Feeling ill? Have a fever, runny nose, a cough, or a headache. You want to get better as soon as possible, but you don’t want to take any medication that may have side effects or interact with other drugs. You wonder if there are any home remedies that can help you find relief naturally and quickly.
In this post, we share some of the best home remedies for flu symptoms that you can try at home. These remedies are based on scientific evidence, traditional wisdom, and personal experience.
They are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and effective. They will also help to boost your immune system, soothe your sore throat, clear your nasal passages, and ease your pain.
Know When Not To Treat At Home.
Natural home remedies can be helpful in some cases, but they are not a substitute for medical advice or the flu shot. Some situations when you should not treat yourself and seek professional help instead. Some examples are:
If you have a high fever (above 103°F or 39.4°C) that lasts more than three days, or a fever with a rash, confusion, or seizures.
If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, or signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, thirst, or dark urine).
If you have a chronic medical condition (such as diabetes, heart disease, or asthma).
If you are pregnant, elderly, or have a weakened immune system.
If your symptoms do not improve after seven days, or get worse after five days.
Easy Home Remedies For Flu Symptoms
Stay Warm and Rested
Fighting a viral infection can make your body feel tired and achy. To help your body fight the underlying infection, it’s important to get as much rest as possible. Staying home from work or school is important to prevent spreading illness.
Take Warm Baths And Steamy Showers
Taking a warm or hot shower will help to moisten and relax your nasal passages, relieving congestion and runny nose. The steam from the shower can also soothe a sore throat and body aches.
A hot bath with Epsom salts can help to draw out toxins. The magnesium and sulfur will help your skin speed up this process.
Add a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oil to ease cramps and help with sleep. Peppermint essential oil is a natural decongestant and can help the symptoms of the common cold.
The bath will also make you sweat, so drink a few big glasses of water beforehand. This will help you keep your fluid levels up.
What To Eat And Drink To Stay Hydrated
It is important that you eat and drink, even if you don’t feel like it. This will keep your fluid levels up, provide your body strength to help you get better quicker.
Drink Hot Liquids
Hot liquids are effective to clear a blocked nose, prevent dehydration, and soothe your nasal and oral passages.
If your nose is very blocked and preventing you from sleeping try a hot toddy. Make a cup of your favorite herbal tea, add a teaspoon of honey and a shot of whisky. But only one!
Tea Recipes For Relief
The following herbal teas are prepared with ingredients that contain medicinal properties for strengthening your immune system and managing seasonal illness.
Lemon and Honey Tea
This tea helps to bring relief from congestion and improves breathing.
- The juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 cup of boiling water
Pour the freshly boiled water into a mug and stir in the honey. Once the honey has dissolved add the lemon juice. Drink this tea immediately to prevent the vitamin C evaporating.
If you are treating a respiratory virus, you should drink this tea 2 or 3 times each day.
Echinacea tea
This tea helps boost your immune system and triggers the sweat glands. This will help with sweating and treating a fever.
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 tablespoon of dried echinacea
Pour a mug of boiling water and add the echinacea leaves. Let this brew for 10 minutes. Strain the tea to remove the leaves and drink immediately.
You can also take echinacea capsules which are easily found in pharmacies, natural health stores or online.
Elderberry and Linden Tea
Elderberry helps build your strength, while linden acts like echinacea and triggers sweating which helps with fevers.
- 1 teaspoon of elderberry
- 1 teaspoon of linden
- 1 cup of boiling water
Add the elderberry and linden to a mug of boiling water. Cover and allow the tea to brew for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and drink staright away.
Chicken Soup
This dish has been used as a remedy for the common cold for hundreds of years. It is easy to make, and even better to eat and is filled with vitamins, minerals, and protein.
It also helps you add fluids and electrolytes into your body, which is important if you have a fever or diarrhea. Research studies1Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance have been conducted that show that chicken soup is more effective than hot drinks and water for clearing nasal mucus!
Bolster your immune system.
To get back to feeling like your old healthy self add the following herbs and vitamins to your diet.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for keeping you healthy and helps reduce the frequency of the common cold. It is found in citrus and other fruits as well as some vegetables.
While Vitamin C may not prevent you from becoming ill, a 2013 study2Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say? found it does help reduce the severity and duration.
Ginseng, Elderberry and Licorice Root Home Remedies For Flu Symptoms.
Some ingredients in home remedies such as ginseng, elderberry, and licorice root boost the immune system and shorten the duration of sickness.
Ginseng is popular for reducing the effects of cold symptoms with one study3North American (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Preparations for Prevention of the Common Cold in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review showing it supports health in the elderly.
Elderberries contain antioxidants and chemicals known as anthocyanins, which also help boost your immunity.
Licorice Root helps relax and soothe airways, and break down mucus.
Relieve congestion with salt water, herbs and steam.
Nasal rinsing helps to clear some virus and mucus from your body. It also helps reduce any swelling that can cause congestion. Make sure to only use distilled, sterile or boiled water for rinsing.
Make a very effective saline nasal spray to use in a neti pot. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of distilled or recently boiled water.
Adding fresh, or dried herbs, with steam also helps you clear congestion. To use add eucalyptus or thyme to a bowl of boiling water. Cover and wait 5 to 10 minutes then place your face over the bowl, covering your head with a towel and breathe in the steam. You can also hang the herbs in the shower.
A small dab of vapor rub under your nose can help breathing and releive any irritated skin under your nose.
Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor all have mild numbing effects that help relieve any pain. Make sure you only put it on the outside and not inside your nose.
Gargle.
Gargling helps clear and moisten a sore throat. Gargle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 cup of warm water, at least four times a day.
To reduce tickly throats or annoying coughs add one tablespoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey to the gargle. Make sure it has cooled before gargling.
Blow Your Nose Often (the Right Way)
Make sure to blow your nose regularly. This is clears mucus and removes germs. It is important that you blow gently. Too much pressure can send germs and mucus into your ear passages, causing earache.
The best way is to close one nostril with your finer, and blow gently to clear the other.
Hot and Cold Packs For Sinus
You can use hot or cold to treat sinus pain. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs but it’s just as easy to make your own.
To use a hot pack place a damp washcloth in the microwave for 30 seconds. Make sure it is not too hot and then hold on your sinuses.
You can use a bag of frozen peas, or some icecubes wrapped in a washcloth, as a cold pack.
Foods That Fight Infection
Here are some good foods that act as home remedies for flu symptoms and will help you get well sooner!
- Bananas and rice help to soothe upset stomach and stop diarrhea.
- Vitamin C-containing vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli and kale.
- Blueberries help with diarrhea and contain natural aspirin, which helps lower fever and any aches and pains.
- Chili peppers, mustard and horseradish help open sinuses, and clear mucus.
- A study found Onions4Effects of Allium cepa and Its Constituents on Respiratory and Allergic Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of Experimental and Clinical Evidence help keep lungs clear and fight infections.
- Green tea is a natural antibiotic.
- Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
References
- 1Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance
- 2Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?
- 3North American (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Preparations for Prevention of the Common Cold in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review
- 4Effects of Allium cepa and Its Constituents on Respiratory and Allergic Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of Experimental and Clinical Evidence