Effective Home Remedies To Treat Viral Infections

As humans, we are exposed to bacteria and viruses, some of them good for us and important to our existence and others not so good! These invisible organisms can cause infections and diseases. Bacterial and viral infections also change with time and season of the year. While few viral infections can cause and lead to life threatening situations, others are merely due to changes in season and time or exposure to new environment. We cannot possible stay hidden from these infections. But we need not panic either! You can use simple home remedies to treat viral infections—efficiently and cheaply.

Top 16 Home Remedies For Viral Infections:

Here is a list of top 16 home remedies for treating viral infections:

Common Cold And Cough:

Common cold is aptly named! It can strike any time round the year, depending on one’s susceptibility to the infection. Many of us catch cold and get a coughing fit during change of seasons, which is usually transmitted from one person to another through contact and exposure. Common cold can be caused by many different viruses and the few common ones are rhinovirus, adenovirus, and coronavirus. Depending on the severity of infection, the symptoms can last a few days to about a few weeks. Some home remedies that you can use to treat common cold are:

1. Drink Lukewarm Water Or Hot Beverages:

Cold and cough can leave your mouth and throat cold and dry. So, it is paramount to drink plenty of liquid. Warm or lukewarm water, herbal tea with honey, lemon and ginger is a good way to cure that sore throat. Also, one can add tea and coffee for relief, but it is important to keep it to it a minimum as it could lead to dehydration.

2. Use Steam:

                     

Cold and cough causes excessive production of mucus and leads to blockage of the respiratory tract and nasal passage. To get relief from blockage and open the respiratory tract, use steam. Boil some water in a shallow bowl and slowly breathe the steam in and let it fill you. You should feel the warmth on our face as well. Be careful not to burn yourself with excessive steam and be cautious when you handle the boiling water. Post steaming, keep yourself covered for a while to let the warmth have its effect.

3. Use Ginger, Black Pepper And Fennel Seeds:

Boil finely grated ginger, black pepper and fennel seeds and reduce water to half. Let this concoction cool down a bit, and then have it warm for relief. Alternatively, one can also gargle with hot water and a pinch of salt added to it to get relief from cold and the mucus that blocks the throat.

Flu:

Many people contract what is known as the flu and some people also refer it to as influenza. Influenza can sometimes become even life threatening. Children are often given a vaccination against the disease as it could lead to complications. However, it is the common flu we will be discussing here.

4. Have Soup:

Soup works effectively for the flu. You can just churn up some hot soup in your kitchen and have it. Chicken soup or any soup that you like should do the trick and soothe your irritated throat. It is also known to help with the infection.

                             

5. Garlic:

Flu can be quite a persistent. Garlic helps take care of flu as it has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Cooking it too much can make it ineffective, so, it is best to take garlic in its raw form. Finely dice or grate 2-3 cloves of garlic and consume it with water. If you can manage, try to chew the cloves in your mouth for the enzymes to be released. Garlic works to cure the symptoms more effectively.

6. Vinegar:

Vinegar is known to help in cases of flu as it is alkaline in nature and balances the body’s alkaline levels, and alkaline is not the best environment in the body for viruses to grow. So, having apple cider vinegar is a great to cure flu. The way to have the applecidervinegar is simple. Add a spoon to a glass of water and have directly. Have it a couple of times a day to fight flu and get rid of the viral infection.

7. Edlerberry Or Sambucus Syrup:

Edlerberry or Sambucus syrup is commonly used to treat flu. It has anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties. It is also rich in anthocyanin, which is an anti-inflammatory agent. In case of flu, one might experience trouble thanks to the swelling. Elderberry Syrup is easily available for consumption and one can get it from the market and have it in green tea or just take a spoon early morning.

Bronchitis:

Bronchitis can be caused both by virus and bacteria and can lead to life threatening situations, but mostly can be taken care off at home if it has not developed into an acute case of bronchitis.

