By Steven Horne

You’ve heard the old saying, “There is no cure for the common cold.” Well, of course there is a cure for the common cold! If there wasn’t, then how did you recover from your last cold?

Obviously, the body knows how to cure a cold because it does so all the time. So, why do people say there’s no cure for the common cold? It’s because they don’t know how to support the body in fighting off a cold or the flu.

You see, most people treat colds using methods that actually interfere with what the body is trying to do to cure the cold. This prolongs the length of the cold instead of shortening it. It also weakens your immune system.

In contrast, if you know the right way to treat a cold or flu, you can dramatically shorten the length of time it takes to recover. How much? Well…

…most of the time you can be over a cold or flu in 24 hours or less. 

But that’s not all! If you start using effective methods the moment symptoms appear, you can sometimes recover from an acute ailment in just a few hours. Even more importantly, using these methods strengthens the immune system so you’re less susceptible to getting a cold the next time around.

But, before we share some tips on how to do this, we want you to know the approach that don’t work, and why it doesn’t work, and that’s to use over-the-counter cold and flu remedies. Here’s why these won’t really help your cold or flu:

The coughing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and other cold-related symptoms are all generated by the immune system trying to throw off both the microbes and the toxic material that creates the host environment for the disease. When you try to suppress these symptoms, which is what all OTC cold and flu remedies do, you’re working against what the body is trying to do.

Some people even try to use natural remedies as symptom relievers, but this isn’t the best way to use natural remedies.  So, let’s look at what does work.

Cold Curing and Flu-Busting Basics

The Chinese have a concept in their system of medicine called the wei qi (pronounced ‘way chee’). This is an energy system, like the energy shields around a space ship that protects the body from disease. This energy pushes outward on the surfaces of the mucus membranes lining our lungs and digestive tract and our skin.

Herbs with a pungent taste, such as capsicum, horseradish, ginger, etc. help generate this wei qi energy. Think about what happens when you eat these spicy foods. You perspire, your nose runs, your eyes water and mucus clears from your throat and lungs.

Eat enough of these spicy foods and they’ll even promote evacuation of your bowels. In short, these pungent herbs activate the energy that helps the body discharge whatever is irritating it. That’s why they’re your best friends when you have a cold.

As soon as you feel a cold or flu coming on, stop eating, start drinking lots of liquids and start taking some of these pungent herbs. A good formula to use is HCP-X, also known as Herbal Composition Powder. Composition is an herbal formula for colds, flu, fever and other acute ailments that was developed 200 years ago and is still as effective today as it was then.

HCP-X works faster if you brew it into a tea using 2-3 capsules per cup of water. Sip the tea frequently until you start to feel better. If you can’t stand the taste of the tea, you can get a similar benefit by taking 2 capsules every 1-2 hours with plenty of warm or room temperature water. (Do not drink cold water when you’re sick!)

Composition is too strong for kids, so children can use liquid CC-A with Yerba Santa. Give a small dose (about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon every 15-30 minutes with plenty of water. Adults can also use this blend in a larger dose.

You can also use the encapsulated CC-A formula for adults or children old enough to swallow capsules. Take 2-4 capsules every hour, again with plenty of warm or room temperature water.

Again, don’t eat any solid food while you are doing this. If you get hungry, limit your food intake to fresh fruit or vegetable juices or clear soups (broths). These help flush the system.

More Tips for Rapid Recovery

Just activating the “wei qi” or defensive energy of the body is enough to speed recovery. However, we can also do other things to support the body’s efforts to flush what is irritating it.

First, take a hot bath (preferably with some Epsom salts in it) and get yourself to sweat. You really can “sweat out” a cold or flu.  In fact, it’s one of the most ancient and reliable ways to recover quickly.

Second, clear your colon. The fastest way to do this is with an enema, but if you’re too squeamish about enemas, try some LBS II or LB Extract.

Third, if you’re congested, take AL-J to clear the congestion.  Use four capsules every two hours for adults and smaller doses for children and teens.  You can also give AL-J liquid every 30-60 minutes in water.

Fourth, boost your immune system. At the first sign of that sniffy, stuffy, aching feeling that says you’re coming down with something, take two capsules of Immune Stimulator (along with your HCP-X).  Repeat the dose every two hours.  For children, give 1/2 teaspoon of Ultimate Echinacea every two hours.

There you have it—a simple way to help your body cure your cold (or flu).  I’ve seen these techniques work in as little as two or three hours and they nearly always result in dramatic improvement in just 24-48 hours.  Try it next time you’ve got that feeling there’s a cold or flu is coming on.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well these techniques work..