Flu sickens millions of Americans each year, and most of them get better without any medical care at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A key difference between home remedies and antiviral drugs is that home remedies target symptoms rather than the disease itself. However, relief from symptoms helps promotes rest, which is all that most people need to recover from the flu.
Fever
It's not necessary to treat fever, but doing so often makes the patient more comfortable and promotes sleep. The CDC recommends non-medicinal remedies such as placing a cool cloth on the forehead or, for people who are well enough, taking a tepid bath as the first line of defense against fever that interferes with rest. If these are not effective, over-the-counter medications that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used. Over-the-counter medications take 30 to 45 minutes to work and treat both fever and flu-related pain.
Cough
The dry cough associated with the flu is often very painful and makes sleep impossible. A humidifier introduces moisture into the air to make it easier for the sick person to breathe. Cough drops or even hard candies can also help, but they should only be given to adults due to the risk of choking. Over-the-counter medicines where the active ingredient is labeled as a "cough suppressant" can also help. Medicines labeled as "expectorants" are for coughs with mucus and do not benefit dry cough. According to the CDC, no over-the-counter cough medicines are appropriate for children younger than four.
Sore Throat
Treating a cough can help improve a sore throat, but it's often not enough. Gargling with a salt water solution is a time-tested remedy many people swear by. The CDC recommends a ratio of 1 tsp. of salt per cup of warm tap water. Cold beverages, ice chips and frozen treats help numb the throat if the patient is able to tolerate them. Finally, the same over-the-counter medicines that treat fever also work for throat pain.
