5 Natural Remedies For Cold And Flu

Common cold is the disease of upper respiratory system. It is the most frequent infectious ailment and on an average a person contracts common cold twice a year.

Common cold is different from flu or influenza and many people confuse the two. Broadly common cold is less acute in nature than flu. A person feels sicker and weaker when she/he is down with flu.

Common cold is a mild infection whereas flu is acute infection. It is contagious and spreads by coming into direct contact with the patient. You can catch the infection by shaking hands with the viral infected person and the virus is carried in the air if the person sneezes or coughs without covering her/his mouth.

Symptoms Of Cold And Flu

• Sudden fever in case of flu
• Severe body aches and pain in joints
• Red watery eyes and you feel a burning sensation in the eyes
• Sore throat with dry cough

In common cold you may feel feverish without your body temperature rising
There is no regular treatment for cold and flu. It normally takes 7- 10 days to cure but there are some natural remedies which can relieve body aches and pains and help to remove the mucus from the respiratory tract to make breathing easier.

Remedies For Cold And Flu

Herbal Tea

Make a decoction with one big cardamom, ¼ tea spoon grated ginger, 5 pieces of black pepper corns and ½ tea spoon mishri. Boil the ingredients in 2 cups of water till half the quantity remains. Drink slowly while still warm. This decoction will make you sweat and bring down the fever.

Boil one litre of water, add ½ tea spoon grated ginger and 5 crushed basil leaves to it. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Strain in a thermos, add 2 table spoons honey and 2 tea spoons lemon juice. Drink this tea three times a day to get relief from dry cough and running nose.

Dried Figs

Boil 5 dried figs in 1 cup water and drink it twice a day. It will keep up the energy level and relieve weakness.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential to treat cold and flu. It helps to build resistance power and strengthens your immune system. Eat amla murraba and citrus fruit like mausambi (sweet lime) and grapefruit.

Garlic

Garlic helps to cure sneezing and running nose in cold and flu/ Take 2 cloves of garlic and finely chop them. Heat 1 tea spoon of pure ghee and fry the garlic till light brown, add ¼ tea spoon fresh coriander and eat it twice a day with your meals.

Currants

Munakka is a health food and it strengthens the immune system. If you are prone to viral infection then this remedy is for you. Soak 11 pieces Munakka, 5 almonds, and 11 pieces of black pepper corns in morning. Peel the almonds, deseed the munakka and grind all the ingredients to make a paste. Mix 25 grams plain butter and eat it at night before going to bed.

You should take enough rest when you have fever. Drink plenty of warm water to keep yourself well hydrated. Avoid drinking milk and eating curd as they aggravate cold and flu. Gargle with warm saline water to relieve cough.