Home Remedies for Fast Flu Relief

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Need some home remedies for fast flu relief? Most of these home remedies have been used to treat flu symptoms for generations, and may help ease your symptoms as your body fights the flu virus. (You can match your flu symptoms with the specific home remedies that help treat these symptoms.)

Also, keep in mind that if you have flu symptoms, it's a good idea to call your doctor. If taken within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, flu medications may be able to shorten the duration of flu symptoms. Not sure if you have flu symptoms? Widespread body aches and a fever over 102 degrees are good indicators.

Flu Symptoms: Overall Aches and Congestion
Breathe Aromatic Steam: Fill the bathroom or kitchen sink with steaming water, and add two teaspoons chopped fresh ginger (Zingiber officinalis). Drape a towel over your head and lean over the steam to get maximum benefit. Or add one teaspoon of the over-the-counter ointment Vicks VapoRub® to the steaming water, then breathe in the steam for several minutes until you get relief. Another flu remedy is to add a few drops of oil of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) or menthol to the water. Eucalyptus is known to open up bronchial tubes, ease congestion, and make breathing easier.

Take a Warm Shower: Getting in a warm shower with the bathroom door closed works as your own personal sauna. The steamy bathroom helps to open your airways and moisten and thin the mucus in your sinuses.

Increase Liquids: Stay well-hydrated by drinking at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water each day. Water keeps your respiratory system hydrated, which helps to liquefy thick mucus that builds up with a respiratory infection. Some findings show that hot liquids may be superior to cold liquids in upper respiratory infections. Other liquids can be added, but don't depend on coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages as these liquids may cause dehydration.

Use Moist Heat Compresses: If your head is throbbing and it's difficult to breathe through your nose, you may find relief by applying warm moist compresses to the cheeks and sinuses. If you use moist heat, make sure it's not too hot to avoid skin injury.

Flu Symptom: Stuffy Nose
Nasal Saline Irrigation: A host of scientific studies support saline nasal irrigation as an effective flu remedy to thin mucus, decrease postnasal drip, and add moisture to dried mucous membranes. In addition, the saline nasal rinse helps to remove virus particles and bacteria from your nose. Here's a popular recipe that you can try at home:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water.
Use a bulb syringe to squirt water into the nose.
Learning over the bathroom sink, hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain and gently blow your nose.
Repeat 2-3 times and then treat the other nostril.

Flu Symptom: Stuffy Nose continued...
You can also use a Neti Pot for nasal saline irrigation. A Neti pot is a ceramic container that looks like a genie's magic lamp and is available at most natural foods stores.

Fill the Neti pot with the saline solution (see recipe above).
Leaning over the bathroom sink, tilt your head to one side and pour the solution directly into one nostril with the Neti pot.
The solution will go into your nasal cavity and run out the other nostril and the back of your throat.
Spit out the drainage, and gently blow your nose to clear your nasal passages.
Saline (Salt Water) Nasal Sprays: Saline nasal sprays can be purchased over the counter at any drug or grocery store and are effective, safe and nonirritating, even for children. Spray the saline solution into one nostril and then gently blow the mucus and saline out of that nostril. Repeat the process in the opposite nostril until both are running clear.

Decongestant Nasal Sprays: If you want immediate relief for a swollen, congested nasal passage, decongestant nasal sprays such as oxymetazoline (Afrin®) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine®) may be helpful. Decongestant nasal sprays are safe to use, but it's important to stop the spray after three days to avoid the development of rebound congestion (congestion that worsens when you stop the spray). This warning is on the bottle of most over-the-counter decongestant sprays.

Flu Symptom: Cough
OTC Cough Syrup: Try an over-the-counter cough syrup to calm a cough with flu. You can select from a cough suppressant, expectorant (guaifenesin), or topical medicine (a menthol rub for the chest). If you have asthma or other lung disease, avoid suppressing your cough. Talk to your doctor to see what might be helpful in your situation. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 4.

Suck Cough Drops or Hard Candy: Keep sugar-free cough drops or hard candy nearby to calm a tickle in your throat with the flu. In addition, a teaspoon of honey might also help calm an irritated throat.

Flu Symptoms: Scratchy Throat and Congestion
Hot Chicken Soup: If the flu has taken its toll on your throat, and it's hard to swallow without grimacing, sip some hot chicken soup. Hot chicken soup is a potent mucus stimulant, especially when it's loaded with pepper, garlic, hot curry powder, or other pungent spice that helps to thin mucus in the mouth, throat, and lungs.

Studies have shown that hot chicken soup improves the function of cilia, the tiny hair like projections in the nasal passages that protect the body from foreign bacteria and viruses. Steaming chicken soup may also improve the motion of disease-fighting white blood cells.

Spice It Up: Garlic (the stinking rose) appears to have antimicrobial and immune-stimulating properties and may give relief of upper respiratory congestion with cold or flu.

Flu Symptoms: Scratchy Throat and Congestion continued...
Ginger also stimulates nerves that lead to mucus production. Ginger appears to have an antioxidant effect, as well as an anti-inflammatory effect, and stimulates the production of interferon that helps fight viral infections.

Chili peppers are a great source of capsaicin, an antioxidant that also acts as a natural decongestant and expectorant. If you have a strong stomach, add a few chili peppers to season your foods or use a few drops of hot sauce in a food or beverage. The added "spice" will help to open your nasal passages and temporarily improve breathing.

Dab some horseradish on your sandwich if you need a decongestant effect. Horseradish -- a root -- contains a chemical similar to one found in decongestants.

Try an Expectorant: With a cold or flu, it's important to keep mucus thin so it doesn't stagnate and allow bacteria to breed, thus, increasing the chances of infection. Try an over-the-counter expectorant such as guaifenesin, which is found in over-the-counter cough products such as Robitussin and Mucinex. Remember that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 4. Follow the directions on the label.

Flu Symptoms: Fever and Muscle Aches
Try an OTC Analgesic: A fever is your body's way of fighting the viral infection. There are over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) that can reduce fever and ease aching muscles. Follow the dosage recommendation on the label. Never give aspirin to a child to reduce fever! Call your doctor if you're unsure about what to take to ease fever and body aches.

Pump More Fluids: With a fever, you can easily become dehydrated unless you are increasing fluids. Be sure to increase liquids including water, clear soups or broth, and an electrolyte replacement drink until the fever resolves.

Stay in Bed and Rest: Getting plenty of rest and healing sleep is important to boost immune function and give the body time to heal. It is during the deeper stages of sleep that you experience metabolic and tissue restoration.

Flu Symptoms: Nighttime Congestion and Can't Sleep
Try a Humidifier: If the air in your room is too dry, use a warm mist humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air and help ease nasal and chest congestion. Always clean the humidifier with a bleach solution every few days to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.

Use OTC Nasal Strips: If the flu has caused nasal swelling and congestion, making it difficult to fall asleep, try over-the-counter nasal strips to alleviate this problem. These strips of tape are placed over the bridge of the nose, then a plastic strip springs back, helping to gently open your nasal passages and reduce airflow resistance. Another method of opening the nasal passages is to use surgical tape, one-quarter inch wide. Gently apply one end of the tape to the tip of your nose, lift, and fasten the other end of the tape to the top of your nose.