Without exaggeration, the pharmaceutical business can be called almost the most profitable type of activity. The incomes of manufacturers and distributors of drugs are especially high during the period of epidemics of flu and colds. Movies about miraculous tablets, syrups and teas that protect the body from infections and instantly remove the symptoms of the disease do not go off the TV screens. But is it worth it to spend money and stuff the body with synthetic drugs, if nature itself has given us the very best protection against epidemics? The most effective flu prevention is folk remedies.
Why folk remedies are better - 5 good reasons
What to choose - pharmacy drugs or folk remedies? Prevention of flu and colds with natural products has a number of undeniable advantages. Namely:
- Cheapness. For the same money that you give for packing a pharmacy product, you can purchase a decent supply of natural immunomodulating and antiviral products.
- Availability. Most folk remedies can be found in the nearest store or even in your own garden. This is important for remote areas and villages, where there is a rather tense situation with pharmacies and an assortment of drugs.
- Security. Natural remedies do not harm the body with reasonable consumption and the absence of contraindications. But the annotation for pharmaceutical preparations is accompanied by an impressive list of side effects.
- Efficiency. Oddly enough, but even the most expensive pharmacy drugs are sometimes completely useless in protecting the body from colds. And the effect of folk remedies has been tested by many generations.
- Suitable for children. Do not, believing in advertising and following fashion, stuff a fragile children's body with chemicals. Folk remedies - this is what a child can do to prevent flu and colds. They act gently but efficiently. In addition, many of them taste good.
Disadvantages of folk remedies
With all the many advantages, there are several significant drawbacks to flu prevention with folk remedies. For a natural product to really work, you need to start using it long before the outbreak. If everyone is already sneezing and coughing around, and you just catch it, you should not put too high hopes on folk remedies. In order for them to really help, they must become part of your lifestyle. Then they will have a cumulative effect, creating an impenetrable immune shell.
It is also worth noting that the viruses of the common cold and flu constantly mutate. They adapt even to complex antibiotics, not to mention folk remedies that have remained unchanged for centuries. Thus, do not rely too much on folk recipes. If an epidemic rages around, try to be less in crowded places. And if the disease has not spared you, do not neglect the medication prescribed by the doctor.
Dogrose
Rosehip is a leader in the content of vitamin C. It contains many times more ascorbic acid than lemons and other citrus fruits. To strengthen immunity and protect against colds, it is recommended in the autumn, winter and spring to drink a rosehip broth monthly courses. You need to drink at least a glass of drink a day. You can even replace them with tea.
Here's how to brew dried rosehips:
- Crush 100 g of dried fruit in a mortar.
- Pour raw materials with a liter of water and boil for 5-7 minutes in a closed pan.
- Wrap a container with a towel and leave for 2-3 hours.
- Strain the drink through three standing gauze.
- The drink is ready. Just before use, you can add a spoonful of honey in a glass.
Unfortunately, ascorbic acid is very unstable to high temperatures, and therefore a significant part of it is destroyed if dried rosehips are brewed. How to prepare a prophylactic? There is an option without heat treatment:
- Rinse 800 g of fresh rose hips and carefully sort.
- Cut a dark tip from each berry.
- Pass the raw materials through a meat grinder (several times).
- Combine the mashed potatoes with 1 kg of sugar and place in sterile jars.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- Prepare a vitamin drink by adding a spoonful of “raw jam” to a glass of warm water.
Garlic
A sure way to prevent flu is garlic. Due to the high content of sulfur compounds, phytoncides, as well as vitamins, minerals, micro and macro elements, it is a reliable natural antibiotic, merciless to microbes and viruses. Here are the easiest ways to protect yourself from the common cold with garlic:
- Eat pure garlic daily or add to your favorite foods.
- Peel the garlic, cut the cloves in half and spread them all over the apartment. Change every 3-4 days.
- Pass the garlic through a crush or chop finely. Wrap the mass in a few layers of bandage and hold it to the nose. Inhale the garlic flavor deeply for 10-15 minutes daily.
Garlic tincture is a shocking remedy for influenza and colds for adults. Here's how she cooks:
- Chop 200 g of peeled garlic as finely as possible and pour a glass of vodka.
- Close the container tightly and place in a cool, dark place for 10 days.
- Strain the liquid through several layers of gauze, squeezing the garlic residue well.
- Again send in a dark, cold place for three days.
- Drain the tincture into a clean container so that it does not get dark sediment from the bottom.
- Take a teaspoon after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Linden
Linden is characterized by a high content of flavonoids, saponins and organic acids, which are able to suppress inflammatory processes and prevent their spread. Also, linden has a pronounced diaphoretic and expectorant effect. Thus, the tool is suitable not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of colds in the initial stages.
A sure remedy for ARVI is tea with linden and honey. It is prepared as follows:
- 4-5 dried linden inflorescences pour a glass of boiling water.
