Influenza is a flu caused from infection with influenza viruses and is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness. The main effects of the influenza viruses are on the upper respiratory tract, the nose and throat, with possible spread and involvement of the lungs and bronchi. The disease is highly contagious and it has potential to cause wide spread epidemics affecting sizable portion of a population at any time. Although it is more common during winter it may strike at any time. Signs and symptoms of influenza include sore throat, stuffy nose, cough, body aches, headache, fatigue, fever, and chills. It affects people of all ages. When new strains of influenza virus arise, they spread rapidly around the world, infecting millions of people and causing many deaths. Influenza usually begins with a chill, fever, headache and severe muscular pains which makes you feel miserable and weak. It causes an inflammation in the nose and throat, which may spread down the windpipe to the lungs, resulting in a sore throat, cough, running of the nose and eyes. Also, coughing is more pronounced. In milder case of influenza the temperature rises to 102 F and lasts for two or three days. In severe cases, it may go up to 104 F and last for four or five days. The consequent weakness and fatigue may continue for several weeks. This may be followed by a deep chest cough due to irritation in the windpipe. The virus spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets tiny drops of moisture released into the air when an infected person talks, coughs, and sneezes. Flu viruses can also survive on inanimate objects for two to eight hours. Influenza is passed on with ease from one affected person to an other especially to those who are also in an equally low vital stage. Contagion begins the day before symptoms develop and extends for a week after symptoms begin. Most symptoms resolve within three to six days. However, fatigue and cough can linger for a few weeks.
There is one famous say, “starve a fever; feed a cold”. But if you want to get better, you have to eat. Listen to your body and eat when you feel like it. Simple food helps your body heal, so eat foods that you can digest, such as broths, rice, and soft proteins. And drink plenty of fluids to replace those you’ve lost through fever, coughing, and congestion. Also here are some quick home remedies.
Get Influenza Cured Fast In 12 Natural Way
- Soothing Garlic and Onion: Honey is soothing to inflamed respiratory passages and antibacterial. It’s safer than over-the-counter cough remedies and at least as effective. Garlic is expectorant that helps clear respiratory mucus and antimicrobial, including antiviral activity against influenza. Onion is antimicrobial and is used in folk medicine to clear respiratory mucus and open tight airways. Take 1 head garlic. Using the flat of a knife, gently crush each clove just enough to crack it open. Place the garlic cloves in a pint-size jar. Layer on thin sliced 2 onions. Cover the garlic and onion with honey and cap the jar. Let the mixture sit in a warm place overnight. Take a spoonful of the honey to coat your throat; eating the garlic and onion will also provide relief. If you prefer not to eat the garlic and onion, you can strain the honey into a separate jar.
- Inflamed Respiratory Passage: Half a teaspoonful of the powder of the long pepper with two teaspoonfuls of honey and half a teaspoonful of juice of ginger should be taken thrice a day. This will help greatly if taken in initial stages of the disease.
- Antibacterial Folk Remedy: Another excellent remedy for influenza is the green leaves of basil or tulsi plant. About one gram of these leaves should be boiled along with some ginger n half a liter of water till about half the water is left. This decoction should be taken as tea. It gives immediate relief.
- Fever Reducer: Heat mustard oil and apply as a compress to the head to reduce fever.
- Hot Chicken Soup Ancient Cure: Chicken soup has been used to soothe flu and colds since the ancient times. Choose any of your favorite chicken soup recipes. Make sure to add lots of garlic, onion and little bit of ground black pepper. Drinking warm liquids will keep you hydrated and help ease a sore throat; the steam helps to clear nasal passages.
- Treatment with Herbs: Crush root ginger, add to a little honey and lime, and drink as required.
- Some warmed apple juice (preferably fresh) can ease the fever.
- Traditional Healing for High Fever: Barley water is a traditional remedy for high fever particularly one caused by infection and inflammation.
- Try Herbal Tea: Ginseng powder can be added to herbal teas to restore.
- Warm Bath to Reduce Pain: Some plant essential oils reduce pain – eucalyptus, pine, rosemary, peppermint, and ginger etc. You can find them at most natural food stores. A warm bath with one of the essential oil can help reduce aches and pains. The moisture from a bath or shower will also help loosen congestion in the respiratory tract. Drop the essential oils into the Epsom salts. Add the salts to hot, but not scalding, bathwater. Blend the salts into the water with your hand. Get into the bath and soak. Be sure to get out of the bath if it cools too much and you start to shiver. Becoming chilled could make you feel worse.
- Ease Fever: Drink hot lemon and honey in a cup of warm water to ease inflammation and fever.
- Germ Killing Gargle: Gargle with lemon juice to kill germs and help to stop the spread of the virus.
Tips to Prevent Influenza
- Get a yearly vaccination against influenza. it’s one of your best strategies for avoiding the flu. People older than six months get vaccinated each year. The vaccine doesn’t protect against other viruses that cause flu like symptoms. While you may still develop influenza, your symptoms will be relatively mild.
- Wash your hands (and your small children’s hands) frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay hydrated but don’t drink too much orange or grape juice, it could worsen your cough, as it contains citrus acid.
- Ramp up the humidifier. the extra moisture will help calm a dry, hacking cough.
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow.