Getting Through the Onset of Autumn

For the fourth day now I've been battling the seasonal cold - sneezing, coughing, blowing my nose. In short, the usual: first some unpleasant chills, then a sore throat, followed by near-total nasal blockage, until finally everything is crowned by a headache and the irritability it brings. Some will say it's an ordinary case caused by careless dressing for the weather or inattention to draughts. Others might point to the body's somatic response to some inner anxiety brought on by anticipated changes. Either way - a cold is unpleasant, even disruptive. And the thought that it will last at least a week is no comfort at all. So I decided to share some ways I get through the onset of autumn and a cold.

Photo Lisi Niesner

Garlic. Valuable for its antibacterial properties. A timeless and effective remedy against viruses and vampires since ancient times. Isn't a cold a little vampire?! It drains your energy so that when you get home from work you don't want to do anything - just curl up under a warm blanket and blankly stare at the TV or a magazine, because you're simply not capable of absorbing any other kind of information.

This year I learned from family friends how to make tasty and healthy garlic toast. It really comes in handy. Recipe: spread a thin layer of butter on a slice of dark or grain bread, then scoop out an avocado and place the flesh on the toast, cut a garlic clove into small pieces and finally sprinkle with just a touch of salt.

Tea. Absolutely no, I'm not a tea fan - always preferring a good black or white coffee without sugar. But tea does help with a cold, because firstly you need to drink plenty of fluids, and secondly when it's cold all around, you want to sip something fragrant and warm.

By the way, a slice of lemon goes very well with tea, since citrus fruits contain vitamin C, which helps fight a cold and its symptoms. Lemon is also known as an excellent folk remedy for weakened immunity.

A warm bath with a drop of eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is effective in treating influenza, colds, bronchitis, sinusitis and asthma. It also has a fever-reducing effect. Inhaling eucalyptus when suffering from a heavy cold eases nasal breathing.

And finally, a piece of chocolate helps restore strength after battling viruses. Chocolate reduces fatigue, apathy and irritability - the accompanying symptoms of a cold.