There is no reason to run to the doctor or to the pharmacy when you come down with the flu. You can work with your own immune system to inhibit the flu virus and recover as quickly as possible.
The first natural flu treatment is rest. If you can, go to bed for a day or two to give your body all the rest it needs to recover from the flu. If you do not have the luxury of being able to take to your bed, at least aim for as much rest as possible after work.
In a study of more than 50 medicinal herbs, researchers found that licorice, sage and eucalyptus were the top three flu fighters.
Eucalyptus, besides being the only food for koala bears, contains eucalyptol which loosens phlegm in the chest. It also kills the virus that causes flu as well as some bacteria. Make a steam inhalant by boiling a handful of leaves or a few drops of essential eucalyptus oil in a pot with three cups of water. Remove from the stove and bend over the pot and breathe in the steam with a towel covering your head. Repeat this often to relieve chest and head congestion.
It is easy to make a gargle that can be used several times a day as a natural flu treatment. Bring a cup of water to the boil and add two teaspoons of sage leaves. Let this steep for 20 minutes and add a pinch of salt and strain. Gargle with this as needed. Sage has been used as a medicine since ancient Greek and Roman times. Salvia, the generic name for sage, comes from a Latin word that means “to heal”.
Back in the third century B.C., Hippocrates recommended licorice for respiratory complaints. Licorice is used in cough formulas in Europe. Make your own natural flu remedy by adding a pinch of powdered licorice to a cup of herbal tea. To make a stronger decoction, use ½ teaspoon of the powdered root per cup of water and boil for ten minutes. Adults can drink up to two cups of this decoction per day. Licorice should not be given to children under age two. Older children and the elderly should start with weaker doses of licorice and increase strength only if necessary.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.