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"Any time you see a Facebook, TikTok or Instagram post that is claiming to have a treatment for a common cold or a cure, scroll to the bottom and look to see what the source of that information is," he said. "And go backwards and be an internet sleuth, and make sure it's legit." Some social media posts share information about symptoms of both viruses, while others contain information about home remedies, which doctors warn can be dangerous. As parents and caregivers try to cope with the spread of flu, RSV and COVID-19 in what health experts are calling a "tripledemic," some may look online for treatment and prevention tips. The seasonality of influenza activity in temperate zones seems to suggest that influenza viruses prefer colder environments.
Thorough and frequent hand-washing is an effective way to prevent many common infections. Or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water aren't readily available. But antibodies against flu viruses you've encountered in the past can't protect you from new influenza subtypes that can be very different immunologically from what you had before. Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks.
Is It COVID, The Flu Or RSV? Here's How To Tell.
We’ve discovered that they help us stay healthy or reduce the intensity of the disease. A must-have natural cold or flu cure after learning home remedies for cold, flu, and headache. Research on the herb’s effectiveness in fighting the common cold and flu has been mixed.
For instance, Zicam is another super popular zinc supplement in lozenge form but has some controversial food coloring, plus corn syrup, sucralose, and sucrose. (I also looked at Nature's Way, which looked quite promising, but the ingredient list included sorbitol and mannitol, sugar alcohols that may cause digestive distress). For an over-the-counter option, Gil-Flores likes Live Better Manuka Honey Cough & Throat Syrup, which uses manuka honey as its main ingredient and remains affordable. "This syrup can work as a cough suppressant and may provide soothing comfort for the chest and throat." Break up mucus by rubbing a bit of camphor or menthol salve around – not in!
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Remedy now offers assessment by the pharmacist to guide you in testing and, if eligible, treatment. In the U.S., influenza activity peaks between December and February. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils. For example, a person in the U.S. may be more likely to develop the flu in the summer if they contracted the infection on a recent trip to a country in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity peaks between April and September.
McBride also holds a BS in microbiology and has taken specialty courses in neurology, immunology, kinesiology, and clinical biofeedback. McBride practices as a ND out of Four Moons Spa in Encinitas, CA. "Because herbs are powerful and should be respected as the wonders they are, it's important to seek out knowledgeable professionals," said McBride. "High dosing herbs can change your body's biochemistry and alter your microbiome, or the flora and organisms living within your gut." "Natural" is a vague term, and one thrown around without much thought.
Salt Water Gargling
Flying with cold or flu congestion can temporarily damage your eardrums as a result of pressure changes during takeoff and landing. If you must fly, use a decongestant and carry a nasal spray with you to use just before takeoff and landing. Chewing gum and swallowing frequently can also help relieve pressure. Gargle with half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces warm water, four times daily. Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria and yeast that are found in your body, some foods, and supplements. They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy, and probiotics may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection.
The use of neti pots and nasal irrigation can be traced back thousands of years to Ayurvedic medicine. Much like gargling with salt water, nasal rinsing may help remove some virus and mucus from your body, while reducing the swelling that can cause congestion. One study published in 2019 showed that this process may help shorten the duration of illness as well as reduce the potential transmission of germs to others. In some studies, elderberry, a common ingredient in cold and flu syrups, particularly those aimed at young children, shortened the duration of symptoms when taken in advance of or immediately at the start of an illness. Elderberries contain potent antioxidants and chemicals known as anthocyanins, which have been shown in lab experiments to help immune function.
The problem is that many of these zinc studies have had flaws, so better-quality studies are needed. Zinc lozenges may work by blocking the cold virus from replicating or by impairing the ability of the cold virus to enter cells in the nose and throat. Zinc lozenges are often found in health stores, online, and in some drug stores marketed as cold remedies. A number of studies have found that zinc helped to reduce the duration of cold symptoms, especially if people started taking it within 24 hours after cold symptoms appear.
Breathing in steam from a warm pot of water can help soothe your nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. Steam inhalation or steam therapy uses water vapor to help loosen mucous congestion. Colder, outdoor temperatures generally lower humidity in the air.
Honey is the ideal natural swap for dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in most OTC cough syrups. Sipping water, herbal teas, juice, warm water with honey and lemon, or broth helps to relieve a sore throat, loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. The main differences between a flu and a cold are how bad the symptoms are and how long you have them for. Influenza thrives and spreads more easily in dry environments. Creating more humidity in your home may reduce your exposure to this flu-causing virus.
Raw garlic, fresh ginger, and raw honey are also potent virus fighters. Not to be overlooked… Make sure you’re drinking clean, pure water! With over 2,100 identified pollutants, municipal water is likely not pure, and even some well water contains unwanted dissolved particles. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, kombucha, and pickles, in addition to bone broth, bring helpful bacteria to our digestive tract.
A common reminder of this fact is that arsenic is technically natural. And she's certainly right that sufficient levels of vitamin D are important in helping our immune system mount an appropriate response to bacterial and viral exposure. But if you already have sufficient levels of the vitamin, over-supplementationcan cause stomach distress, vomiting, and too-high blood levels of calcium which can cause confusion, heart rhythm problems, and kidney damage. Dr. Firouzi also explains that from this perspective, "ginger reduces the Kapha dosha in the Pranavaha Srotas, according to Ayurveda. In other words, it can help clear phlegm in the sinuses and lungs." Flu shots are available at Piedmont’s urgent care locations, primary care offices and Piedmont QuickCare at Walgreens locations.
Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse. Honey contains antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds that support your immune system in fighting infections. In addition to this, honey serves as a powerful cough suppressant, reducing the severity and persistence of coughs during the night. Essential oils are great home remedies for cold and flu—you just have to know which ones to use. I’ve found that inhaling eucalyptus, bergamot, thyme, and thieves oils either by simply smelling them from the bottle or using a diffuser are especially effective when fighting a cold or the flu.
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