5 tips to naturally relieve cold and flu symptoms

We are in the midst of cold and flu season, how are you faring? We have been lucky enough to avoid the dreaded virus this year, so far anyway! I have had a couple of slight cold symptoms which I quickly addressed with pleasing results.

How can you avoid getting a cold or worse influenza, commonly known as the flu.

My Top 5 Tips

1. Wash hands regularly

And avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.

Colds spread in two ways – through the air and by direct contact. When cold sufferes exhale, cough or sneeze, they spew virus particles into the air. The uninfected inhale them and often catch the cold.

“Direct contact” means transmission from the fingers to the nose or eyes. People unconsciously touch their noses and eyes several times an hour. When you have a cold, nose-touching contaminates your fingers with virus. If you touch other peoples hands or hard surfaces – counters, doorknobs, telephones, etc. – you deposit virus particles that can survive for several hours. The uninfected literally pick the virus up on their fingertips, touch their noses and get infected.

2. Stimulate your immune system

Herbs can help the body to fight off viruses and infection.

Echinacea – stimulates the immune system to reduce symptoms and aid recovery. If your echinacea tincture does not buzz in your mouth, you might want to buy a better brand.

Olive Leaf – used to support immunity and to treat infections such as cold and flu. Laboratory studies suggest that olive leaf possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial against many disease-causing organisms, including several of the viruses that cause colds and flu.

Elderberry – compounds in elderberry disarm flu viruses and prevent replication.

Vitamin C - take 1-2g every hour while symptoms persist or to bowel tolerance (reduce dose to normal bowel function)

3. Drink Hot Liquids

Hot herbal teas relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.

Cold viruses reproduce best at temperatures slightly below normal body temperature. Any hot herb tea warms the throat, impairing viral replication. Hot liquids also help soothe a sore throat, suppress cough and have a mild decongestant effect.

Yarrow – an infusion of the aerial parts reduces fever and combines well with elderflower and peppermint to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. This mix is known as YEP tea.

Elderflower – an infusiopn of the flowers helps reduce fever and tones the mucous membranes.

Peppermint – an unfusion is decongestant and relieves the headache associated with cold & flu.

For sore throats try Sage and thyme tea.

4. Don’t over treat your symptoms

The annoying symptoms you experience with cold and flu are part of the natural healing process – evidence that the immune system is battling illness. A fever is your body’s way of trying to kill viruses in a hotter-than-normal environment. A fever’s hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively.

Coughing is another productive symptom; it clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body.

5. Healthy lifestyle choices

Take a look at your lifestyle, are you eating a diet that nourishes and supports your body? Do you exercise daily, have outside interests, sleep soundly and wake refreshed? How well do you handle stress, what do you do to relax after a stressful day?

If you do succumb to a cold or flu, it is a sign to slow down. Try relaxing in a comfy chair with a cup of YEP tea and read a good book. Enjoy… Sandra