12 Natural Flu Remedies
Everybody gets the flu. Children, teenagers and adults, they all get sick. While washing your hands and avoiding people with the bug is a good practice, what do you do when you actually catch it? Here's a list of 12 natural flu remedies that will help you recover faster.
- Water
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. That's a key part of fighting the flu. Keeping your body full of essential fluids makes sure that it can deal with the virus. If you're dehydrated, your body will get even more out of balance, and that's the last thing you want.
- Oregano Oil
This oil is a must to help you survive your hours of mandatory rest and discomfort. Volatile oils have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. In particular, oregano oil can calm an upset stomach by stimulating bile flow.
- Eucalyptus Oil
Having a runny nose is annoying and gross. One way to stop congestion is eucalyptus oil, which has a strong minty smell. Hold some up to your nose and breathe in to clear those filled up sinuses.
- Ginger
This spice is really useful against some of the more extreme flu symptoms. That's right, the dreadful vomiting and nausea. You can find ginger in a bunch of different forms: capsules, powders, extracts or even teas.
- Salt Water Rinsing
Your throat is burning, and you can barely talk! Grab half a teaspoon of salt and about 8 ounces of water and mix them together. Next, gargle this solution in your mouth for a good while before spitting it out. Repeat this process a couple of times per day to help get rid of the bacteria.
- Hot Liquids
Since a salt water gargle can make your throat feel raw as it kills all the germs, drinking hot drinks like herbal tea can soothe the pain. Adding in some honey can enhance this effect.
- Olive Leaf Extract (OLE)
This compound is great all around. It's an immune booster and perfect for treating the flu. Containing both phytochemicals and antioxidants, olive leaf extract has many anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
- Brewer's Yeast
Brewer's yeast is a classic natural flu remedy that contains B vitamins, chromium and protein. Not only that, it also helps with those healthy gut bacteria. With all these benefits, it's a perfect way to deal with flu symptoms.
- Steamy Shower
If you're feeling especially tense, a warm shower might be what you need. A hot shower helps you relax and keeps your organism at the optimal temperature to battle the flu.
- Vitamin C
If you want to give your immune system more direct help, vitamin C is a good way to do it. While you can take a supplement, it's also found in different fruits and veggies. Vitamin C strengthens white blood cells, which is a key to defeating any sickness.
- Vitamin D3
Another important vitamin is vitamin D3, which is made when you're hit by natural sunlight. It affects the expression of a lot of genes in our body, including those related to our immune system. The truth is, most people are vitamin D3 deficient. It's an easy problem to solve, just go outside!
- Fresh Air
Not only will going outside help with vitamin D3 production, it'll also get you away from all the germs and toxins trapped indoors. Plus, the dry air inside can irritate your throat and nose even more.
Nobody likes having the stomach bug, so get back up and running again with some of these natural flu remedies. You've got better things to do than be sick!