The start of the new year is supposed to represent a clean and healthy slate. But for many, it will be the beginning of a week of nose-blowing and phlegm-hacking, as cold and flu symptoms are expected to peak during the first week of 2016. Experts at WebMD predict the 2015-16 cold and flu season will spike in early January, with the Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest regions set to experience the highest levels of cold and flu symptoms in the country.
It actually started early at our home as we have a house full of sick kiddos. As we head into the season of yuck, we hope the following tips, remedies and information will be found helpful to you!
10 Cold and Flu Home Remedies:
- Drink plenty of fluids to help break up your congestion. Drinking water or juice will prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water daily. (Limit drinks with caffeine because they act like a diuretic and may dehydrate you.) Drink hot liquids. Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.
- If you happen to be up in the middle of the night with a child that is coughing relentlessly, congested and miserable, let them inhale steam to ease the congestion and drippy nose. Sit in the smallest bathroom you have with a shower running hot water and fill the room with stream. Of course, a room humidifier will can also do the job. If you are the one battling the flu, take a long, hot shower!
- Get your rest! Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down and bundling up.
- Sleep with an extra pillow under your head or sleep elevated in a chair. This will help relieve congested nasal passages.
- Peppermint tea is laced with nutrients that help the body fight off illness. It also can act as an expectorant, helping the body to cough up mucous.
- Try thyme! Thyme is great when the mucous membranes are stuffed, the head aches, and the body is hot with fever. Cup your hands around a mug of thyme tea and breath in the steam. Make thyme tea by adding 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Let steep for five minutes while inhaling the steam. Strain the tea, sweeten with honey and slowly sip. Please note: honey is not intended for use by children under 12 months of age.
- I have heard wonders of the use of essential oils to fight colds and flu. I have not tried them but it is something I would like to educate myself on.
- Cinnamon can help with congestion by stirring 1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder into hot herbal tea.
- Coconut oil can help alleviate symptoms and even shorten the duration of the cold. Melted into tea or a broth, coconut oil can gently soothe a sore throat and ease coughing in addition to boosting immunity and fighting the virus directly.
- Take lots of Vitamin C to boost immune system and increase the number of white blood cells.
Do you have a favorite, tried-and-true home remedy? Please share with us in the comments below!
[yumprint-recipe id=’14’]
When to call the doctor:
For your child
Call 911 or other emergency services if:
- Your child has severe trouble breathing. Signs may include the chest sinking in, using belly muscles to breathe, or nostrils flaring while your child is struggling to breathe.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if your child:
- Has a fever with a stiff neck, a severe headache, or a rash.
- Is confused, does not know where he or she is, or is extremely sleepy or hard to wake up.
- Has trouble breathing, breathes very fast, or coughs all the time.
- Has signs of needing more fluids. These signs include sunken eyes with few tears, dry mouth with little or no spit, and little or no urine for 8 or more hours.
For you
Call 911 or other emergency services if:
- You have severe trouble breathing.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if you:
- Have increased trouble breathing.
- Have a fever with a stiff neck or a severe headache.
- Feel extremely sleepy or confused.
sources: www.doctoroz.com, webmd.com, www.naturalnews.com
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of this site is to share our experiences with food, fitness, and life. When it comes to your health, fitness, parenting, please be sure to do some research or contact your physician.
So much great info.
Great advice. I just came across the post when looking for get well suggestions. You know us guys, always needing some motherly advice. Thanks news man
Hi my fellow Louisiana Lady! Thanks for the great info. If you have anything else that would be of great help to my life could you email me please. Thanks so much! Have a blessed day!
This is full of great ideas. Definitely incorporate essential oils (especially eucalyptus, levander, peppermint & lemon). I also love lemon, ginger tea, but add sliced green apples… for added benefits, add turmeric and ceyenne pepper too.
Great tips!
I hardly ever get sick, but awoke with a sore throat yesterday morning.
I immediately canceled all my clients for the next 2 days (I am a massage therapist).
Here’s what I’ve been doing:
– Rest! (I don’t care how annoying my friends are, asking me to go do things with them, I am sitting/sleeping on this couch and resting for 2 days strait!
– Eating Organic Raw garlic. chopping up a clove every hour or so and swallowing with water, like a pill.
– Drinking/making my Tea concoction all day! (Coldpress Honey, organic Cinnamon, grated fresh organic Ginger, 1/4 fresh squeezed organic Lemon, splash of Apple Cider Vinegar, Peppermint tea, Hot water)
– in between tea concoctions, I drink water with Electrolyte mix in it (I use a powdered product called Ultima)
– spoonfuls of Coldpress Honey throughout the day.
after only 24 hours of this I can already feel the sore throat subsiding. Hopefully I beat the cough and other parts of this cold.
Hope my regime helps others.
Thank you!
Great advice! I have found that the steam really does help… when cough is the main problem I have also found that making a garlic and honey syrup really helps…. I use organic garlic cloves and soak them in honey and let them sit for about 24 hours. I usually take a tablespoon every 6 hours and within day 2 my cough is much better!… I also use this with my 2 year old only that I give her a teaspoon usually every 6 to 8 hours.
Raw honey*
Pingback: 10 natural cold and flu home remedies… |
I was suggested this website by way of my cousin. I’m now not certain whether or not this publish is written through him as nobody else recognise such detailed approximately my trouble. You are incredible! Thanks!
What Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & assist different customers like its aided me. Great job.
This design is steller! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos
I like the helpful information you supply for your articles. Il bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here regularly. I’m rather sure I will be told many new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the following!
Dr. Oz isn’t espousing unpopular viewpoints for
which he needs the protection of the academy;
he’s using his credentials to sell products.