Chasing the Flu Bug Away with Tried and True Remedies

As some of you know, in my last post, I shared how our daughter had the flu.  It was quite a mean and nasty bug.  We used all the home remedies that we could think of.  Many people shared their flu remedies with me, and I thought it would be great to have them all in one place, so I decided to do a blog post about them! This will be a reference you can return to should you ever need to fight off a nasty flu/cold bug. 

Each one of us responds to a virus/flu/cold bug differently, with many different variables.  I am hopeful that with this compiled list of flu/cold busters that perhaps there will be a remedy listed here that will help you should you need a line of defense against the flu bug.

Below I have listed the remedies we tried, all of which seemed to bring welcome relief. 

First I set up a little table beside the couch where she spent most of her sick time. I covered the couch with a sheet that I could change out.  I covered the table with a towel that I could change every day.  I also changed her pillowcase every day too.  Each day I scrubbed down the area with diluted bleach water.  I think this helped keep the germ-spreading to a minimum.

I kept a glass filled with ice water and lemon for her to sip on out of a straw, crackers, thermometer, and the meds we were using which were Advil, Nyquil/Dayquil, honey/lemon throat lozenges and Robitussin cough gels. I kept a little jar of honey with a spoon for her to take a spoonful of honey when her throat was raw.  She drank a lot of hot tea with lemon as well.

Some of the different things we did to alleviate the flu symptoms:

Face steam baths with peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil 

Diffused peppermint, lavender and On Guard essential oils

Horse Liniment rubs on her chest and abdomen to ease the pain from coughing

A teaspoon of honey for sore throat

Saltwater gargles

Chicken bone broth to drink

Airborne immunity pills - they are vitamin C pills with other vitamins and minerals

And most importantly... kitty snuggles :) 

I posted on Instagram about my daughter having the flu, and so many were kind enough to share their remedies that I thought I would share them here with you too. 

@cooper_cottage_life  Theraflu, which we found to really help

@paulavanrassel  Nasal saline and ibuprofen

@truelovehearts21 1 cup Rubbing Alcohol in Hot Bath in water breaks the fever

@stuff_and_nonsense Probiotics, and elderberry syrup

@birdieblessings  Tea made with hot water, apple cider vinegar (about 1T), and honey. Also gargle with 2
 drops thieves oil in a cup of warm water. One more that seems to work well. Vick’s vapor rub on the soles of her feet at night, then socks. Helps with night cough. Tried and true. Has worked on my grandchildren.

@hollymoore357  I like to drink hot peppermint tea and also warm honey water for my throat.

@ajparton13  Mentholaleum on the bottom of her feet then put socks on. No more coughing! Also Flonase will help reduce the swelling & inflammation in her sinuses.

@marlenasrosecoloredglasses  I do all that you’ve mentioned and it works. Lots of rest, hot soups and teas to keep hydrated. I sometimes add Vick’s Vapo rub to chest, using a towel against the skin under clothes and also add to hot water for the face steam and use 12 hr Afrin nasal spray before bed. Helps clear up stuffiness that runs down throat which can cause coughing.

@mountainmamaonline  ...the Irish say three days coming, three days staying, three days leaving....but that might just be a nasty cold, not the flu...

@veeswanpark  Essential oil: Thieves

@isora.martinez  Tussin and go to CVS there some medication called Severe Cold for Adult, at nighttime HALLS with real Honey its has Honey Chamomile and Emergen C in water. Oh for her throat take 4 aspirin in water the best no salt it’s too strong.  Make her chicken soup and lemon water. 

@melscomfyhouse  How about some supplements for all of you...elderberry, vitamin C and vitamin D?

@marilyn tea  I find when a virus gets down in my chest and I can't kick it I start taking Olive Leaf capsules (about 4 capsules a day for three days) and I start feeling better in a few days.

@debs.earthly.delights  Water water water and looks like you have it covered

@pemmy2001  Ginger tea or just boiled ginger slices? It helps with cold

@_mari_anne  A product we have here in Canada that we use is Kyolic Immune Shield.

@mematwothree  Robitussin DM or DMCF? It's an expectorant and cough suppressant. Always helps with the cough and to keep it from going into the lungs

Thankfully she has recovered fully from the flu, even though it took several days for her to fully feel back to normal. And the rest of us so far, thankfully, have not gotten the flu. Thank you Lord!

Has the flu bug visited you this year? I'd like to make this a great compilation of flu-busting tips, so if you have any to offer, be sure and share them below.

Blessings to all and praying that none of you need any of these tips!!!!