Home Remedies To Fight Off Cold And Flu

Cold and flu are one of the many illnesses that can slow down our productivity, and it certainly doesn’t bring out the best in us. Besides, the combination of fever, body aches, nasal congestions and chills can be frustrating.

The good news is we have several home remedies that can fight off cold and flu, and get you back on track, without taking antibiotics that may have an adverse effect on you. However, if you have difficulty in breathing, have a rapid heartbeat and still feel sick after a few weeks, consult your doctor as soon as you can.

So here are some of the natural remedies treatments for cold or flu symptoms:

Use warm saltwater
This is not the time for cold drinks or ice cream; you need to treat your stuffy nose with warm saltwater. The warm water helps to break nasal congestion, while the salt removes virus particles and bacteria from your nose.

To make your warm salt water is easy, all you need to do is to add ¼ teaspoon of salt and baking soda respectively in eight ounces of warm water. Then use nasal irrigation kit to drop water into the nose. Close one nostril by applying light finger pressure while dropping the salt mixture into the other nostril. Repeat the process two to three times on each nostril.

Have warm baths
Warm baths can reduce cold and flu symptoms in children as well as adults. For a better result, add Epsom salt and baking soda to the water to reduce body aches. Also, if you have essential oil like thyme, tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus or juniper, add them to the warm water.

Honey
You can do a lot more with honey, and these include getting rid of cold and flu. Honey has several antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. For sore throat, add honey and lemon to your tea to get rid of it.

Besides, a study suggests that honey is a cough suppressant, and giving kids 10 grams of pure honey at bedtime reduce the severity of their cough symptoms. Also, it helps reduce cold symptoms and enhances sound sleep. However, do not give honey to a baby less than one-year- old because honey contains botulinum spores, which they cannot fight off. Please, note that botulinum spores are harmless older kids and adults.

Garlic
Garlic has the compound allicin that has antimicrobial properties like honey. So add garlic to your diet to reduce cold symptoms, and it can serve as a preventive measure too. However, more research need to be conducted on the healing properties of garlic. Although, adding garlic to your diet may not hurt.

Eat fruits rich in Vitamin C.
Vitamin C has many incredible benefits, and they all play an essential role in your body. Add vitamin C-rich foods to your diets. Such as oranges, limes, grapefruits, lemons leafy greens, and other fruits are right for your body. Also, add fresh lemon extract to your hot tea with honey to reduce phlegm. You can also introduce hot or cold lemonade to your diet.

Furthermore, these vitamin C-filled drinks can relieve you off upper respiratory tract infections and other illnesses, while giving your immune system the necessary vitamin C it needs

Ginger
Ginger roots contain many health benefits, and they’ve been used for centuries. The good thing is, there are proofs to it curative properties; add a few slices of fresh ginger root in hot or boiling water to ebb your sore through. Moreover, a study shows that ginger can also get rid of nausea, which usually comes with influenza.

Have a bowl of hot and fresh chicken soup
Our list isn’t complete without adding the famous old, yet effect bow of hot chicken soup. Chicken soup, when prepared well is an excellent choice when you or your loved one, is sick. A bowl of chicken soup with vegetables can slow the movement of neutrophils in your body. It is good because neutrophils are a type of white blood cell, which protect your body from infection and they stay more concentrated in the areas of your body that need the most healing when they move slowly. That is where your hot and fresh chicken soup comes in; to help slow the movement of neutrophils in your body.

Furthermore, the research found that chicken soup helps to reduce upper respiratory infections symptoms. Besides, it contains an excellent nutritional value and keeps your body hydrated. Finally, while treating yourself ensure you stay warm and adequately rested; it helps your body directs its energy toward the immune battle, and the struggle is exhausting, so relax and don’t overwork your body.