Natural Cold & Flu Remedies
So it seems like everyone I know is either sick right now or has been within the last couple weeks. Turns out this cold/flu season has been a pretty rough one in general, and this back and forth weather we've had all over the US isn't helping I'm sure! I figured it was only right I do post with my favorite natural cold and flu remedies! First I'm going to go over some important points about the viruses and what NOT to do that are just as important. Here we go!
What NOT to do when you're sick
The common cold and flu are both viral, and there is really no treatment once you have it. (Yes, even prescription drugs like Tamiflu are designed to help lessen the amount of time you feel ill but they don't actually kill/keep you from getting the virus) You basically have to let them run their course and can do a variety of things to help minimize the symptoms. That considered, prevention is key! A healthy body with a strong resistance will be less likely to fall ill and/or get back to normal faster if you do. Also, DO NOT just down a ton of OTC meds in hopes they will keep you from getting ill! They don't work like that so you're most likely taking medicine that's not really helping you much anyway. lol Some medicines may reduce your symptoms once sick, but won't prevent illness. It is actually better to let some symptoms such as low grade fevers to run their course because they are part of your natural immune response.
My Favorite Natural Cold & Flu Remedies
To reiterate, for the most part viral illnesses like the common cold and the flu have to run their course. However, during that time you don't have to be completely miserable! There are plenty of natural, effective things you can do to soothe your symptoms, nurse your body back to health, and prevent the illness from spreading to others. Here are my faves!
Make ginger tea. Steep fresh ginger with lemon and raw honey for a simple and soothing herbal tea. Ginger is antiviral and the lemon and honey help soothe sore throats.
Get adjusted. Adjustments boost the immune system naturally. A healthy nervous system has more capacity to heal & adapt to the environment. Many of my practice members report less illness and getting better faster while under chiropractic care compared to when they are not.
Monitor your fever but don't reduce it Fevers are designed to help your body fight illness. If your fever is low grade try to rest and stay hydrated vs. reaching for the fever reducers. Reducing the fever may help you stay more comfy but can actually prolong your illness.
Get lots of nutrients. A well nourished body has greater resistance! Although many people think of citrus fruits like oranges for vitamin C, colorful veggies are actually a great source and contain many other important vitamins and minerals. Skip the sugary OJ and try a cold pressed green juice instead.
Avoid excess sugar. Opt for herbal teas and that cold pressed juice I just mentioned to stay hydrated versus sugary juices and sports drinks.
Drink bone broth. Bone broth is super soothing and nutrient dense. It's full of minerals that are needed to work alongside those vitamins you'll be getting from those juices and veggies. One of my favorite things to do is actually to wilt fresh greens into hot broth for a soothing and powerful healing soup.
Take a warm bath. Body aches are not the business! A warm epsom salt bath helps soothes achy muscles thanks to the magnesium in the salts (they absorb through the skin). Add a few drops of essential oils for extra soothing and stress relief. (try Lavender, Eucalyptus, or Frankincense)
Add essential oils to your shower to ease congestion. Put a few drops of oil into the shower and create a soothing steam to help break up congestion. My favorite oils for this are lemon, peppermint, and/or eucalyptus.
Give herbs a try. I reach out to my acupuncturist who is also an herbalist for her recommendations because although "natural" herbs are still medicine. Don't have an trusted herbalist/naturopathic doctor/acupuncturist? Try some of the basics such as peppermint, cinnamon, ginger and echinacea. Also, there are many OTC supplements to be found in health food stores, I always ask the staff for recommendations and best sellers. If you have any existing health conditions or are taking medications be sure to talk with your health care practitioner before starting any herbal supplement.
Take your vitamins. I already mentioned vitamin C but vitamin D, zinc, and probiotics (the latter technically not vitamins, but you get the idea.) Are all extremely important to the body's immune processes. Although I try to get most of these in food, it's definitely worth supplementing when trying to support my body through illness.
Hydrate & Rest Last but certainly not least because there are extremely important! Drink plenty of water (remember to avoid those sugary juices we talked about!) and simply rest. Don't try to "tough it out", listen to your body's cues! Get some sleep and allow your body to heal.