Cold Season Chaos: How We Battle the Sinus Cold Plague

Ah, cold season… that magical time of year when the air turns crisp, the leaves fall, and like clockwork, one by one, my kids start sniffling, sneezing, and spreading what we affectionately call the sinus cold plague.

If you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean. It starts with one tiny sneeze, and before you know it, tissues are everywhere, someone’s complaining about “stuffed ears,” and the sound of nose-blowing becomes the soundtrack of your household for the next two weeks.

But over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to help shorten the reign of this annual plague. My secret weapon? Garlic-infused honey.

As soon as there’s that first hint of chill in the air, you know, that “crisp nip” that lets you know summer is officially gone, I start everyone on a teaspoon of garlic honey a day. It’s simple, natural, and surprisingly effective at giving our immune systems a little extra love. (And don’t worry, the honey tones down the garlic flavor enough that even the kids don’t complain. Much.)

Then comes our early warning system: the sneezes. In our house, sneezing is the red flag that a sinus cold is about to make its grand entrance. The very next thing I do is grab our trusty nasal inhaler, lovingly nicknamed “the sniffer” by my husband and kids.

This little powerhouse is infused with a blend of:

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) – clears and opens the airways

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) – cools and soothes

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – calms inflammation

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) – supports immunity

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) – brightens the blend (and the mood!)

Whoever’s sneezing starts using the sniffer every hour with the exception of my littles under age five and it works wonders. The combo helps boost the immune system, reduces inflammation, and keeps that dreaded mucus buildup in check.

Since starting this little ritual, we’ve gone from two full weeks of sniffling misery to maybe just one week of mild annoyance. Progress! And the best part? My kids actually ask for the sniffer now. Nothing warms an aromatherapist mom’s heart like hearing, “Mom, I think it’s time to use the sniffer!”

Here’s to surviving another cold season, one garlic spoonful and sniff of essential oils at a time.