If you have the flu, reaching for lozenges or Vicks may help, but warm honey and lemon or garlic and onions may be just as good.
Winter bugs have exploded over the past few weeks, leaving millions of people battling sniffles, coughs, body temperatures and chills.
Sadly, the old adage that there is no cure for the common cold is true. Or maybe the flu.
But there are some simple ways to prevent yourself from suffering the worst symptoms and feel better. These methods don’t require you to take medicine or buy expensive cough medicine.
Pharmacist Dr. Leila Hanbeck explained that staying hydrated and drinking enough fluids is important.
A warm sweet drink, such as a cup of honey with lemon or blackcurrant, is an easy way to relieve sore throat symptoms.
“I feel better when I drink tea with honey, lemon and ginger,” she told MailOnline.
She goes on to say, “Honey has anti-inflammatory properties, lemon contains vitamin C, which supports the immune system and is particularly effective against respiratory viruses such as the influenza virus. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. It has oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for muscle pain caused by influenza.” ‘
There is no cure for the flu. However, there are some simple home remedies that can help patients feel a little better.
Official NHS guidance says there is “little evidence” that vitamin C prevents colds or speeds recovery.
But one review In a 2016 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine about the evidence supporting the use of vitamin C to fight colds, data showed that consuming vitamin C in doses of 200 mg or more per day “This study shows that the severity and duration of colds are reduced.” .
Similarly, chicken soup intestines may relieve flu symptoms.
That’s because chicken soup is a healthy and easily digestible source of calories and nutrients. Plus, it helps keep you hydrated.
“Chicken soup contains nutritious ingredients such as protein (chicken), garlic, and vegetables that boost the immune system and help decongest. It’s also warm and steaming is beneficial,” says Hanbeck. said the doctor.
1998 study The American College of Chest Physicians investigated the effects of comforting soups on immune cells.
It suggested that chicken soup may contain many substances with medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory properties.
Chicken soup is sometimes made with garlic and onions, which are sources of zinc, an essential mineral essential for the development of cells that form the immune system.
A warm sweet drink, such as a cup of honey with lemon or blackcurrant, is an easy way to relieve symptoms of cough and sore throat
There are suggestions that taking zinc supplements may help prevent colds.
One Cochrane Library review investigated previous data from eight trials involving more than 900 volunteers on whether zinc could reduce cold symptoms.
Scientists have found that taking small doses of 10 to 40 mg of zinc supplements over several days may help shorten the duration of a cold.
However, supplements are not always necessary, as the mineral is naturally found in red meat and dairy products, and most people can get all the zinc they need through diet alone.
Taking supplements can help boost zinc levels, but the NHS advises against taking more than 25mg of zinc a day, as taking too much can cause gastrointestinal problems and even weaken the immune system. Recommended.
Adding garlic to foods like chicken soup may reduce the amount of time you get sick.
one study Sussex researchers gave 146 healthy adults either a placebo or daily garlic supplements for 12 weeks over winter.
The group given the placebo had 65 colds, making them sick for 366 days, while the group taking the garlic supplement only had 24 colds, making them sick for 111 days. Ta.
Chicken soup is a healthy and easily digestible source of calories and nutrients. Plus, it helps keep you hydrated
Other nutrients found in chicken soup may also have medicinal properties.
one study A study conducted in the winters of 2016 and 2017 found that taking a multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, C, E, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, selenium, copper, and iron reduced the frequency and duration of colds. It turns out that it is possible to shorten the .
Gogol Mogol is another famous remedy for sore throat that contains sugar, raw eggs, honey, milk and unsalted butter.
Similar to hot lemon and ginger, this Eastern European drink is thought to soothe the throat and reduce scratchiness as the honey and eggs coat the throat.
However, no studies have measured the effectiveness of this drink.
Steam inhalation is Dr. Hanbeck’s recommended treatment, as it can help loosen mucus in the nose and sinuses and soothe sore throats and hoarseness.
She adds that adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot water can help calm your breathing.
Professor Ron Eccles, an expert in biological sciences at Cardiff University and former director of the university’s cold center, also previously told MailOnline that hot steam and warm sugary drinks may ease cold and flu symptoms. he said.
He once studied the effects of drinking a soothing warm drink on nasal congestion.
2008 study I’ve found that drinking hot blackcurrant cordial provides instant relief from runny noses, coughs, sneezing, sore throats, chills, and fatigue.
In contrast, room-temperature drinks only relieved symptoms of runny nose, cough, and sneezing.
Professor Eccles said any warm sweet drink should have the same effect.
He explained that the steam in hot drinks can help soften and break down mucus, making it easier to breathe. It also reduces swelling in sore throats, although experts aren’t entirely sure why.
A warm shower or steam bath likely has the same effect, relieving stuffy noses, coughs and sore throats, Professor Eccles said.
In addition to these homemade treatments, Dr. Hanbeck recommended taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to reduce muscle pain and fever.
These can be purchased at pharmacies, but Dr. Hanbeck recommends that people with underlying health conditions or taking other medications talk to their pharmacist first.
Other treatments she suggested include saline nasal sprays for nasal congestion, eucalyptus and peppermint ointments that can be used topically to relieve cough symptoms and nasal congestion, and anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting ointments. This includes echinacea, which is a herbal medicine.
Dr. Hanbeck emphasized that people should consult a medical professional if their symptoms worsen or do not improve, especially if they have trouble breathing.
