With the onset of autumn’s cold weather, many people start suffering from acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). The common cold and flu can be treated with home remedies. While some people experience these illnesses mildly and easily, others may need a prolonged recovery period in bed. The severity of upper respiratory viral infections, such as colds and flu, can vary greatly.
Symptoms and Differences between Cold and Flu
A cold usually starts with a sore and scratchy throat, followed by a cough and runny nose. The patient feels general malaise, chills, and tires quickly. Typically, the patient’s temperature is not high.
In contrast, flu begins suddenly with a temperature spike to 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. The illness is accompanied by headaches, severe chills, and body aches. A dry cough appears, and eyes become watery and sore. Those suffering from the flu often experience lowered immunity, and serious complications such as pneumonia can occur.
Home Remedies for Treating Cold and Flu
Instead of rushing to the pharmacy at the first signs of a cold, enriching the pharmaceutical industry, consider home remedies. While doctors are concerned about complications from ARVI, and rightfully so, the virus can affect any organ and cause serious illnesses such as:
- Tracheitis (trachea),
- Laryngitis (larynx),
- Tonsillitis (tonsils),
- Otitis (middle ear)
Effective Home Treatments
- Gargling and Inhalations
- Gargle with a baking soda solution.
- Use eucalyptus oil for inhalations.
- Drinking Warm Liquids
- Drink warm and abundant fluids.
- Beverages like tea with honey and raspberries, compotes, juices, and nectars are recommended.
- Prepare cranberry juice or a mixture with lemon and currant jam. Drink up to 2 liters of fluid daily.
- Eating Vitamin-Rich Foods
- Consume more citrus fruits, garlic, onions, and vegetables.
Specific Home Remedies
Pine Needle Broth with Honey
- Chop 100 g of pine needles, add 1 liter of boiling water, boil for 2 minutes, and infuse under a lid for 2 hours before straining. Drink half a glass three times a day with a spoonful of honey.
Cough Remedy
- Treat a cough with milk and mineral water.
- For a stuffy nose, apply a cloth bag filled with heated salt to the bridge of the nose.
Herbal Infusions
- Mix equal parts of bugleweed, sage, and chamomile. Add 1 tbsp of the mixture to ½ liter of boiling water, wrap, and infuse for 40 minutes before straining. Drink hot with honey before bed and during the day instead of tea.
- If you have a headache, add 1 part mint to the mixture. For hypothermia, add 1 part elderflower.
Rosehip Infusion
- Crush dried rosehip berries. Add 5 tbsp of berries to 1 liter of cold water. Boil for 10 minutes, then infuse for 10 hours. Drink one glass every 3 hours throughout the day, with jam, sugar, or honey. Avoid eating anything else that day. Rinse your mouth with warm water after drinking to protect your teeth from the acid. Continue for a week, gradually reducing the number of infusions.
Wormwood Tincture on Vodka
- Infuse wormwood in a glass of vodka in a dark place for 3 weeks, then strain. Take 20 g once a day for colds and hypothermia.
Viburnum Berries and Linden Flowers
- Mix equal parts of viburnum berries and linden flowers. Boil 2 tbsp of the mixture in 400 ml of water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink two cups hot before bed.
Oregano, Coltsfoot Leaves, and Raspberry Berries
- Mix 20 g of oregano, 40 g of coltsfoot leaves, and raspberry berries. Boil 2 tbsp of the mixture in 2 cups of boiling water for 5 minutes, then strain. Drink one cup before bed.
Black Elderflower and Linden Flower Tea
- Mix equal parts of elderflower and linden flower. Boil 2 tbsp of the mixture in a glass of boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink hot for colds or flu.
Cranberry Juice
- Drink cranberry juice during the flu.
Garlic
- Consume three cloves of garlic daily during flu outbreaks.
Raspberry Infusion
- Brew 1 tbsp of dried raspberries in a glass of boiling water for 20 minutes. Drink hot twice a day.
Raspberry and Herb Mix
- Mix equal parts of raspberry berries, coltsfoot leaves, raspberry leaves, and oregano. Boil 1 tbsp of the mixture in 2 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink half a cup three times a day before meals.
Conclusion
These home remedies offer natural ways to treat colds and flu, potentially alleviating symptoms without the use of pharmaceuticals. Always consult with a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen.
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