Natural Flu Remedies
“AH-CHOO!”, “My head!”, “My body is aching!” Sound familiar? Whether it’s a cold, flu or allergies, symptoms such as sneezing, headaches, body aches, stuffy nose and sore throat are the worst! Here at FIT we love natural remedies, and we always look to them before taking medication if possible.
Cold and flu viruses spread quickly and those who have high toxicity levels, high stress levels or trouble with sleeping are more susceptible to catching the bug. How can you prevent illness? Self-care is a great place to start, but if the virus does get into your system natural flu remedies are available! You’ll often find that you have natural items on hand to improve your symptoms or at least calm them down so you can get some rest and fight off the sickness. If your symptoms are lasting or become more serious it may be best to see your doctor, but if you’ve been down the flu-road before, trying out natural flu remedies, like those listed below may be your best bet.
Fighting the Flu Naturally
1. Stay Hydrated
We know, pounding water while you’re lying in bed sniffling may not seem ideal, but keeping your body hydrated is a. Important all the time and b. Extremely important when you’re sick. Clear fluids are the key and they can include water, broth and tea.
2. Take a Warm Bath or Shower
Wash some of the flu germs down the drain. Though it may not sound like a true remedy it can assist with congestion and relaxing the body.
3. Lemon Juice + Ginger
Is a great sore throat or respiratory soother. Lemon juice, slices or ginger slices can be included in hot or cold water to calm the throat and provide a little bit of vitamin C. Vitamin C is also a great and natural flu fighter that can be taken throughout the day to help you feel better a bit quicker.
4. Chamomile and Peppermint
Are must-haves. Both come in tea form and as well as essential oils. Chamomile is often used to induce relaxation, calm an upset stomach and to act as a natural antibacterial. Peppermint is not only great for digestion, it can also work to lower a fever and it’s antimicrobial and antiviral.
5. Detoxification
Is the process of releasing toxins from the body and if you’ve ever noticed how a fever or sickness makes you sweat here’s why. An increase in your internal body temperature may aid in fighting a viral or bacterial infection, when your body temperature increases you begin to sweat. This is where an infrared session comes in. If you’ve been fighting off sickness for a while and can’t seem to kick it immersing yourself in infrared may do the trick. Heating up your body may help fight off the virus and release toxins at the same time.
6. Rest and Relaxation
If you’re coughing, sneezing and not getting any sleep because of it your symptoms may last longer than you’d like them to. Though we’re often lying in bed when we have the flu we may be stressed out about missing work, chores around the house and other regular activities. Taking the time to simply relax when you’re sick can make a big difference in your recovery time. If you’re having a hard time resting while staring at the ceiling in your bedroom, try an infrared body wrap session. The soothing infrared heat can penetrate the body, relieving aches and pains and lowering your cortisol levels so you can get a better night’s sleep.
Choosing a handful of the remedies we’ve listed and exposing the body to some infrared heat can help you feel better in no time. Though they are different, influenza and the common cold effect the respiratory system. Despite their variances, most of these natural flu remedies are also great tips for combating a cold. Keep in mind, symptoms vary, but taking care of yourself is the most important factor in feeling better. Sickness happens to the best of us, so don’t feel bad about staying home and taking the time necessary to recover!
Related Blogs:
- How to Get Rid of a Headache with Infrared
- How to Get Better Sleep
- Natural Pain Relief with Infrared Therapy