From herbal tea to onion
The R is in the month again and so the flu and cold are just around the corner. Cough, headache, muscle aches… You can feel quite sluggish. Although there are no medicines for the flu and colds, there are simple home remedies that can ease the suffering.
Water
Bee flu and cold In general, you should drink plenty of water. Water is the most important component of human beings and helps to remove waste products. Do not drink too many drinks that dehydrate, such as coffee and alcohol. Milk is also not good, because it encourages mucus formation.
herbal tea
Herbal tea, on the other hand, is excellent for the flu or cold. Mix equal parts elderflower, peppermint and yarrow and put one to two tablespoons of this mixture in a cup of hot water. Optionally, you can add some honey, ginger root and a cinnamon stick. Drink this tea preferably before going to sleep.
Ginger root tea suppresses the chills and general feeling of misery. Grate an inch long piece of peeled ginger root. Mix the grated ginger with two cups of cold water and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for another five minutes. Then add half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and cook for another minute. Finally, add two tablespoons of lemon juice and some honey. Drink the brew as warm as possible.
Not hungry
Usually you don’t have much appetite when you feel the flu or cold. It is okay to eat a little less, as long as you drink a lot. If you still want to eat something, eat easily digestible food, such as soup, rice or chicken.
Citrus fruits
Grapefruit and lemon are high in vitamin C and help with the functioning of your liver and thus your immune system. Other citrus fruits are less suitable, as they are too sweet to promote the elimination of toxins through the liver.
Garlic
As soon as you notice the first symptoms of the flu or cold, it is best to eat two cloves of raw garlic. Garlic has a strong antibacterial effect. To suppress the strong smell of garlic from your mouth, it is best to chew parsley.
Chicken soup
Studies have shown that chicken soup helps with the flu and colds. The steam from the soup relieves nasal and chest congestion. Broth is said to have anti-inflammatory properties. The movement of white blood cells, which encourage mucus to build up in the nose and lungs, is stopped.
Popsicles
One of the symptoms of flu and colds is an annoying sore throat. Drinking a lot and sucking on a candy or licorice can provide relief. Sucking on ice pops or ice cubes also helps. These home remedies often work just as well as expensive lozenges from the pharmacy or drugstore.
Onion
It is quite annoying and exhausting when your nose is stuffy. A simple way to bring some relief is to use a raw onion. Remove the ‘skirts’ from the onion and cut the onion into large pieces. On a saucer next to the bed, the onion works wonders for a stuffy nose at night.
cough syrup
Coughing, another typical symptom of colds in particular. Rule number one is: don’t suppress the coughing! Coughing keeps the airways clean. If you are looking for some relief, try making a cough syrup from, for example, melted butter with brown sugar, brandy or sugar water. Or take ½ cup honey, 5 tablespoons lemon juice and cup hot water. Mix the honey and lemon with a spoon until the ingredients are well mixed. Then add the hot water while stirring. Is the syrup too thick? Then add some extra hot water. When coughing, take a tablespoon of this honey syrup two to three times a day. The syrup can be kept for a few days if you keep it in the fridge.
Another excellent cough medicine that has an expectorant effect and soothes the throat is honey with sunflower oil. Stir together two tablespoons of honey and two tablespoons of sunflower oil. Take a teaspoon of this mixture every now and then.
steam
By steaming you can prevent a sinus infection. Pour boiling water into a large bowl. Add chamomile, eucalyptus and thyme to loosen the mucus and soothe the sore throat. Wrap a towel over your head and hang directly over the tray for five to ten minutes. Sniff the steam through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this twice a day.
Run its course first
Home remedies are there to relieve the symptoms. But the best thing is to get as much rest as possible. That gives your body energy to fight against the flu or cold.
