Does anyone have any home remedies for the cold and flu?

Question

I have been down and out all weekend, tried some OTC meds....nothing helps......

thanks kayboff.....never read those before....

Gracie --my twin hope you feel better soon.......

Answer 1

I'm sorry you are down with a cold or the flu!

Staying down for a few days isn't a bad idea. Get lots of rest. I like to watch old movies when I have a cold. I can doze off and on, and distract myself with the movie....:)

If you are congested, try using a cool air humidifier. Keeping the air moist helps keep the 'gunk' thin and makes it easier to breathe.

All the suggestions to drink plenty of clear liquids are excellent. Chicken soup, water, teas, and fruit juices are all excellent choices. Chicken broth, cranberry grape juice, and mint tea with a bit of honey are my farvorites when I'm sick.

If your throat is sore, gargle with warm salt water- 1/2 tsp of salt in 6 to 8 oz of warm water. You can do this every couple of ours if you need to. You could also use saline nose drops if your nose feels stuffy. Most of the time the saline drops are in with infant care products....but I use them...;)

Take a long warm shower, or soak in a warm bath. Soothes aches and loosens congestion. You can use bath teas, regular teas, or bath oils. I like mints or lavender. I splurge on Bath and Body works- the spa series - Eucalyptus Spearmint, Relaxing Mint, Lavender Chamomile, or Lavender Vanilla. I have also tossed bags of mint tea into the tub, along with a bit of unscented bath oil. Aveeno oatmeal soak is nice too.

I've stopped using many of the over the counter medications. Now I use a pain reliever, like acetaminphen or ibuprofen, and Mucinex (Guaifenesin) only.

Use nice thick, soft, tissues. Use lotion or oil around your nose to keep the skin from getting raw. Wash your hands often! Pamper yourself! Hope you feel better soon.

Answer 2

Although it's an over the counter remedy, I had a girlfriend
swear that Alka Seltzer Plus was her perfect remedy. It must
have done the job, because she was never sick enough to
lay down, and she knocked things quickly.
Hubby and I have used the chopped garlic remedy after
reading how it builds up your resistance and you get rid of
bugs fast if you take this early. You have to swallow the bits
of fresh garlic cloves and drink some juice to cover the
hotness and aftertaste. At least two cloves in the morning
and evening. If you can stand the taste. All diced up tiny, so
you won't choke. You don't want to chew them, as it tastes
really hot to the tongue.
And always keep hydrated. The more water, and juices
you drink, the sooner you will flush the bug out of your system.
And green tea is a good healer of so many things is a good
thing to drink to help your antibodies do their jobs. I'm a big
believer in black and green tea for their healing properties.

Answer 3

Well, right about now, I'd recommend going to the doctor. I say this because I caught a viral cold in mid September and took all the OTC remedies and then home remedies and did not get better...finally gave up and went to the doctor...had a severe case of bacterial bronchitis which he said would not have occured had I consulted him sooner. TWO months of misery!

Remember at our ages there can be serious consequences to colds and flu!

Answer 4

First of all go to herbdoc.com on the web. Navigate both sides of the screen. Read everything. When you are done and if you decide to buy their products, you will never get sick ever again and you can tell your friends to buy the products, use as directed and heal themselves of any and all diseases known to man. They work and hundreds of thousands of people all over America and the world buy these products and have done just that. In the meantime for colds and flus at dinnertime chop up finely about 20 garlic cloves. Eat a bite of food, eat a bite of garlic. Do this until everything is gone. This will not only help you over the flu or cold but will prevent it from coming back too. But go to that site too and find out how to heal yourself. You, if you buy these products, follow the directions included, will never regret it.

Answer 5

From Our Own Lady G.:

Have you tried any of these remedies?
Going through some stored emails, I came across this list:

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
5 days ago
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Answer 6

Get a heating pad , put on chest @ nite, keep a fan on you. If you sweat, change clothes right away, I keep a stack of t-shirts near by. Fluids, what ever your system will allow. I like ritz crackers, real 7-up and coke with maybe toast, the toast will scratch the junk off your throat. Chicken broth in between.
Thera flu sometimes helps, or alka selser cold. If nothing works, you need an anti biotic, get to a doctor.

Answer 7

Chicken Noodle soup, you know it's Jewish Penicillin.

Tea with honey.

Vitamin C, 2000 units divided per day, it'll help keep your lungs open

Drink at least 2 litre's of purified water per day to keep the mucous in your lungs loose and moving.

I also use 2000 units of Garlic Oil morning and night. It really helps, it's Mother Nature's own antibiotic and it keeps me out of pneumonia when I have a cold.

I also use Vicks on the chest and throat.

This seems like a lot, but those stinking colds need a lot done to get rid of them.

Answer 8

Whiskey sling and sweat

Whiskey sling:
1 Jigger of your favorite whiskey/vodka/tequila or rum
1 tsp sugar
1 cup hot water (as hot as you can drink it)
Combine and drink it down while it's still reasonably hot

Sweat
1 Comfortable bed
enough bedding to make you overly warm on the coldest day

take the potion, immediately crawl under the covers and sleep for at least 8 hrs (and/or stay under the covers)

Upon arising you should feel a little unstable in the knee but otherwise fit to me the day.

Answer 9

Lis, are you SURE we're not twins?! Same thing happening here.....no luck on the OTC stuff either. Just got over one and I'm right back into it.

Answer 10

No, but I do know what relly works. It's called Mannatech. Here's the website:
www.mannatech.com.

It relly works. You take this stuff everyday and when you know your getting sick, take this and it will get you well, much better, then those over the counter meds. I know cause I'm taking them and they work. If you have any questions-email me and I will tell you.