Kill the Illness: How to Fight Cold and Flu

No one likes being sick, but many people suffer from agonizing colds and flu in the winter months, costing time, money and productivity, and possibly straining relationships with loved ones. Fortunately, many natural remedies can help speed recovery and safeguard health to prevent illness from taking hold in the first place. But why natural? There was a time not so long ago when people didn't use pharmaceutical drugs every time they were feeling under the weather - with good reason! Drugs can be expensive, may require a doctor's visit (increasing exposure to other sick people), and have side effect risks, creating situations in which the cure is worse than the problem. Meanwhile, natural remedies are widely available, are simple to start with, and are usually less risky in terms of side effects. Whether you are experiencing congestion, stuffy head, coughing, sore throat, fever, weakness, insomnia or all of the above, you can start feeling better now with one or more of these remedies. If you are coughing in fits, you may want to stay home from work or school to reduce the spread of airborne germs. To kill the cough, raw honey has been shown in studies to work as a cough suppressant, so consider a spoon full of honey three times a day while recovering. Herbal teas and all-natural throat lozenges can also help keep a cough quiet until you're well. Fevers are part of the body's natural defense system and occur when the body is fighting harmful bacteria and viruses. Fever is one of our strongest allies against invaders, so don't call the doctor unless it's over 102 degrees for adults. When experiencing a fever, help your body through it by drinking as much purified water as possible to help replace fluid loss and bring body temperature down. Avoid eating solid foods until the fever breaks, and replace food with more water and juice if needed. Avoid taking iron or zinc; iron causes tension in bodies fighting infection, and zinc can not be absorbed by the body during a fever. Congestion occurs when nasal passages are obstructed due to swelling of blood vessels and membranes that line the nostrils. To relieve irritation due to nasal congestion, sip on hot liquids such as naturally caffeine-free hot tea, which also serves to hydrate. Placing a salve such as eucalyptus under the nostrils can help to open breathing passages and soothe the irritation of the skin at the base of the nose. Applying hot or cold packs around congested sinuses may also help to relieve irritation. You can use store bought cold/hot packs, or create your own from damp wash cloths or bags of frozen veggies. During sleep, place an extra pillow under your head to allow for drainage of the nasal passages. Weakness and fatigue are often the result of a cold or flu, and the best treatment is the obvious one: rest. Your may need to address other symptoms in order to get sleep, but whatever you do, just make rest a priority. Put down your commitments and obligations for one day, and you'll be much more able to try again tomorrow. Sore throat has traditionally been treated by tonics containing alcohol or a lemon and honey combination. Apple cider vinegar in a gargle mixture of 50/50 with water may also soothe a sore throat. For a simple sore throat soothing mixture you can make in your own home now, gather:

• 1 whole lemon

• 1 cup apple juice

• 1 inch raw ginger, skin on

• 1 tablespoon raw honey

• 1 pinch cayenne

Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until chopped. Pour concoction through a strainer into your favorite mug, and warm it up or drink it cold. Before you get sick, make sure you give your body what it needs for optimum health and immunity. This means adequate vitamin D, difficult to obtain naturally in the winter months, so you may need to supplement. Mega doses of vitamin C can help to prevent the flu, and vitamin C has also been shown in studies to prevent or shorten the duration of colds and flu. Vitamin A increases immune function, acts as a natural cleanser, and is also an antioxidant. Elderberry is an herb used in medicine since the 5th century AD and is today shown in studies to support the immune system and to reduce symptoms such as fever, muscle ache, pain and coughing in flu sufferers. Echinacea is a great herb that can help to build immunity before contracting the flu or a cold virus. Garlic works for both prevention and treatment. When fighting cold and flu, use the full arsenal available to you, and have these things available in your home so you aren't running to the store when sick. These remedies, along with adequate nutrition and rest, will allow your body to resist and recover during this cold and flu season. Sources: http://www.slashfood.com/2010/02/12/sore-throat-soother/?icid=main|main|dl8|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashfood.com%2F2010%2F02%2F12%2Fsore-throat-soother%2F http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-fever.html http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/9-tips-to-treat-colds-and-flu-the-natural-way?page=2 http://www.anyvitamins.com/apple-cider-vinegar-info.htm#Apple%20cider%20vinegar%20-%20Introduction http://www.naturalnews.com/026156_the_flu_natural_remedies_vitamin_C.html