Flu, also known as influenza, is a kind of illness which is caused by virus. The viral infection of the flu affects the respiratory system of human body. There are many symptoms of flu-like- cough, sore throat, chills, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, runny nose, chills, and fever of 100 f or higher and so on. To get rid of flu fast, you can try home remedies, which will be very effective for you. Here we are proposing you some important remedies that will be very helpful to get rid of flu and will make your life more easy and comfortable and problem free.
How to Get Rid of The Flu Fast Using 15 Best Home Remedies
1. Oregano Oil
To get rid of flu fast, oregano oil is very effective. Try to take 2 tablespoon oregano oil everyday, especially in the morning. You will see the result within 5-6 days.
Combining essential oils like oregano oil with steam will help you inhale oil and reap its benefits. Oregano oil is known to calm the airways and open your passages. It has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which help fight bacteria and viruses like flu.
Directions:
- Boil some water and pour it into a bowl.
- Let the water cool for a couple of minutes.
- Add 3 drops of oregano oil and maybe 2 drops of eucalyptus oil with it.
- Stir well. Now, lean on the bowl.
- Cover your head and the bowl with a towel to keep in the steam.
- Then, breathe in deeply for 5 minutes.
- You need to do this at least 3 times every day.
However, make sure you do not lean too close to the water. It will burn your face. Also, never take essential oils internally. It is lethal when ingested.
2. Salt Water with Garlic
As we all know that a dry throat is common symptoms of the flu. To avoid this problem, you can drink salt water with garlic. The salt water hydrates the whole body and throat and prevents the infection of the body. A tickly, dry or a sore throat is a general symptom of flu. The water is going to hydrate the throat and salt has antiseptic properties that help fight infection.
Directions:
- Take one teaspoon of pure salt.
- Pour the salt into a glass of lukewarm or hot water.
- If you do not like the taste, you can add a pinch of baking soda to lift the saltiness.
As an alternate, you may also want to gargle with apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water. The effect will be the same. Gargle with the solution at least three times a day.
You can also follow this method-
Directions:
- Warm up some water and bring it to a boil.
- Crush or chop three fresh garlic cloves.
- Put these in the cup of hot water.
- Let the solution steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain it and drink.
- Drink this three times a day.
You could chew on raw garlic cloves or swallow a teaspoon of garlic juice three times a day.
3. Green Tea
To get rid of the flu, green tea plays an important role. Green tea mainly reduces the duration of the flu. So try to drink green tea to avoid the flu.
4. Raw Honey
Raw honey has anti-viral properties which soothe dry throats and prevents the infections of the flu. Honey is popular to boost your immune system and help in reducing symptoms of common flu. It has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that could speed up your healing process. You can take one tablespoon of raw honey every day for your better improvement.
Directions:
- Mix a tablespoon of honey with a cup of warm water.
- You can add a couple drops of lemon juice in it.
- Drink it three times every day.
- The soothing drink promotes mucus flow and helps reduce itchiness in your throat.
Or-
- Mix the same amounts of onion juice with honey.
- Pour one teaspoon of this mixture into warm water and drink.
- Take this drink three times every day.
You could mix up one teaspoon of honey with freshly extracted basil juice. Take this solution once every day.
5. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is also very effective to get rid of flu. Lemon possesses antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties working together to make the virus grow weak in the body along with its irritating symptoms. It will also reduce the duration of the flu. Try to drink lemon twice a day. Here we have some methods you may want to follow-
Directions:
- Squeeze out fresh juice from a lemon.
- Pour it in a glass of lukewarm water and drink.
- Do it four times a day.
Or,
- Add fresh juice from a small lemon and a tablespoon each of rum and honey into a cup of warm water.
- Let it steep.
- Drink the hot lemonade twice every day.
Or,
- Put the pulp and skin of a chopped lemon into a cup of hot water.
- Let it steep for a minute.
- Inhale the steam.
- Drink the hot lemonade 3 times a day for a week.
6. Beta Glucan
Beta glucan is also known as “Russian antibiotic”. It is very effective for the treatment of the flu. To get rid of flu, you have to take 2-3 capsules every day.
7. Decongestant Spray
Decongestant spray is very useful. Many people prefer this spray to get rid of flu. This spray gives a relief to stuffy nose and prevents infection of the flu, don’t use this spray every day otherwise it will create more congestion.
