You should have a few basic cold and flu fighting remedies available at home for those times when you or a family member develops symptoms unexpectedly. Some of the remedies taste good and work their action on the germs coursing their way through your body, while others do their work in a less obvious way.
Chicken Soup
Homemade chicken soup has been shown to slow the movement of white blood cells being used in lab samples. Dr. Stephen Rennard of the University of Nebraska at Omaha says that chicken soup reduces the activity of white blood cells in the respiratory system that cause cold and flu symptoms. According to Dr. Rennard, his research does show the efficacy of the age-old remedy of chicken soup.
Hot Orange and Ginger
Mix ginger and orange juice with other ingredients to make a hot tea to help ease cold and flu symptoms. Squeeze the juice from one fresh orange, add 1 tsp. ginger (which helps soothe the sore throat) and add 1/2 tsp honey. Put all of this into a cup of boiling water and sip it while it's warm. The vitamin C in the orange juice helps to boost your immune system's ability to fight your infection, and honey helps cough and to soothe your throat.
Goldenseal and Echinacea
Echinacea is an antiviral herb and, when it's taken as a tincture at the first sign of a cold or flu, it helps to lessen your symptoms. This herb is also a natural antibiotic and helps to boost your immune system, says HerbalHomeRemedies.org.
Goldenseal is another natural antibiotic and works to help your body by relieving lung and nasal congestion, along with other symptoms.
Neti Pot
Use a neti pot at the first sign of nasal congestion. While the thought of running warm saline water through your nostrils is not a pleasant one, the neti pot can help clear mucous from your nasal passages, which might reduce your chance of developing a sinus infection, according to Dr. Richard Weiemiller of Beaumont Hospital in Detroit.
Use the neti pot three times a day while you're congested. Before you do so, check with your physician to make sure it's safe for you to do so.
Vitamin C
Take 500 mg of vitamin C four times a day to help shorten the duration of your flu by one to two days and to help ease your cold symptoms. According to HerbalHomeRemedies.org, vitamin C is more effective in fighting cold symptoms than the flu.
Herbal Tea
Steep equal quantities of sage, bay leaf and cinnamon in hot water, strain the herbs out and add 1 tbsp. of lemon juice. Add honey to taste and drink it warm.
Any clear, nondairy liquid such as unsweetened fruit juices, water and herbal tea can help flush cold and flu viruses out of your system, according to HerbalHomeRemedies.org.
