17 Tips And Remedies For The Flu
D Ruplinger
The “best” flu remedy seems to vary by who you talk to. Some
people think that certain over-the-counter medications are the
best way to get relief. Others feel homeopathic remedies work
the best. Still others feel that only their doctor can help
make them make the appropriate choice.
If you talked to my husband he would tell you the best flu
remedy is to not get the flu (he’s not always the most helpful
person). He talks smart because he hardly ever gets sick. I’m
very jealous of him. I think his genes must be better than mine
because he doesn’t eat healthier or exercise any more than I do
yet I get sick a lot more often than he does.
I catch the flu nearly every year. I’ve tried over-the-counter
medications, some homeopathic remedies, and have gone to my
doctor when I’ve gotten bad cases of the flu.
Below I’ve listed some common, and some not so common remedies
for the flu. Some of the remedies are homeopathic; others
involve taking over-the counter medications; while others are
prescription.
1) This first item is more of a suggestion to keep yourself
from getting sick again rather than a remedy but I think it’s a
really good tip. Put your toothbrush in a cup with hydrogen
peroxide in it to prevent you from re-infecting yourself
(especially if you have a cold). Toothbrushes are a haven for
germs and the hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria on your
toothbrush. You may decide to put your toothbrush in hydrogen
peroxide every day to kill the bacteria that accumulate.
2) In addition to putting your toothbrush in a cup of hydrogen
peroxide you may want to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide
in your ears. It can help kill flu (or cold) germs. Sometimes
the hydrogen peroxide will sting a little. The process is to
put a few drops in one ear with a cotton ball or a Q-tip. After
a few minutes drain the excess fluid out onto a Kleenex or paper
towel. Then do the same thing in the other ear. Repeat the
process after an hour or two. Continue to repeat until the
hydrogen peroxide doesn’t bubble when it’s put into the ear
(usually after 2 or 3 times). The hydrogen peroxide is said to
be most effective if it’s used as soon as possible after
getting sick.
3) Elderberry extract can lessen the duration of the flu
according to studies done in Israel. Talk to your doctor,
pharmacist, or herbalist for advice on how much and how often
to take it, and also to make sure it will not interfere with
any other medications or supplements you may already be taking.
4) Boneset is another herb said to help lessen the intensity
and duration of the flu. It is usually added to boiled water,
along with honey and lemon (to make it easier to drink) and
then sipped. Again, consult with your doctor, pharmacist or
herbalist for the recommended dosage.
5) Oscillococcinum is a popular homeopathic/natural product
taken to help with the flu symptoms of body aches and pains,
fever, and chills. One of the reasons it is so popular is that
it does not cause drowsiness.
6) Naturoksinum is another natural flu remedy available. It is
touted as being able to cut the severity of flu symptoms in
half. It is one of the most popular flu remedies in France and
is available for purchase in the United States.
7) Echinacea is another popular natural remedy for the
flu. Again, because it is an herbal product, check with your
doctor, pharmacist, or herbalist to make sure it is safe for
you to take and that it does not interfere with any other
medications or supplements you are currently taking.
8) Tamiflu and Relenza are two prescription medications
available for treating the flu. For either medication to work
best it should be taken with two days of the onset of flu
symptoms. Both Tamiflu and Relenza work by preventing the flu
virus from infecting cells in the body that are still healthy,
and they both work against influenza A and B.
9) Drink health juices such as mangosteen, noni, goji, aloe
vera, or acai berry. They are not only great juices to drink if
you get the flu, but they can also help prevent it because the
juices are good at boosting a person’s immune system. My
personal health juice of choice is a mangosteen juice. It
tastes great and helps me feel better overall.
10) There are several products available to use in your bath or
even your shower to help with the symptoms of the flu. Abra Bath
for colds and the flu is a product you add to bath water. It is
said to help relieve congestion, reduce body aches, and help
relieve the chills associated with the flu. The makers of
Sudafed offer a product called Sudacare Shower Soothers. They
are tablets that react with warm shower water to create vapors
of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor to help with congestion.
11) Nasal sprays to help relieve flu symptoms are available
over the counter. One product is called Flu Relief. Nasal
sprays aren’t as popular as most other remedies though because
many people dislike using nasal sprays.
12) Fever, headaches, and aching muscles are common symptoms of
the flu. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, both available over the
counter can help lessen the pain.
13) A persistent cough may be present when a person has the flu
(http://www.microflu.com/flusymptoms/). There are many over the
counter cough medicines, such as Robitussin (which has specific
formulas of its products for helping with flu symptoms), to help
quiet a cough associated with the flu.
14) Congestion is another symptom that a person may get with
the flu. An oral decongestant can help loosen the congestion.
Again there are many over the counter products available to
fight flu symptoms such as congestion. Vick’s vapor rub can
also help ease congestion.
15) A sore throat can be another bothersome symptom of the flu.
Throat lozenges or sprays can help with the pain. I gargle with
warm salt water every hour when my throat is sore. It’s a
remedy my Mom used when I was little. It worked for me then and
it still works for me now.
16) Rest is a very important part of fighting the flu. Your
body needs rest to help it fight the infection in your body. So
give in to that urge to cuddle up under the covers and rest.
You’re likely to feel better faster if you do.
17) Drink as many fluids are you can when you have the flu.
Avoid drinks with caffeine because caffeinated drinks act as
mild diuretics. Water is the best liquid but can be hard for
someone who feels sick to drink enough of. Other good choices
of liquid are clear juices, Gatorade (or any of the other
sports drinks available) as well as flavored water and
Pedialyte. When I was a child and had the flu my Mom always
gave me 7-up to drink. I could drink it without feeling sick to
my stomach and it tasted good so I was able to drink enough of
it to keep myself from getting dehydrated.
Always remember that the flu (depending on what strain you have
contracted) can be a life-threatening illness if not treated
properly. Don’t be afraid to contact your doctor if your
symptoms don’t start to get better in a few days or if they are
very severe.
Another thing to remember when you have the flu (or are sick
with anything else) is to only treat the symptoms you have.
There are lots of over-the-counter products available to treat
flu symptoms. Many of those products relieve multiple symptoms.
But sometimes you don’t have all the symptoms that particular
medication treats. Look for products that treat the symptoms
you have, but nothing more. You don’t want to over-medicate
yourself.
Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes only and
is not intended to diagnose or treat illness and disease; nor
is it intended as dispensation of medical advice.
About The Author: D Ruplinger is a featured writer for
http://www.microflu.com. For more information about the flu,
flu prevention, and flu remedies, visit
http://www.microflu.com
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