The Winter Flu has just hit. You’ve woken up with a scratchy throat and an even scratchier head. Your nose is running like the Missouri river, and you can’t remember the last time you got any sleep.
Getting the winter flu can be horrible, but there are a few ways to help you beat it without popping OTC medicines. Here are some great homemade remedies to help you get through the season in good health.
Stay hydrated
When you have the flu, you’ll likely be dehydrated. The best way to combat that is to drink more fluids. Water is good for you, but if you need a little pick-me-up, have sports drinks enriched with electrolytes. It will give your body the extra energy to power through an illness.
It’s best to avoid caffeinated drinks and stick to herbal tea. It’ll help soothe your sore throat. Try a hot lemon-honey tea when you feel the sore throat coming on. Squeeze a lemon into a mug and add a healthy dose of honey, then add boiling water. You’ve got yourself a delicious throat-soothing beverage.
Take hot showers
Hot showers and steamy baths are an inexpensive, natural cure for the winter flu. A hot shower allows your body to sweat out toxins without putting any strain on your heart or muscles. If you’re feeling congested, a steamy bath will open up your nasal passages and help your body fight off the illness.
Showering is also a great way to use essential oils without having them be too overwhelming or invasive while trying to sleep or relax. Some great oils for fighting off colds include peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and tea tree oil.
Use tea tree oil
This essential oil has many benefits for your health, but one of its most useful properties is its ability to kill bacteria and viruses. It also helps relieve congestion and clears up sinuses. Dab some tea tree oil on your temples, around your nostrils, and on your chest where you can smell it the most.
Be warned that tea tree oil has a strong medicinal fragrance, but many people find it pleasant. You can use it in a diffuser to keep from overwhelming your nose. Alternatively, you can add it to a spray bottle with water and use it as an air freshener.
Consume ginger and garlic
Ginger is a great immune booster and can help you feel better faster when you are under the weather. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties are extremely good for your body. To make ginger tea, cut a couple of slices of the root and put them in boiling water with a teaspoon of honey. Let it steep for 15 minutes. Then strain away the ginger bits and enjoy your healthy drink.
Garlic has similar healing properties and is especially good at fighting fungus and bacteria. So, if your immune system is down, consider adding garlic to your diet to prevent infections from spreading or getting worse. Garlic tea doesn’t taste as good as ginger tea, but if you chop a clove of garlic and throw it into a quarter cup of cold water, you can drink it to help kick your cold.
Ease your stuffy nose
To clear your stuffy nose, you can use a bulb syringe. This might be uncomfortable to use at first, but removing the mucus will help make your nose feel better.
Mix eight ounces of water with ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt. Fill a syringe with the solution. Hold your finger over one nostril and squirt the solution into it. Repeat the process on the other side. This will help thin out your mucus, allowing you to breathe more easily and reduce the bacteria in your nose.