Natural DIY Cold & Flu Remedies

To speed recovery…
I got a terrible cold days before I was to be a bridesmaid at a wedding. The mother of the bride brought me ¼ cup of chopped garlic in tomato juice to drink, and the cold was gone in a day or two. No one wanted to get close to me for about a week, but I looked good in the pictures! —Juanita McCallum

To curb a cough…
Cayenne pepper and honey work great. —Bonnie Robles

To kick a cold or the flu…
Try olive leaf extract. It will make your illness a lot shorter. It also kills viruses! —Deanna Dune Yeoman

To avoid sick days…
I swear by tea, especially white, for its high antioxidant levels. —Kerra Gazerro Hanson
Doctor's note: White tea is antioxidant rich, but green tea is the standout in research on cold and flu defense. 

To fight the flu…
Take pure elderberry drops, capsules, or soft gels at the onset of symptoms. —Catalina Hill

*These reader suggestions have been reviewed by Tanye Edwards, MD, medical director at the center for Integrative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. Consult your doctor before treating serious illnesses or infections.