Eucalyptus oil is a wonderful thing to keep on hand during cold season. You can add a few drops to a humidifier, a few drops to a hot bath, or you can add 2 drops to 2 tablespoons of you favorite carrier oil and use it as a rub. It helps to open sinus swelling and pressure, and unstop you nose.
Coffee is great for helping to dry up a runny nose. The heat from the drink helps to loosen mucus and the caffeine can dry up extra mucus. A good hot green tea helps as well. But be sure to get plenty of clear liquids to help avoid dehydrating. Also it's good to avoid dairy products while you have a cold because they can increase the thickness of mucus.
Honey helps sooth a sore throat and eases a cough. Swallowing a teaspoon straight is best if you can but if not you can add it to a teaspoon of lemon juice and an ounce of bourbon or whiskey (this last is unnecessary if you don't wish to use alcohol) or you can add a teaspoon to the green tea. Do NOT give honey to children under the age of 2.
Citrus fruits can increase the levels of vitamin C you are consuming and help to boost your immune system.
You can also increase the amount of garlic and onions you eat to help boost your immune system. One sure fire way I have found to relieve a stopped up nose is to cut up an onion!!! An increase in the amount of garlic you eat can help fight off a fever from the inside. You can mince up a half a garlic clove with 1 teaspoon of mustard powder and 1 half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and rub it on your chest to relieve chest congestion, coughing, and help to lower a fever. Not the best smelling remedy but it works better than Vicks!
Menthol oil is another great oil to keep on hand during cold season. You can add it to any rub or a few drops in a bath to help relieve congestion as well as it's natural cooling effects help to lower fevers.
For babies with stopped up noses I use a few grains of salt in a luke warm table spoon of water. Put a few drops in each nostril and then use a bulb syringe to suction out each side. As well as gargling with salt water can help relieve a sore throat. I use a half a teaspoon to 2 ounces of warm water.
And last but not least, is chicken soup! It helps to boost the immune system and force the cold out. How? Well it's called a placebo effect, the soup makes you happy because it's a comfort and makes you happy, causing your body to release happy hormones that increase immune systems and fight off the cold virus.
Blessed be,
Lady Alice