Home Remedies For Flu In Adults

Who should avoid herbal medicines?

Taking a herbal medicine may not be suitable for:

-People taking other medicines

-People with serious health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease

-People who are going to have surgery

-Pregnant or breastfeeding women

-The elderly

-Children – as with all medicines, herbal medicines should be kept out of the sight and reach of children

-Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice before trying a herbal medicine if you fall into one of these groups

The following measures may help ease the symptoms:

-Drink plenty of fluids and keep well hydrated, being dehydrated when infected with a cold can make symptoms worse.
-Get plenty of bed rest; it is important to get as much sleep/rest as possible while the immune system is fighting off the virus.
-Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve headache or fever. Do not give aspirin to children under 16.
-Some people find that inhaling steam helps ease the symptoms of nasal congestion.

1- St. John's Wort Tea And Oil

St. John's wort has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. it's a good germ killer. Therefore it is very effective in the treatment of common cold. St. John's wort and bay leaf (daphne) are my favorite and the most effective natural remedies for flu and colds.

Never use a medical and herbal medicines during treatment.

St. John's Wort Tea:

Ingredients

-1 teapot

-1 cup of water

-Quantity: 2 pieces St.John's Wort bag or 2 tsp of dried St. John's wort

Directions

-Pour a cup of water inside the teapot and boil the water.

-Then place 2 pieces St.John's Wort bag or 2 teaspoons of dried St. John's wort per cup inside your teapot.

-Let your tea steep for about 10 minutes. And then strain. 

-Drink a glass  of St.John's wort tea, on an empty stomach two times daily.

-If you want you can add honey. 

 

St. John's Wort Oil: 

If possible, use homemade St John's Wort oil. For your treatment, 140 mL of  St. John's wort oil will suffice.

Directions

-Drink a tablespoon of St. John's wort oil, on an empty stomach two times daily for 8-10 days.

-Do not eat anything for the next 60 minutes.

 

Do not take St. John’s Wort

-If you are under 18 years.

-If you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

-If your skin is very sensitive to sunlight.

-If you are about to have an operation.

-If you have high blood pressure, absolutely do not use the St. John's wort. First treat your high blood pressure.  (Click for treatment of your high blood pressure)

-Those who will apply this prescription absolutely should not use doctor prescription or  herbal medicines.Do not take St. John's wort with any drugs. Because St. John’s Wort can reduce the effect of the drugs.

-Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before you buy this medicine to make sure it is suitable for you.

-They should stay away from smoking and alcohol during the treatment.

-Those who will use this prescription should have left antibiotics 3 days ago and cortisone medications 1 month ago.

-If you take St. John's wort in conjunction with other anti-depressants, your serotonin (i.e. brain chemical that anti-depressants target) levels may rise to an unsafe level. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include tremor, diarrhea, muscle stiffness, decrease in body temperature, death, and extreme confusion.

2- Bay Leaf Tea

Bay leaf tea is one of my favorite home remedies for common cold. About 1 hour after drinking this tea, the post-nasal drip and nasal discharge stops. Your nasal passages are opened and you breathe more easily. If you drink this tea 1 hour before bedtime, you get a good night's sleep.

Ingredients
-1 Cup of water
-1 teapot
-4 Bay leaves

Directions
-Pour 2 cup of water into the teapot and boil the water.
-Place 4 bay (daphne) leaves.
-Let your tea steep for 8-10 minutes. Then strain and drink. If you want you can add honey. (2 -3 cups per day, morning and evening)

 

It is recommended that patients with the following diseases be abstained from using bay leaves:

-Peptic ulcer and inflammatory bowel disease due to the ability of the agent to irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.

-Impaired functioning of the kidneys, liver, urinary system.

-Diabetes.

-Dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

-Individual intolerance to the active components of bay leaves.

-Internal use of decoctions and infusions is contraindicated in women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

3- Thyme Tea

Thyme is Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant, and astringent. Thyme is great for respiratory infections and coughs.

Ingredients
-1,5 teaspoon dried thyme or 3 teaspoon fresh per cup of water.
-1 Cup of water
-1 teapot

Directions
-Pour a cup of water inside the teapot and boil the water.
-Then place 1,5 teaspoon dried thyme or 3 teaspoon fresh per cup inside your teapot.
-Let your tea steep for about 10 minutes. And then strain. 
-Drink a cup of thyme tea, on an empty stomach two times daily. 

4- Sage Tea

Sage is antiseptic, and astringent. Used for sore throats and cough. Also used for sinus congestion. Sage should not be used when pregnant or breast feeding.

Ingredients
-2 tablespoons of fresh or 1 tablespoon of dried sage leaves
-1 cup of hot water

Directions
To make sage tea, pour 1 cup of almost-boiling water over 2 tablespoons of fresh or 1 tablespoon of dried sage leaves. Cover and steep. Gargle with this tea 3-4 times per day.

5- Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea, which has the ability to relieve the pain and fight against infections, can drink before bedtime if you have difficulty in sleeping because of sore throat. (But should be avoided by those with blueberry allergies.)

Ingredients
-1 tablespoons of dry chamomile
-1 Cup of water
-1 teapot

Directions

-Pour a cup of water inside the teapot and boil the water.
-Then place 1 tablespoons of dry chamomile per cup inside your teapot.
-Let your tea steep for about 10 minutes. And then strain. 
-Drink a cup of chamomile tea, on an empty stomach two times daily. 

6- Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil, scientifically referred to as Mentha piperita, is a natural expectorant that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which can help treat post-nasal drip and its symptoms.


Ingredients
-5 to 6 drops of peppermint oil
-1 bowl of hot water


Directions
-Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to a bowl of water.
-Inhale the steam.
-Do this 1 to 2 times a day.

7- Ginger Tea

Ginger contains a component called gingerol that exhibits antibacterial properties. Additionally, ginger is also anti-inflammatory and can act as a decongestant and is hence effective in treating flu and cold.

Ingredients
-1 to 2 inches of fresh ginger
-1 cup of hot water
-Honey (optional)
-1 teapot

Directions
-Pour 1 cup of water into the teapot and boil the water.
-Place 1 to 2 inches of fresh ginger.
-Let your tea steep for 8-10 minutes. Then strain and drink. If you want you can add honey. (2 -3 cups per day)

8- Milk And Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin can suppress many molecules known to play major roles in inflammation. Turmeric has a strong antiseptic content. It can provide the death of bacteria that cause excessive mucus production in the respiratory tract.

Ingredients
-2 teaspoon of powdered turmeric
-1 cup of hot milk
-Honey 

Directions
-Put a 2 teaspoon of powdered turmeric in a cup of hot milk and mix. 
-Add honey. 
-You can drink before or after breakfast and before bedtime. (2 cups per day)

9- Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is good for soothing both cold and flu symptoms.  The hot soup helps break up the congestion associated with both colds  and the flu. The salt in the soup and its warmth can soothe a sore throat. A 2000 study claimed to have shown that it also has anti-inflammatory  properties, which can relieve congestion too, although this is still uncertain.