First comes trangkaso—you wake up feeling like you’ve been through seven hells and back—then comes the onslaught of ubo, sipon, and lagnat. Congratulations, you now have the flu. But, there’s no need to panic. The situation is pretty much the same for everyone else, everywhere else. According to licensed nurse Clarisse Magbanua, flu cases are common during this time of the year because this is when our body is still trying to acclimatize to the changing weather.
"Kasi meron tayong change of climate, so 'yung transition ng body system natin na, halimbawa, malamig ngayon, tapos after 'nun, biglang iinit, biglang magbabago 'yung system ng katawan natin, so mag a-adapt yung mga body cells natin."
Popping a pill is an instant solution, but if you’d rather flush out the virus in a more natural way, here are several suggestions:
1. Increase your water intake.
You should always have a pitcher of water by your bed when you’re sick. According to Clarisse, two to three liters a day should do it. It not only helps you flush out toxins, but also keeps you from becoming too dehydrated, which, WebMD reports, is normal when you have the flu. Not sure just how much is enough? Take a look at your urine. It should be pale yellow and almost colorless.
2. Get eight hours of sleep.
We know you’ve been working hard lately, but now that your body has seen fit to throw a tantrum, you need to give yourself time to recuperate. File for a sick leave, go to bed early, and take your time getting up in the morning. Reid B. Blackwelder, MD, professor of family medicine at East Tennessee State University in Kingsport, tells WebMD that this is one way you can help your body fight infection.
3. Eat garlic.
Garlic has long been thought to have natural healing properties. It has been used to help with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart attack among others, so we think it has a pretty good chance of defeating the flu, too. Fox News recommends a garlic shot: 1-2 cloves of very finely minced garlic in a very small glass of water. Drink it down fast.
4. Get a daily dose of honey.
If you want to build up your immune system or if your flu is just in its early stages, honey is an effective remedy. Simply mix the naturally sweet concoction with your tea, coffee, or even water, says Donna Cardillo, FN, MA in an article on Dr. Oz. Just don’t give honey to children below age one.
5. Fortify with vitamin C.
There are many natural sources of vitamin C. Clarisse recommends eating more citrus fruits to speed up the healing process. However, "lemon (and lime) juice is reported to decrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm," reports Donna in Dr. Oz.
Photo by eltpics via Flickr Creative Commons
