Natural Remedies for the Cold and Flu Season

Fleeing the Over-the-Counter Craze

You awake on a cold Monday morning to find that your head is pounding, you can't breathe through your nose, your throat is sore, you have a fever, your chest is congested and you can't stop coughing. Cold and flu season has hit you where it hurts. What you need is practical advice your mother would be proud of, or in other words, natural remedies for your cold or flu.

First, you need to know how to care for yourself when you have a cold or flu. So get out of bed and get some more clothes on. That's right, bundle up, just like dear mom always said. Pull on your long underwear, flannel pajamas, and socks. Now, snuggle back under the covers with a hot water bottle or heating pad. Why? Because sweating helps rid your body of toxins and the quicker you get rid of them the sooner you will feel better. Plus, you are back in bed where you can rest, rest, rest, so your body can focus its energy on battling the virus that is causing you to feel like death warmed over.

Make sure you have plenty of Kleenex nearby. It is important for you to blow your nose, rather than snuffling what's inside your sinuses back into your head. Blowing your nose removes the bacteria and virus germs from your body, but be sure to blow properly or you risk complicating matters. You should blow gently into the Kleenex to avoid blasting those bacteria and virus germs deep into your sinuses and ear canals.

Studies show that directly inhaling steam for 20 minutes kills nasal viruses and breaks up sinus and lung congestion, reducing the duration of your cold. So, bring a pot of water to a boil and add a handful of chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint, wintergreen, or sage to the boiling water. Remove the pot from the stove and place on a heat resistant surface. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the pot, keeping your face a comfortable distance from the heat. Slowly and deeply inhale the steam for 20 minutes. Repeat as often as you like.

If your nose is severely congested there are a couple of natural ways you can get relief. One is with a sinus wash. You can purchase a kit for this at most drug stores or you can simply make your own by using the recipe and methods below.

Sinus Wash

¼ tsp salt