The sound of that first sniffle is enough to make anyone cringe in fear at what is to come. Nobody wants to get sick but sometimes in the winter, it can feel…unavoidable. Cold and flu season is upon us and even the most diligent hand washer may still fall subject to tell-tale aches and pains, fever, and congestion. The moment you feel symptoms (or as soon as possible thereafter), there are some natural cold and flu remedies that you can begin to help start relieving symptoms and getting your body on a faster road to recovery.
One of the first things to note about natural cold and flu treatment is that many symptoms are important tools in your body’s natural healing. Simply masking them with medications may relieve temporary irritating symptoms but may slow down your body’s natural ability to heal. Good health begins with a well-rounded, nutritious diet, as well as an active lifestyle, and plenty of rest. These things can help you avoid getting sick in the first place and having them as a foundation if you do get sick can help shorten the duration of your illness. Once you have cold and flu symptoms, the goal is to support your body’s natural healing process and make you comfortable in the process where/when possible. When sick, nutritious food, plenty of hydration, and lots of rest are the first and most important places to start. Things like bone broth and herbal tea are excellent options because they will keep you warm and hydrated and may have other herbs, minerals, and vitamins that help fight infection.
In addition to getting rest, nutrition, and hydration, there are vitamins and supplements that can help fight infection including things like Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Elderberry, Echinacea, and more. Homeopathic remedies that may be beneficial include Belladonna, Arsenica Album, Oscillococcinum®, Aconitum, Bryonia, Gelsemium, Nux Vomica, Pulsatilla, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Allium cepa, Natrum Mur and more. As with any illness, it is important to consult your physician before beginning any treatment or remedies to ensure that they are safe and optimal for you based on your individual health history and symptoms.
Nobody wants to get sick but sometimes it is impossible to avoid during cold and flu season. Symptoms are your body’s way of fighting illness and infection so that it can heal naturally. Although symptoms can be uncomfortable, it is often best to support your body’s natural healing process rather than simply masking symptoms because it may end up extending your illness. The good news is, for most people, the duration of cold/flu symptoms and general illness should resolve in 7-10 days, and by taking the aforementioned steps, possibly sooner!