Flu is the most common problem that we have to suffer from the onset of winter - October to April. It is caused by virus and there are almost 200 viruses that are responsible for flu. You get fever along with congested nose, throat, lungs, bronchial tubes and the middle ear. It lasts for approximately 2 weeks and is followed by tremendous weakness. There are flu shots that you have to take every year to keep the problem at bay, but as we say prevention is better than cure, it is always better to avail the home remedies for flu.
You have to avoid cold foods and drinks as well as fried foods. In their place you have to include a bland diet comprising of fresh fruits, herbal tea and soups. Fresh fruits and soups will provide you with all the essential nutrients and will liquefy the mucous. Peppermint tea can cool your head and clear your sinuses. Thyme tea along with honey is a good decongestant. Honey is a good natural expectorant and one of the best home remedies for flu. You have to mix with lemon juice and warm water with a tablespoon of honey and take it to allow the flow of mucous. You can mix one-fourth teaspoon of cinnamon powder with lukewarm honey for 3-4 days as it acts as an immunity booster.
Lemon is very useful as it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory properties. It helps to eradicate the bacteria in the mucous. Lemon oil is a good expectorant too. This is one of the easiest home remedies for flu; all you have to do is chop a lemon along with its skin and add it to a cup of boiling hot water and allow it to steep for some time. Then inhale the steam. Similarly you can take steam by adding 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to boiling water.
You will get relief from sore throat if you gargle 2-3 or even 4 times a day. You can do it by simply adding salt to hot water or you can add 1 drop of tea tree oil and 1 drop of lemon oil to the water and gargle. You have to be careful enough while gargling as you cannot swallow this liquid. One of the useful home remedies for flu is using a neti pot to clear nasal congestion. All you have to do is add one-fourth teaspoon each of baking soda and salt in warm water and tilt your head on one side and pour it in your nose and spit out the solution when it comes to your mouth. Repeat it with your other nostril.
You can add eucalyptus oil or menthol oil in boiling hot water and take steam by covering your head. One of the age old home remedies for flu used by the Romans is mustard. You have to take warm water along with egg white and add to these 3-4 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of mustard powder and mix thoroughly. Smear the paste in a clean handkerchief and apply it on your chest after every few minutes. Mustard has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that help in curing chest colds and flu.