Nasal decongestants will help shrivel your swollen blood vessels all over nasal membranes, allowing the nasal ways to open up. Two oral decongestants accessible over-the-counter tablets include pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed and phenylephrine, like Sudafed PE. The side effects of these oral decongestants include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, insomnia and dizziness.
If you have high blood pressure or heart issues, we advise you not to use oral decongestants. Take these according to your doctor’s advice if you have diabetes, prostate, glaucoma or thyroid problems.
You could take over-the-counter decongestants that come in nasal spray form as well. Nasal sprays provide instant and effective relief from flu congestion and it can be administered within one or two fast squirts.These nasal sprays could contain oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine, or naphazoline as decongestant.
Just make sure that you use the nasal spray exactly as directed. Taking sprays for more than five days could make you feel stuffier after stopping. This is known as the “rebound effect.”
8. Moist Heat
To get rid of flu, try to use moist heat. If you can’t take breath through nose properly, use moist heat then you can properly take breath and also get relief from the flu gradually.
9. Use Steam
As we all know that sinus congestion and nasal is the common symptoms of the flu. To avoid sinus congestion and nasal use steam, it will give you more relief from the previous condition.
You could try a hot bath or shower to help cure your flu faster. Just turn the bath water as hot as your skin allows and let your bathroom fill up with steam. Keep the door closed. If the heat makes you feel a little dizzy, stop right away and do not continue until you consult your doctor.
When you exit the shower, dry your body and hair thoroughly. Wet hair may cause less body heat for you, which is bad when you have flu.
You can use steam by filling up the bathroom sink with warm water as well. Then, place your face over that. Cover your head with a towel to keep all the steam in. Add a couple of sinus-clearing essential oil drops, such as peppermint and eucalyptus. It will maximize the sinus-clearing advantages.
10. Take Proper Rest
Taking rest is another great remedy to get rid of the flu. If you take rest and don’t engage yourself in the work, you will be able to avoid flu.
When you get sick, your body works to get you well again. This drains away all of the energy from your body, which means you would be a lot more tired. That means you have to rest more as well, as your body works so hard. If you try to do more than you need to, you are going to make the flu last longer and your symptoms can get worse. You get at least eight hours of sound sleep every night since it is ideal. However, you possibly need more sleep when you are down with flu. You should take frequent naps throughout the day. Take time off so you can get sufficient rest.
11. Echinacea
It is a very useful remedy to get rid of flu. To avoid cold and flu, you can take Echinacea with half cup of water every day. It will work greatly.
12. Take Medicine / liposomal Glutathione
To get rid of flu, you can take liposomal glutathione. It will prevent the infection of the flu. Try to take 200 mg of a liposomal glutathione every day, you will get the best result, I must say.
There are so many over-the-counter combination medicines which contain a lot of different medications. They are quite helpful if you detect multiple symptoms of flu at a time. Most of these contain a pain reliever and fever reducers like acetaminophen, a cough suppressant, a decongestant and an antihistamine as well to help you sleep better.
In case you are taking combination medicine, do not to take any other medication which may replicate everything that is in the multi-symptom. That can lead to overdosing. For example- Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom, DayQuil Cold & Flu and Robitussin Severe Multi-Symptom Cough-Cold & Flu Nighttime.
13. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is delicious and one of the best remedy to get rid of flu. It plays an important role to kill the germs and also increase the decongested power.
Chicken soup is a proven remedy for influenza and also highly effective in keeping the various symptoms under control. Studies have shown that chicken soup slows down the inflammatory compounds which are released during viral infections such as flu. A big, hot bowl of chicken soup helps to thin the mucus and keeps your body hydrated as well. You must consume a bowl of homemade chicken soup twice a day for about a week after you first come down with flu. To increase its effects, just add red pepper flakes or chopped garlic to it while making it.
14. Get Sunlight
To increase the vitamin D3 levels and prevent the flu, you have to get sunlight as much as you can. Try to get the sunlight several times per day; surely it works to get rid of the flu.
15. Goldenseal
Goldenseal improves the immune system and the anti-bacterial properties of goldenseal reduce the viruses. Try to take 125 mg goldenseal every day; it will be beneficial for you.
Besides the above useful suggestions, you can go with the prescription of a doctor if your problem is acute. Actually, if your problem is not acute, you can only go with these remedies properly and regularly. Undoubtedly these remedies are easier and work better for your Contagious Respiratory Illness.