Cold & Flu Remedies
Our family just suffered our first bout of the flu.  We are usually a healthy lot but we have been burning the candle at both ends over the entire summer.  We have fallen into the bad habits of eating a lot of processed and quick foods, sleeping less than we need, and working long hours at home and on the job.

According to WebMD, a few simple changes in habits can aid in avoiding the common cold and flu:

  1. Wash your hands
  2. Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night
  3. Drink plenty of fluids
  4. Consider taking supplements such as Vitamin C or Zinc
  5. Don’t touch your face or head with your hands
  6. Get fresh air
  7. Do aerobic exercises
  8. Don’t smoke
  9. Limit alcohol consumption
  10. Relax

Since there is not a cure for either the cold or flu, many over the counter medications are designed to make your symptoms more tolerable or to help you sleep through the experience.  I personally don’t like the way cold medications make me feel so, I try to use home remedies when possible.  Below are a few of my favorites that have minimal side effects:

  • Sleep
  • Chewable Vitamin C tablets
  • Saline nose spray to keep nasal passages moisturized
  • Warm salt water gargle to reduce scratchy and dry throat
  • Water to replace fluids lost due to fever
  • Homemade chicken soup
  • Orange and spice hot toddy with honey and bourbon to sooth coughs, coat a sore throat, and assist with sleeping. Do not give this remedy to children. Steep one Lipton Orange and Spice tea bag in 8-ounces of water; add 3 tablespoons of honey (or more if desired); add ½ to 1 shot of bourbon or whiskey; stir and enjoy
  • Chamomile Tea or Sleepy Time Tea with honey and lemon will aid sleeping and relaxes bronchial passages. I also use this remedy to soothe nausea.
Keep in mind that I am not a medical doctor. These remedies are homeopathic and have been passed down through my family, and I offer them to you as alternatives to chemical filled over the counter medications. I have no scientific proof that they work except my experience. If your symptoms persist longer than a few days, you should seek medical attention.

I hope these remedies help make your cold and flu season tolerable and your recovery easier.


Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Digg! Reddit! Del.icio.us! Mixx! Google! Live! Facebook! StumbleUpon! Yahoo! Twitter! Free Joomla PHP extensions, software, information and tutorials.
Trackback(0)
Comments (0)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

busy