Influenza or flu is a viral infection caused by the influenza virus. It’s contagious and can quickly spread through droplets when an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs. You can also get it from touching objects with these droplets, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. The symptoms can be mild to severe, which include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and cough.
There are several home remedies available for treating the flu. You don’t need to go to the doctor, especially if the symptoms are mild. However, if the symptoms are severe, get immediate medical treatment. Examples of this are severe muscle weakness or pain, seizures, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. Moreover, if you have existing medical conditions, it’s also recommended that you consult with your physician to prevent the infection from worsening. Other groups with a high risk of developing complications from the flu are pregnant women, adults over 65 years old, kids under five years old, and those with weak immune systems.
You can prevent the flu by getting an annual flu vaccine. But if you get infected and the symptoms are not severe, here are remedies you can try at home.
Warm Bath
A warm bath has been a remedy for treating flu for many years. Adjust the temperature to around 27 to 32 degrees Celsius or 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Add Epsom salt to the water to help relieve body pain. It does this by eliminating lactic acid from the body, which causes pain. It also improves blood circulation, strengthening the immune system by stimulating the nerves. Since it allows oxygen to reach different body parts efficiently, muscles become more relaxed, and the healing process is quicker. The warmth from the water also helps add moisture to nasal passages and throat, which could dry due to the flu. You may also add an essential oil like eucalyptus and lavender for calmness and relaxation.
If your bathtub has water jets, you can use this to relax your sore muscles, especially on the neck and back. The pressure coming from the jets will massage your body, bringing relief. If you start to shiver when you soak in the warm bath, increase the water temperature to what’s comfortable for you. Shivering is a way for the body to increase its temperature.