- Cover the container with a lid, wrap with a towel and leave for 20 minutes.
- Strain the drink and add a spoonful of honey.
- Take 2-3 times a day (one of the receptions should be immediately before bedtime).
Essential oils
For the prevention of flu and colds, essential oils are simply indispensable. Their advantage is that their use is advisable both for preventive and for therapeutic purposes.
An ideal method of application is to fumigate the home with healing vapors using an aroma lamp (3-5 drops of ether per session). To be protected not only at home, but also outside, it is worth wearing aromatic medallion with healing oils.
Different esters have different healing properties. Namely:
- Antiseptic - tea tree, cloves, rosemary, thyme, sage, cinnamon.
- Antiviral - geranium, fennel, ylang-ylang, mint, lemon balm.
- Antibacterial - chamomile, chamomile, thyme, pine, spruce, ginger, verbena, hyssop, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, myrtle, juniper, geranium.
- Anti-inflammatory - tea tree, cloves, pine, myrtle, oregano, grapefruit, sage, juniper, chamomile, thyme, frankincense.
- Immunomodulating - tea tree eucalyptus, cedar, rose, pine, hyssop, incense, sage, ylang-ylang, juniper, chamomile, lavender, grapefruit.
- General strengthening - lavender, rose, sandalwood, frankincense, anise, geranium, fennel.
- Antipyretic - lavender, eucalyptus, mint, lemon, tea tree, chamomile, lemon balm, bergamot.
- From a cold - eucalyptus, camphor, tea tree, fir, thuja, pine.
Bow
Onions - one of the most effective means in the fight against colds. It has many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, flavonoids and phytoncides. It is also rich in ascorbic acid, which is so important for strengthening immunity.
For the prevention of influenza, onions are used as follows:
- Eat raw onions daily (can be added to salads).
- Grate the onion and breathe over the resulting slurry for at least 10 minutes.
- Combine a tablespoon of onion juice with a little honey (for taste). Take twice a day.
- Cut the onions in half rings, put on saucers and arrange throughout the apartment. Change every 3-4 days.
- If you feel that you are having a cold, finely chop the onion, put it in a plate and place it next to your bed for the whole night.
Ginger
Knowledge about the benefits of ginger came to us from Eastern medicine. The root is used not only as a flavoring additive to food, but also as a cure for many diseases. Ginger is considered a powerful natural antibiotic. For the prevention of influenza and the common cold, it can be used in several ways:
- Add fresh or ground ginger to your food.
- Drink ginger tea daily. Just add a little grated or dry ground ginger to a hot drink with lemon and honey.
- Combine ginger puree with honey in equal proportions, put in a jar and send in the refrigerator. Every morning, eat a teaspoon of bite with tea.
- If you feel that you are catching a cold (for example, a sore throat or a runny nose), suck a small piece of fresh root.
Medicinal herbs
Medicinal herbs will help protect the body from colds and flu. To prepare a medicinal drink, you need to fill in a tablespoon of dry raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. The resulting amount should be divided into three doses and drink during the day. Here are the best preventative measures:
- chamomile;
- thyme;
- St. John's wort
- sage;
- oregano;
- plantain.
What to include in a daily diet?
The best way to prevent the flu and colds is proper nutrition as the basis of strong immunity. In the autumn-winter period, when colds are rampant, the following products should be present in the diet:
- Chicken bouillon. It should be as rich as possible. The most delicious and healthy is obtained from the breast.
- Sauerkraut. It has a lot of vitamin C and lactic acid. This tandem of nutrients is merciless to colds.
- Citrus. As an additional source of ascorbic acid.
- Dairy products. The basis of immunity is a healthy intestinal microflora. Kefir, natural yoghurts and fermented baked milk will help you restore your natural protective barrier.
- Spicy spices. They warm the body from the inside and kill pathogens.
- Green tea. It is a powerful antioxidant that will help cleanse the body of everything that makes it weaker.
Preventative procedures
In addition to the use of folk remedies, it is important to carry out some preventive procedures for the prevention of influenza and the common cold. Namely:
- Gargling (with furatsilin, soda, salt, iodine) and rinsing the nose. Pathogenic viruses and bacteria settle on the mucous membranes. To prevent ingestion, flush them daily.
- Inhalation. Once every two to three days, breathe over decoctions of herbs or vapors of essential oils. Soda solution also works well.
- Mustard foot baths. Do the procedure if during the day you are very cold or wet your feet. But first make sure that you have no temperature.
Additional recommendations
Prevention of influenza with folk remedies will bear fruit only if you approach the issue comprehensively. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- daily take a walk in the fresh air, regardless of the weather (with the exception of severe weather);
- avoid stress;
- eat right;
- do wet cleaning regularly and ventilate the house daily;
- Avoid visiting crowded places or wear a mask;
- wash your hands often;
- use a humidifier;
- dress according to the weather;
- drink more fluids;
- accustom the body to hardening.