5 Tips To Help You Fight The Flu
By Orla, February 20, 2014
With the torrential storms and bitterly cold winds sweeping the country, it’s no surprise that there is a dose of the flu going around. Feeling all flued up is a miserable feeling, especially when the weather is horrible outside, kind of a pathetic fallacy feeling.
Most people turn straight to cold and flu tablets, cough syrups and what not to fight their cold, but there is actually a lot you can for yourself as well. And sometimes, you won’t even need the medicine with these helpful tips.
1. Rest and sleep
There’s a lot to be said for resting and letting your body take a breather from everyday life when your immune system down. Many people take their cold and flu medicine and “battle through”, carrying on with their schedules as normal and hoping the medicine will do the trick.
Your body needs more rest when it’s sick, so clear your schedule and lie up. You need at the very least 8 hours sleep when you’re sick, but the more the better.
2. Gargle salt and warm water
Gargling salt and warm water, as unpleasant as it may be, can really help keep the breathing passages clear of mucus. It can even be a good idea to gargle this throughout winter occasionally, but especially when you have a cold or a flu, you should gargle salt and warm water 4 or 5 times a day.
3. Drink probiotics once or twice a day
As soon as you feel any symptoms come on, head straight to the shop for some probiotic drinks such as Yakult or Actimel. Getting some good bacteria in once or twice a day will help your immune system fight the virus or bacteria. Try taking them twice a day for about 5 days, then you can lower it to one a day.
4. Use eucalyptus oil as a decongestant
Pop about 10 drops of eucalyptus oil into your regular body lotion and rub it onto your chest and back to relieve congestion. You can even add it into a diffuser or incense in your room which will allow you to breathe better while you sleep.
5. Take your vitamins
Make sure to get your daily dosage of vitamins in everyday, especially vitamin D to boost your immune system and vitamin C because it is an important antioxidant that keeps the body strong and healthy.
