It's that time of the year where everyone you know is getting sick. The cold and flu viruses are running rampant, and no one seems to be spared from their wrath. Whether your symptoms are mild to severe, there's no hiding the fact that you want to start feeling better and quickly.

It may seem the obvious idea to take a lot of cold medicine, but not only are those OTC medications not the greatest for your body in the long run (acetaminophen is common in many of these medications), they also come with a heft carbon footprint from production and packaging, on top of the fact that they can be pretty costly. Here are some at-home remedies for your symptoms that are friendly for your body, the planet, and your wallet.

Steam is a great way to un-congest your sinuses and lungs. When you take a shower, light a few candles in the room. This creates more steam than the water itself generates, and can help loosen up your sinuses. Also, inhaling the steam from a mug of tea serves two purposes; the steam will help your sinuses, and then drinking the tea will help keep you hydrated. One of the biggest reasons colds stick around is because the person isn't adequately hydrated.

If your symptoms include stomach aches, drink warm tea with ginger. Either cook ginger chunks down and put them in your tea, or purchase organic teas with ginger already included. Ginger is all natural, and has proven to be a natural way to prevent and stop nausea. You can also get organic ginger supplements from a local grocer or Co-Op and take a pill with some water, and it will help to settle your stomach.

Be aware of what you're putting in your body. When people are sick, they tend to stick with comfort foods. This may help you feel better mentally, but if you're eating a lot of salt, fat, or caffeine, that can be making your illness worse. Stick with all-natural fruits and vegetables, broths, and teas.

Also, be sure to get a lot of sleep. Your body fights illness and heals itself the most effectively when it is asleep. Taking melatonin, a supplemental pill that is derived from the chemical our bodies produce naturally, can help you fall asleep and stay asleep, and is not habit forming.

With these tips, and a little rest and TLC, you can be on your way to conquering your cold or flu. It is still easy and practical to live green and sustainably while fighting off bacteria and viruses. Once you're healthy again, you can keep working on getting our planet feeling healthy, too.