Naturally Fighting the Flu
by: Naturally Savvy
Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the throat, nose, bronchial tubes, lungs, and middle ear. Instances of influenza usually occur during the fall and winter months simply because the virus survives better in lower humidity. Cold weather also makes the nasal passage lining more susceptible to viral infection.
The virus enters the body through mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, or mouth. It is mainly spread by coughing or sneezing, but you can easily catch the flu by touching something with the virus on it (like a doorknob, money, or your remote control), then touching your eyes, mouth or nose.
Symptoms typically include body aches, cough, fatigue, headache, hot and cold sweats, fever, dry throat and cough, nausea and vomiting, weakness and loss of appetite, and can last for more than two weeks, finishing off with a period of coughing and fatigue. Though flu is rarely dangerous, it can make one more susceptible to pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus problems.
Because strains are always mutating, vaccinations have been only partly successful in preventing outbreaks of the disease. Therefore, the best way to fight the flu is to prevent it by strengthening the immune system, but when you're already sick with the flu, a diet of mainly liquids for a few days will help your body fight the virus. Drink herbal teas, freshly-pressed vegetable juices, water, and soup to prevent dehydration, loosen mucus, keep your throat moist, and detoxify the flu virus from the body.
