There are as many theories as to how people get colds and flu as there are treatments. When our immune systems are compromised it is a challenge to fight these dreadful illnesses. A cold causes clogged and runny noses, sneezing, sore throats and often dry coughs. They will have a variation of symptoms in different people, even if infected with the same virus. Flu symptoms are much more severe and will cause high fever and chills, a feeling of exhaustion and the whole body may ache. This includes headaches, backaches and sore muscles. Whichever one you may be may have, there are natural alternatives to preventing and managing them. One of the key considerations is to strengthen our immune system. The following suggestions will help to give you an overview of the natural supports that are available without any harmful and negative side effects.

Diet is crucial! It is essential that you drink enough liquid, preferably chlorine free water to prevent dehydration. The addition of a warm broth, vegetable juices and herbal teas to our daily diet will provide an additional immune system boost. Beet juice is very effective as is grape juice, parsley, celery, watercress, lemon, carrot juice and coconut milk. You can also use pure elderberry (sambuco) juice. Heat it up and add lemon juice and honey. Drink it hot for maximum benefit as an immune booster. You may get rid of your fever overnight. That is how my mother successfully treated my fever as a child!

Drink linden flower tea with 2 drops of lemon balm oil, thyme tea with honey or rose hip tea with natural sweatener stevia concentrate. Rest in bed as you work up a sweat from ingestion of the tea. After about one hour, dry off from the sweat and change clothes. Try to get more sleep. Liquids are nourishing and help to cleanse our system and promote healing. The addition of garlic to the liquid is believed to promote further protection from cold and flu viruses. Raw fruit and vegetables such as carrots, sauerkraut, and citrus fruits (containing Vitamin A and C), unrefined cold pressed flax and hemp seed oil, are excellent sources of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. And don't forget our mothers' "secret" recipe - chicken soup!

When using supplements for cold and flu relief, use physician-grade, high potency liquid herbal tinctures such as Cat's Claw, Echinacea, Pau D'Arco (Taheebo) and Grapeseed  tincture/extract. Echinacea throat spray will also provide immediate relief of your symptoms. Supplements such as Vitamin C, Ester C and Vitamin A are very important and should be started at the onset of a cold or flu. The same goes for the herbal tinctures. Begin to incorporate these supplements as early as September to give your immune system a boost, as you would charge the battery of a car. At the first tickle in your throat, use Echinacea throat spray. It will kill the virus, often with only a couple of sprays.

Other cold and flu busters include cayenne pepper (capsicum) and wild crafted Mediterranean oregano oil infused in hemp or olive oil or grapeseed oil with mint flavour. Further, certified organic pumpkin seeds (found to have a high percentage of zinc) and zinc lozenges are highly recommended for cold and flu symptom. Zinc has a long list of health claims such as immune enhancing properties, anti-inflammatory and is an aid to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, hair loss prevention and prostate problems, just to name a few. Additional dietary sources of zinc include whole grain products, brewers yeast, wheat bran and wheat germ, oysters and meat. Zinc supplements can be found under the names of zinc sulfate, acetate, gluconate, citrate, dipicolinate, aspartate, orotate and amino acid chelates of zinc. Zinc is especially important for the elderly!

To help alleviate and disinfect dry air passages, add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and leave it in the bedroom overnight. Another effective treatment is to inhale chamomile, eucalyptus and thyme oils. This will loosen mucus and heat the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. Take a hot and cold foot bath before retiring.

Gargle regularly with sage tea to disinfect your mouth. Use sage inhalation to reduce inflammation. Wash your body with an infusion of thyme or juniper needles. If you have the opportunity to use an infrared sauna you will reap tremendous benefits which include detoxification of toxin like heavy metals and you will experience pain relief from arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and other chronic pain conditions, weight loss (burn 600 calories in 30 minutes), relaxation, excellent results in the treatment of acne, eczema, cellulite and psoriasis. Saunas may help you to arrest the beginning of a cold and flu.

Washing your hands is a key practice in preventing or spreading cold and flu viruses. Germs are invisible and they are just about everywhere. When you touch a doorknob, pick up a book or newspaper, or pet a dog, any germs are transferred to your hands. Your hands should be washed more often during the cold and flu season, especially in the presence of someone with a cold and flu virus. Just 15 seconds of good hand rubbing with a quality natural bar soap (unfortunately most of the liquid soaps are loaded with harmful chemicals) and water should do it. If you use a bar soap, make sure that the soap dish is clean as they contain lots of germs.

Your body is going to need energy to detoxify and fight off the cold and flu. Therefore, get lots of bed rest and if possible avoid any stressful situations. Keep warm. Consider a juice fast. Even lemon with cayenne and maple syrup in hot water can speed up recovery time. Hot apple cider or ginger tea are also great to drink, as are Japanese green tea and other herbal teas, such as elderberry blossom, yerba mate, roibosh tea etc. It is important to get plenty of fresh air to clear your lungs, but avoid drafts.

All in all, with these cold and flu busters, a relatively healthy person, can break a cold or flu in a few days or eventually avoid it all together!

HANS member, Klaus Ferlow, life-long herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher and writer, is the founder and coowner of Ferlow Botanicals. www.ferlowbrothers.com.

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