Many of the medications that provide flu relief can cause undesirable side effects such as nausea, lightheadedness, and loss of appetite. Natural remedies can be just as effective in mild to moderate cases of the flu. An added benefit is that many alternative treatments do not cause side effects. When combined with bed rest, natural remedies can help a person recover from the flu very quickly.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the flu can last for up to seven days. Certain herbs and minerals can help cut the duration of the flu in half. The flu is transmitted from one person to another through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include body aches, headache, lack of energy, chills, and headache.
Herbal Flu Remedies
Some people find relief by taking herbal flu remedies. A growing body of research suggests that elderberry extract is effective in shortening the duration of the flu, if it is taken shortly after symptoms first appear. A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research (2004; 32:1320140) found that 90 percent of patients taking elderberry recovered within three days. Participants who took a placebo were sick for at least six days.
Baptisia is another herb that is sometimes used as a flu remedy. It is a wildflower that grows on tall bushy foliage and is found in North America. According to Homeopathic Remedies by Asa Hershoff (Penguin Group USA October 1999), baptisia is effective in relieving some of the worse symptoms of the flu. This includes aching muscles, weakness, sore eyes, throbbing head pain, and exhaustion.
Garlic is also recommended for flu relief. For best results, garlic should be used as soon as flu symptoms become evident. According to The Complete Guide to Natural Healing by Tom Monte (Penguin Group USA, August 1997), garlic helps reduce chills and body aches. Monte recommends cutting the garlic in half and placing it between the cheeks and teeth. Keep it in the mouth for about a half hour.
Vitamin Cold and Flu Remedies
Many experts recommend using vitamins as natural cold and flu remedies. The mineral zinc is suggested for shortening the duration of the flu, in the book 1,801 Home Remedies by the editors of Reader's Digest (Reader's Digest, April 20004). According to the authors, people can cut their recovery time in half by sucking on lozenges containing 13 mg of zinc gluconate.
Vitamin C is also commonly used to treat cold and flu symptoms. A person should begin taking the vitamin immediately after the onset of symptoms. According to the authors, vitamin C containing added bioflavonoids is significantly more effective than vitamin C that does not have it. Take 500 mg at least four times a day. Do not exceed six doses in a 24 hour period.
The article Cough Remedies for Children offers information on flu relief remedies for children. The article Natural Allergy Treatment also provides tips. The article Natural Common Cold Remedies includes natural treatments that can help treat the flu.
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