February 24, 2014
By: Sarah Boha
If you’ve grown tired of the eternal winter that has plagued
the Northeastern United States; you’re probably sick of the cold and flu that’s
lingering with the frosty temperatures.
If you’re feeling those flu like symptoms coming on or you’re in need of
relief, there are natural ways to alleviate or prevent sickness.
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.
Humidify Your Home: As the temperatures dip, your thermostat
rises. Artificial heat lowers humidity
in your home which replicates the conditions of a Petri dish where the flu
virus can thrive. Add moisture to your
home by using a warm or cool mist humidifier.
Honey: Not only
delicious in your cup of tea, but a sweetener with antibacterial and
antimicrobial properties. Honey can be
used preventatively to strengthen your immune system and keep you feeling
energetic with a daily dose. If you
unfortunately catch the flu it can also be used to sooth your sore throat. Dr. Oz recommends gargling with honey (and
lemon) in salt water when the mixture is at room temperature. (Do not give
honey to children under 1 year of age.)
Elderberry: An herb
that has been tied to folk remedies for colds, Elderberry is correlated with
fighting off the flu virus in preliminary lab studies. Researchers believe that anthocyanins,
compounds found naturally in elderberries, may be the active component that
strengthens the immune system and blocks the flu virus from sticking to our
cells.
Tried and true, chicken soup, crashing on the couch and
drinking plenty of fluids are still the top recommended suggestions to remedy
the symptoms. If you’re sick or feeling
a scratchy throat coming on, put some honey in your tea and get plenty of
rest. As William Shakespeare once said
about winter’s snow, winds and temperature (if we read it in a literal sense)
in the poem ‘Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind’ from As You Like It, “thy breathe be
rude”; This Winter of 2014 has been beyond “rude” in leaving residents with a
snowy mess and overstaying it’s welcome.
Spring will be upon us soon and winter will leave, hopefully taking with
it the incorrigible flu.
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