Garlic is great as a preventative and as a treatment. Take two tablets three times a day until the mucus production has slowed down dramatically, or until the color of mucus becomes clear rather than yellow or green. Garlic can also help treat ear infections. Squeeze a garlic clove until the juice runs into a cotton ball and place the cotton ball in the ear. Raw garlic has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Researchers in England found that garlic can speed up recovery from a cold and increase resistance. Study participants had half the number of colds and made a more rapid recovery.