The Most Effective Cold and Flu Remedies

The best thing current cold treatments do is to bring relief to the symptoms or shorten the extent of the symptoms. There are various medications which can help relieve cold and flu symptoms or you can also take it the natural way. Here are some of the most effective home cold and flu remedies that can help you or your family a little better when suffering from colds or flu.

* Have plenty of rest. Arming yourself with enough rest the moment you have flu or colds will help the body in fighting these conditions more effectively. This immune system task can difficult for your body if you don’t have enough energy. So, keep warm and have some rest.

* Gargle every once in a while. Gargling can help moisten sore throat and may bring tentative relief. Mix a teaspoon of salt with warm water and gargle this solution 4 times every day. In order to lessen the tickle in your throat, you can try gargling with an astringent gargle that has tannin. This can help tighten the membranes in your throat. You can also use thick gargles made from honey. Mix a teaspoon of honey with a tablespoon of lemon juice with 2 cups of hot water. Allow the mixture to reach room temperature before using it. However, you should keep in mind not to give honey to children younger than 1 year of age.

* Drink warm liquids. This is one of the most common cold and flu remedies. Warm beverages can help relieve nasal congestion, soothe inflamed membranes lining your throat and nose and help rehydrate your body.

* Take a warm shower. Steamy showers can help add moisture to nasal passages aside from keeping your body relaxed. If you feel dizzy because of the flu, keep steamy showers running while sitting on a nearby chair taking a sponge bath.

* Keep a salve under your nose. This is one of the well-known cold and flu remedies. A dab of salve with a little menthol can be placed under the nose in order to help relieve the irritated skin near the nose’s base and help open breathing passages. Eucalyptus, menthol and camphor can all help soothe the pain of an irritated nose.

* Place cold or hot packs surrounding congested sinuses. Both of these temperatures can help relieve the symptoms of colds and flu. You can use reusable cold or hot packs from a drugstore or create your own.

* Keep your head elevated when sleeping. This can also aid in draining the nasal passages.

* Avoid flying as much as possible. Flying can add more stress to your already stressed body. Air pressure will just place more stress on your upper respiratory system. Flying with a flu or cold can harm your eardrums due to the changes in pressure while flying. If it is important that you fly, you must bring along a decongestant and nasal spray that you can use while travelling. Also, chewing gum can also aid in relieving pressure when flying.