Natural Flu Remedies

• One of the best things you can do to combat the nasty symptoms of colds and the flu is to use warm fluids.
• Another growing area of natural treatments and preventatives for colds and flu are supplements.

Having a cold or the flu is never pleasant. Between muscle aches, coughing and sneezing and fatigue, these are some viral infections that most of us could easily do without. Every year, more than 50 million Americans suffer from at least one or the other. The flu, or influenza, is the more dangerous of the two, with 20,000 people dying annually from related complications. The good news is that there are some great natural flu remedies available to help ease cold and flu suffering.

The Benefits of Warm Fluids

One of the best things you can do to combat the nasty symptoms of colds and the flu is to use warm fluids. Treating with warm fluids is one of the best flu remedies around. For example, if you are experiencing sinus congestion, the steam from a warm shower can help open your nasal passages and provide some temporary pain relief. This method may also help you get a good night’s sleep. Moist, warm compresses are another good example of a flu remedy. Place them on your forehead to combat headaches or against your sinuses to fight congestion and soreness.

Good flu remedies also include taking in more fluid. You want to drink at least 8 glasses of fluid daily when you are feeling ill because the fluids will make it easier to expectorate mucous build-up. Hot liquids are particularly helpful. Drinking a hot cup of tea with honey, for example, can provide multiple benefits. The tea keeps you hydrated, the honey soothes your throat, and the steam from the hot tea helps open up sinuses and nasal passages.

Supplements as Flu Remedies

Another growing area of natural treatments and preventatives for colds and flu are supplements. Green tea supplements, for example, are considered to be effective tools in boosting the effectiveness of your immune system and in fighting off viruses that sneak past your body’s defenses. Taking green tea caplets is a good idea because it doesn’t include caffeine and the dose is more concentrated.

Taking garlic tablets is another good choice because garlic is a herb that has been proven to have potency against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and even yeast. Another positive about taking garlic in supplement form is that you don’t worry about the bad breath effects. Echinacea is another example. If you feel like you may be getting sick, taking some of this supplement might help you ward off the illness or cut the length of time you experience symptoms. Basically, the supplement helps boost your immune system.

The Old Favorite of Flu Remedies

For decades, mothers and grandmothers have been suggesting one of the most traditional flu remedies: hot chicken soup. Actually, they were quite right. When you have a scratchy throat, the warm broth brings pain relief and helps keep your system hydrated. Chicken soup has also been shown to make the cilia –hairs in your nostrils and nasal passages – work better, helping keep out more viruses.

When you load the soup up with spices and garlic, you can also be getting your body to produce more mucous, which can help you get rid of the germs making you sick faster. Some studies even suggest a bowl of this hot soup could even make your white blood cells work better.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.