Tips to Treat Colds and Flu the 'Natural' Way

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We all know there’s no cure for the cold or the flu, so the best we can do is control the symptoms. There are a variety of medications that help alleviate or shorten symptom duration. But you don’t necessarily have to reach for the medicine cabinet to find relief.

Here are a few things you can try the next time a cold or the flu attacks your body:

  1. Blow your nose often – and the right way when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head; blowing too hard can cause an earache. Instead, press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other then wash your hands.
  2. Stay rested as soon as a cold or the flu symptoms materialize to help your body direct its energy toward the immune battle, which taxes the body.
  3. Gargle to moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle – such as tea – to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey.
  4. Drink hot liquids to relieve nasal congestion, help prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.
  5. Take a steamy shower to moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you’re dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
  6. Use a salve under your nose, such as a small dab of mentholated salve, to open breathing passages and help soothe the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw.
  7. Apply hot or cold packs around your congested sinuses. Either temperature may help you feel more comfortable. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs at a drugstore. Or make your own by heating a damp washcloth for 55 seconds in a microwave (test the temperature before using). Or, use a small bag of frozen peas as a cold pack.
  8. Sleep with an extra pillow under your head to help drain nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope.
  9. Don’t fly unless necessary. There’s no point adding stress to your already stressed-out upper respiratory system, and that’s what the change in air pressure will do. Flying with cold or flu congestion can hurt your eardrums as a result of pressure changes during takeoff and landing. If you must fly, use a decongestant, and carry a nasal spray with you to use just before takeoff and landing. Chewing gum and swallowing frequently can also help relieve pressure.

Remember, serious conditions can masquerade as the common cold, and a mild infection can evolve into something more serious. If you have severe symptoms or are feeling sicker with each passing day, see a doctor.

Source:WebMD

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