For most people, getting the flu isn’t such a big deal. After all, our body can naturally fight off this infection, and people get better in about a week or so. But still, a lot of people want to try out flu home remedies to help them recover faster or manage the symptoms better.
Effective Flu Home Remedies
Remedies for the flu can sometimes be hit or miss. However, these home remedies are either backed by science, or have shown promise when it comes to fighting off the flu. Here are some remedies that you should try out the next time you get sick with the flu:
Drink lots of water
There’s a saying that if you catch the flu, you’ll need to drink lots of water to drown it out. While water doesn’t literally drown out the flu virus, staying hydrated does help a lot with recovery.
Drinking water is one of the best flu home remedies as it helps the body flush out any germs, and it also helps keep your nose, mouth, and throat moist. Having the flu can also increase your risk of dehydration, so drinking more water than usual can help prevent this from happening.
Vitamin C might help
Vitamin C won’t magically cure your flu. However, it can help strengthen the immune system, which means it can help quicken the recovery time from a flu. Just be sure to avoid taking too much vitamin C, especially if you already eat a lot of fruits as part of your diet.
The reason behind this is that your body will just flush out any excess vitamin C that you take. This means that if you take too much vitamin C, you might just be wasting your money. The same goes for other vitamins as well.
Chicken soup
You’ll be surprised to find out that chicken soup is actually very effective in managing the symptoms of flu. Chicken soup, and soups in general, help keep you hydrated, keep you warm, and overall just makes you feel better.
Even if it doesn’t cure the flu, drinking some soup makes the symptoms more bearable1.
Nasal drops and sprays
If you’re also experiencing colds along with your flu, taking nasal drops and sprays are great flu home remedies. These help relieve any stuffiness and help hydrate your sinuses which reduces inflammation2.
Ginger tea helps with nausea and an upset stomach
Sometimes, people with the flu can also experience nausea and an upset stomach. One great way to help manage these symptoms is to drink ginger tea3.
Simply slice up some ginger, boil it in water, and add honey or lemon juice to taste. This is a great way to relieve an upset stomach, plus it can also clear the sinuses, relieve throat inflammation, and make you feel better overall.
Elderberry might also help
There have been some studies showing that elderberry helps strengthen the immune system and fight off the flu4. However, more studies need to be done regarding the effectiveness of elderberry against the flu.
Despite this, it’s still worth trying out, so long as you consult it with your doctor first.
Get lots of rest
Lastly, you’ll need to get lots of rest if you do get sick with the flu5. Getting enough rest helps your body recover from the illness and also gives your immune system a good chance of fighting off the flu.
Reminders
Try to avoid doing anything strenuous, and try to stay in bed and relax as much as possible if you do go down with the flu. This way, you can significantly give your recovery a boost. For any concerns, consult your doctor for other flu home remedies.
Learn more about Influenza here.
