In my previous article, I discussed ways of boosting your immune system to ward off viruses and bacteria. But, what if you have already caught the flu bug?
It turns out that those techniques that strengthen the immune health are also effective in helping you to fight against viruses. They are excellent on their own or as complementary treatments to conventional medicine, depending on your condition.
It’s worth noting that the awful symptoms you experience during a cold or flu are part of the body’s natural healing process — they are signs of your immune system at work and are not illnesses per se. For example, a fever is your body’s way of killing viruses and activating antibodies and other agents to fight an infection. If you endure a moderate fever for a day or two instead of ending it abruptly, you may actually recover more quickly and thoroughly. Other than fever, coughing and sneezing are some other means that the body use to expel germs out of the body.
With this, I present you with some natural remedies that you can consider using when you are down with a cold or flu:
1. Acupressure
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Acupressure can aid recovery by stimulating your body’s self-healing energies to expel viruses more rapidly, while at the same time provides some relief for the agonizing symptoms that you experience.
Other than the Zu San Li meridian point, choose the appropriate points below based on your needs:
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Clear blocked or running nose
Meridian point: Ying Xiang (“Welcoming Fragrance”)
Other benefits: Massaging this meridian point can also improve a declined sense of smell.
Where is it: On either cheek, just outside each nostril.
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Relieve headache
Meridian point: Tai Yang (“Sun”)
Other benefits: It can also relieve dizziness, and helps to freshen you up during a boring lecture or meeting.
Where is it: This is the spot which you’ll automatically reach for whenever you have a bad headache. It’s at the temple. Specifically, it’s the depression about one-finger width from the end of the eyebrow.
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Speed up recovery
Meridian point: He Gu (“Joining Valley”)
Other benefits: Besides relieving colds and flu, it is also used to alleviate headaches, swollen eyes and toothaches.
Where is it: With your palm facing down, close the gap between your thumb and the index finger. The He Gu meridian point is the highest point that protrudes between the two fingers.
Note: Avoid massaging this point if you are pregnant.
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2. Homeopathy
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Gelsemium and Bryonia are two homeopathic remedies said to have successfully treated the Spanish flu during the influenza epidemic in 1918. While the death rate of people under conventional medical care at that time was 28.2 percent, the mortality rate of those treated with homeopathy was only 1.05 percent.
Homeopathy, for those who are unfamiliar, is a natural healing system based on the principles of “like cures like” to combat diseases. So choose a homeopathic remedy that is indicated for the particular symptoms you are going through:
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Gelsemium: If you feel chilly and very sensitive to cold; lethargic; suffer from body aches, fever but with no thirst for water.
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Bryonia: If you feel warm and dry; have more coughing and chest symptoms, including chest pain; tired but restless, with every move making you feel worse and constantly thirsty.
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3. Elderberry
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A popular herb used since the days of Hippocrates, Elderberry has been shown to speed up flu recovery by as much as four days. It has also been found to inhibit the growth of both type A and type B flu viruses.
Elderberry extract can usually be found in health food stores in capsules, lozenges, or syrup form.
Note: Only use commercially prepared extracts of the berry. Raw and unripe parts of the plant can contain cyanide which is highly toxic when ingested. Some experts also advised against the use of elderberry during pregnancy.
Do you know of other natural remedies for cold and flu that worked for you? Do share them in the comments if you do. Thanks!
P.S.
If you develop high fever, persistent symptoms, or having difficulty in breathing, seek professional medical help immediately instead of settling for self-medication.
A healthy diet will also help your body to fight the cold or flu. Raw plant-based food is what I recommend. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients, such as phytochemicals and antioxidants to assist your immune system to fight off virus and bacteria. Try not to cook them because cooking these power foods will destroy about half of their nutrients.
Hi Chang,
I can’t agree more. One’s diet also plays an important role to a person’s immunity health. Garbage in, garbage out don’t just applies to computers, but to humans as well. But if you are on raw plant-based food diet, I strongly recommend that you go organic. You don’t want to end up loading your body with pesticides and herbicides that nullify any benefits you get from fruits and vegetables. Lastly, wash all produce thoroughly before consuming them. Organic doesn’t mean impurities-free either.
Thanks for taking the time to share your views. Cheers.