaking out. He didn’t feel much relief, so I repeated it after a half of an hour. Then a miracle happened – within an hour, Mathew was no longer in pain and it never returned. Garlic contains powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, which get absorbed through the skin and the eardrum into the inner ear and surrounding tissues, fighting infection and reducing inflammation at the same time.

This is just one of the remedies I used on Mathew during his cold. In the days ahead, I will continue to share more remedies I tested on Mathew while he was sick. What do you do to make yourself or loved ones more comfortable when nursing a cold?

All information is shared for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.