Best Treatment and Home Remedies for Flu

Infectious diseases such as the flu are common. About 20 to 40 million Americans get sick with it, especially during flu season.

The influenza virus causes the sickness known as the flu. It can have severe symptoms such as head and body aches, fever, sore throat, and respiratory problems. In the winter, flu is most common, and many individuals can become ill instantly.

The Dos and Don'ts: Best Treatments and Home Remedies for Flu

Most flu patients have mild illnesses and don't require medical attention or antiviral medications. In most circumstances, flu remedies include that you should stay at home. So, we will provide the dos and don'ts in treating flu at home. 

The Dos.

Some natural remedies can help relieve flu symptoms. They can also speed up recovery from the illness. 

1. Get a lot of rest.

It is essential to rest and obtain more sleep when you have the flu. Having enough rest is also one of the best remedies for colds. Getting more sleep can strengthen your immune system.

It would be best if you got more sleep when you have flu because sleeping enables your body to concentrate on combating the virus. Your body can manufacture  white blood cells and antibodies while sleeping, which aid in fighting the virus causing your flu symptoms. 

2. Drink fluids and water.

Drinking fluids is essential when you're sick with the flu. This is true whether you get the stomach flu or the respiratory flu. Getting plenty of fluids is also one of the natural cold remedies.

Your throat, mouth, and nose stay moist with the help of water. This aids in clearing your body of phlegm and mucus that has accumulated.

Dehydration can also occur if you don't eat or drink normally. The water loss will also result from the flu's frequent symptoms of diarrhea and fever.

• Since drinking fluids can cure flu and natural cold medicine, stay hydrated, and be sure you have lots of
• water
• coconut water
• fresh juice
• Soup
• broth
• raw fruits and vegetables
• sports drinks.

3. Use salt water to rinse.

Among the best flu home remedies is gargling with salt water. Warm water and salt rinse, often known as a saltwater gargle, help ease sore throat discomfort. Mucus can also be cleared with its aid. How to rinse with salt water:

1. Heat or boil the water, then let it cool until it is warm or at room temperature. Mix 8 ounces of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
2. Rinse your mouth and throat, draw the salt water to the back of your throat and gargle for 10 to 30 seconds.
3. Repeat two to four times after spitting the water into a sink.

Avoid ingesting salt water. Children should wait until they can safely gargle with simple water before being allowed to do so.

4. Breathe in the steam.

For flu home treatment, inhaling steam can help. Your nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs can be made more comfortable by inhaling steam from a heated pot of water. Water vapor is used in steam inhalation and steam therapy to relieve mucus congestion. Also, inhaling steam is one of the natural remedies for colds.

How to warm water for steam:

• on the stove in a saucepan,
• in a pot on the stove, a bowl or cup that can be microwaved 
• in a vaporizer

5. Have herbal tea.

Many herbs are antiviral and antibacterial. It will benefit you if you have star anise at home. It is a star-shaped spice that was used to extract oseltamivir. Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is a prescription flu medication that kills viruses. Other herbs and green teas contain antioxidants and germ-fighting properties.

Herbal tea can fight the flu. Hot herbal drinks soothe the throat and sinuses.

Star anise and the following herbs produce a flu-fighting tea:

• green or black tea
• turmeric
• fresh garlic
• cloves
• fresh or dried ginger or ginger paste

The "Don'ts."

The following should be avoided when you have the flu.

1. Don't take a cold bath.

Taking a cold shower to reduce a fever caused by the flu is not recommended. Cold water can raise your core body temperature by chilling the skin and eliciting trembling. 

Further, a study supports that immersion in cold water can cause even more intense shivering.

For the same reason, sponging down with cold water is not a good idea. A tepid (lukewarm) bath, on the other hand, can make you feel more relaxed.

2. Don't use a cough medicine.

The flu can leave you weary and sore with a severe cough. However, don't take over-the-counter cough syrups because they have substances that can cause drowsiness or other adverse effects. This can be especially harmful if you are tired and weak from the flu.

3. Take a hot toddy.

A hot toddy, an alcoholic beverage made of hot water, lemon juice, honey, whiskey, rum, or brandy, is said to ease sore throats and relieve congestion from winter colds.

Doctors, on the other hand, often recommend avoiding consuming alcohol while they have a cold or the flu. This is because it can suppress the immune system and worsen a cold.

Moreover, while alcohol causes drowsiness, it does not promote good sleep and can contribute to dehydration. 

Rest and being hydrated are equally necessary for recovering from the flu. 

4. Don't go to work.

You must stay at home, rest, and recover from the disease. Otherwise, going to work will make you infect all of your coworkers. You will be putting your colleagues at risk. 

It would help if you did not return to work with a fever. Unless you have recovered from the fever for 24 hours without using anti-fever medications, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advised, you may return to work then.

5. Don't eat hard-to-digest grains.

When you have the flu, you can develop an upset stomach, so it's best to stick to foods that are easy to digest, like simple or refined carbohydrates. Foods that are easy on your stomach are best when you have the flu, such as saltine crackers, toast, and pretzels.

Also, foods with a lot of fiber are hard to digest, so you should stay away from them first.

6. Don't drink caffeinated beverages.

When you have a fever, you run a greater risk of becoming dehydrated because your body temperature increases, which in turn causes you to sweat more. Caffeine can worsen your symptoms, especially those related to your stomach.

See your doctor for more remedies.

We offer the best medical care for treating the flu. Additionally, we offer flu protection through our vaccination program, which is safe and effective.

The AllMed Medical Center is committed to your and your family's health. To schedule an appointment, call our hotline at 1-8333-255-6332. Click here to select the clinic of your choosing.

We can't wait to hear from you as soon as you can!