You thought you had avoided it this year: you washed your hands obsessively after shaking hands with strangers and ducked every time someone sneezed, but you still managed to get a common cold. However, even the most vigilant among us manage to get the common cold each winter. When you get a cold, viruses take over your immune system. Leaving you with a series of symptoms that will leave you feeling run-down and sick. Common cold symptoms include headaches, body aches, fevers, coughing, a runny nose, and all over feeling of weakness. Most conventional doctors will tell you to take an over the counter cold medication and wait it out.

However, alternative and herbal practitioners will advise you to arm yourself with a slew of herbal remedies that can help rev up your immune system and survive a cold in record time. Many herbal remedies allow you to mute the worst of those cold symptoms, and some can even help you reduce the duration of a cold to one or two days. Here are a few well-regarded herbal remedies that can help you survive your latest run-in with the common cold.

Echinacea: Echinacea has received some criticism for not always achieving the high expectations that have been set for it. But after the hype wore down, this popular herb still remains a favorite with most herbalists and naturopath doctors. The truth is that Echinacea has been used for centuries for treating colds and treating other upper respiratory problems. It appears that Echinacea works by boosting the production of immune cells such as phagocytes and leukocytes that help fight disease. Most herbalists recommend taking Echinacea in tincture form, or in capsule or tablet form. Most herbalists also recommend that Echinacea be taken off and on. The general belief is that Echinacea should be taken at the first signs of illness, and then taken for a week or two before taking a break from the herb. Taking high doses of the herb steadily are believed to depress the immune system. Most herbalists recommend taking approximately 175 to 225 milligrams of Echinacea two or three times a day.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is believed to strengthen the immune system, and it can be used in conjunction with Echinacea at the first sign of a cold. Most herbalists recommend taking 175 to 350 milligrams of goldenseal three to four times a day for 10 days or so after the first sign of a cold. Along with boosting the immune system, goldenseal is also believed to help combat localized viruses.

Garlic: This classic herb is considered to be one of the most potent cold-fighters by traditional herbalists and naturopath doctors. Most natural doctors recommend taking a clove of fresh garlic at the first sign of a cold. If you prefer to get the immune-boosting properties of garlic without the odor, opt for deodorized garlic capsules. Take 300 to 500 milligrams of garlic each day for the first week of the cold to keep the worst symptoms at bay.