Tips to relieve cold and sore throat symptoms

If you are suffering with a head cold or sore throat, try turning to natural raw remedies such as chillies, black pepper, ginger, wasabi, and horseradish to relieve your symptoms.

Foods such as horseradish and wasabi contain thiocyanates – small particles that escape in the air in your mouth whilst you are eating them, moving upwards into your nasal passage. These thiocyanates can help to clear a blocked nose.

Spices such as chillies, ginger, and black pepper can help to relieve symptoms of a cold or sore throat since they contain heavier alkylamides that work downwards to relieve your throat.

Try adding a little grated horseradish or wasabi paste into a salad dressing or savoury cashew cream, or combine a little chilli, ginger, and black pepper to a raw carrot soup when you are warming it on the stove.  

If you can, raise the quantity of raw veggies you consume either in a soup, salad, juice or smoothie. Raw carrots, kale, romaine and spinach contains lots of Vitamin A that is an important immune system booster, whilst cruciferous veg such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower - and watercress - contain the phytochemical Glucosinolates that can help to reduce inflammation.  

Flush your system out by drinking plenty of warm filtered water with a slice of lemon to raise the alkalinity.

Thyme, sage and hyssop leaf tea can help to relieve a cough or other spasms in the respiratory system. Simmer a mug of water with 1/2 teaspoon of thyme, sage with 1 teaspoon of hyssop leaves. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes and allow to cool before drinking. However, avoid this tea if you have high blood pressure.

And rest! Rest is very important so your body has the opportunity to repair itself.

Raw red pepper soup by Deliciously Raw. Photography: Dawn Langley

Note: This is not a substitute for medical advice. Always seek the advice of a medical doctor or qualified professional if you are ill.