Natural Ways to Fight Colds & Flus

Colds and/or Flus - knowing when and how to attack the virus is extremely important.  The battle of the immune system shows when you experience symptoms such as a fever, coughing, and/or a stuffy nose. The fever is the body’s defense system to kill viruses by creating a hotter than  normal environment which improves blood circulation and making germ killing proteins. When you are coughing this is your immune systems attempt to clear your lungs of the germs carries from the rest of your body. And that stuffy nose is the body sending germs out of the body through the secretions of your noses. But how can you assist the body in making its methods more effective?

Rest is always best and necessary for healing.  To help your dry or congestion, use saltwater rinses to help break up nasal congestion plus it helps to remove the viruses and bacterias from your nose. There are two methods you can use: a saltwater rinse where you squirt into each nostril or the usage of a Neti pot. Because of nasal congestion, some will develop a sore throat due to the drainage down the back of the throat or from mouth breathing. Gargling with saltwater will aid in healing. Gargling with warm saltwater three to four times a day will bring relief and improving healing at the same time. In addition, drinking a warm cup of herbal tea especially echinacea not only bring relief but increases healing. Echinacea boosts the immune system reducing chances of catching a cold and reducing the healing time if you have one.  Elderberry extract is also an herb that taken daily cuts the number of symptoms of a cold by half.  Increasing the intake of food containing vitamin C shortens the length of colds. Using lozenges containing zinc or taking a zinc supplement helps the immune system helps shorten the symptoms. Lastly, cutting a fresh onion into slices, copping a clove or two of garlic then layering the two in a mason jar, covering with raw honey, will create a sore throat, cough remedy that helps to speed recovery. Be sure to let mixture set over night and refrigerate. Take one tablespoon three to four times a day.