What Should U Do When U Got Flu?

Wet Your Whistle-and Everything Else



Fighting off flu can rob your body of moisture. Drink as much water as you can-eight or more 8-ounce glasses-to keep your mucous membranes moist and to help relieve dry eyes and other common flu symptoms.


At the first sign of flu, take 20 to 30 drops of elderberry tincture three or four times daily for three days.


Soothe a Sore Throat

For a sore throat, fill an 8-ounce glass with warm water, mix in 1 teaspoon of salt, and gargle away. The salt really does soothe the pain.


A dose of garlic-a natural antiseptic-will do a job on the virus. If you're feeling very brave, hold a small clove or a half-clove of garlic in your mouth and breathe the fumes into your throat and lungs. If it gets too strong as the clove softens, just chew it up quickly into smaller pieces and swallow with water.


Reduce the Fever


Wear wet socks to bed. Believe it or not, this soggy strategy can help ease a fever and clear congestion by drawing blood to the feet, which dramatically increases blood circulation. (Blood stagnates in the areas of greatest congestion.) Best method: First warm your feet in hot water. Then soak a thin pair of cotton socks in cold water, wring them out, and slip them on just before going to bed. Put a pair of dry wool socks over the wet ones. The wet socks should be warm and dry in the morning, and you should feel markedly better.


Try soaking your feet in a mustard footbath. In a basin, mix 1 tablespoon of mustard powder in 1 quart of hot water. The mustard draws blood to your feet, which helps to relieve congestion.



Ring a Stiff Neck

Flu can give you a stiff neck. To take the ache away, wet a hand towel, wring it out, place it in a plastic bag, and microwave it for 60 seconds. Or simply boil a towel in hot water. The towel should steam when you remove it from the bag or the pot of water. When it's cool enough, wring it out. Then wrap the towel around your shoulders and neck and lie down. (Put a beach or bath towel under you to keep the bed or couch dry.) To lock in the heat, wrap a dry towel around the wet one.



The Power of Prevention


Consider getting a yearly flu shot. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for the shot to build up your immunity, so get vaccinated in autumn, before the start of flu season.


During cold and flu season, take echinacea. Take it for a few weeks, then wait a week before resuming.


Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you use a public toilet. Don't touch your face with unwashed hands either.


Practice Stress busting. Research suggests that the more stress you're under, the more likely you are to get sick.


Make love at least once a week. In one study, men and women who were sexually active at least that often had higher levels of immune-system molecules called immunoglobulin A-which play an important role in shielding the mucous membranes from invaders-than people who weren't.




When to consult a doctor

See your doctor if you have a fever above 103 degrees. Call, too, if you start to wheeze, find it hard to breathe, feel severe pain in your lungs, chest, throat, or ear, or cough up copious amounts of sputum, especially if it's bloody or has a greenish tinge. For children, a fever can quickly lead to dehydration, so it's important to keep pushing fluids and to be in touch with your doctor.