8. Almond:

The simple and most important single thing the Indian mothers put in our hands each morning are the soaked almonds. Almonds are a rich source of nutrients and vitamins. It also contains magnesium and calcium. It has amazing healing power for respiratory illnesses. So, if you are suffering from bronchitis, have enough almonds and consume them in any manner you like or are comfortable with.

9. Onions:

Onions and honey can treat bronchitis at home. Onions are good for the flow of mucus as these are loaded with expectorants. Honey is an amazing anti-biotic, which helps to build resistance against diseases. There are two ways to have onions.

• Make thin slices of onion and cover them with a few spoons of honey. Leave the onions and honey overnight. The aim is to ensure that the onions are covered in honey, so that the onions can soak properly. Have a spoon at regular intervals during the day for relief.
• Alternately, onions in any form are good. But try to have them raw as far as possible, like in sandwiches, salads or even in baked items if you can.

10. Chilies:

Chilies make you sweat and your nose run every time you have too much of them. The cayenne pepper will help you produce more mucus and clear out all kinds of blockages and help you breathe easy. So, increase your chilli intake a little and get rid of the mucus to breathe easy.

11. Lemon:

The good old lemon is one of the best home treatments for bronchitis. While many would recommend its use along with green tea and honey, it can also be consumed by taking 1 teaspoon of the rind of lemon and grating it into water to make lemon tea. Boil the water or just take 1 cup water and add lemon wedges to it and let it boil. Use a sieve to strain it and consume the same. Lemon is a good way to kill bacteria and virus. It also keeps infection under control.

12. Thyme:

Thyme is an effective ingredient that perpetuates through all global cuisines and kitchens across the world. But, very few of us actually know that thyme fights infections and helps take care of lung infections by strengthening the lungs. There are 3 ways to use thyme for healing purposes:

• The easiest is to use it as an herb. Season your food with it and at the same time ensure that you get the necessary supply to heal the lungs and strengthen them
• The second option is to take one cup water, bring it to boil and add a few leaves of thyme, boil it properly, sieve it and add honey to consume this concoction.
• Last but not the least, thyme oil is also available in the market these days. So, use thyme oil to massage or rub the chest area to clear congestion and get some warmth for relief of all the pain and breathing problems.

Gastroenteritis:

More commonly known as the stomach flu, this one is the main cause of stomach problems. It comes with symptoms like throwing up, diarrhea, and upset stomach with severe pain and cramping. One might want to get treated of this illness at the earliest as it spreads easily. The viral infection needs to be treated well in time and with caution.

13. Take Rest And Eat Light:

Avoid what you can’t handle as your stomach needs good amount of rest. If an infant is suffering from this problem, it is important to avoid milk products and heavy solids as they might give way to increasing the problem. Stay at home and take rest. Also, since you suffer from dehydration, it is important to give your body ample amount of liquids at regular intervals. So, have water at regular intervals and eat light. The first thing to treat this problem is to avoid anything that stresses the digestive system.

14. Ginger Or Peppermint Tea:

Have ginger or peppermint tea to get some relief as peppermint will help soothe the stomach and reduce the spasms in the stomach that cause severe cramping and intense pain. It also soothes your overall digestive system and provides instant and temporary relief from all the pain. When making tea you can add ginger and add honey, and drink the tea to soothe stomach pain and bring down the inflammation in your digestive tract. If you are comfortable, take some ginger, dice it into small pieces and chew it to release the enzymes and minerals in the mouth.

15. Use Ice Chips:

Fever is also an accompaniment of gastroenteritis and you can have ice chips to hydrate the body and at the same time bring your body temperature down. Use ice chips throughout the day as it will also make your stomach and oesophagus feel better with the cooling sensation.

16. Follow BRAT Diet:

BRAT diet can work wonders when one is suffering from gastroenteritis. BRAT is an acronym that stands for bananas, rice, apples and toast. All these foods are high in fibre content and also are easy for the stomach to digest. It is a good way to help your stomach recover. Also, add yoghurt to your meals as this is rich in nutrients and bacteria that help improve digestion and make stomach healthier and stronger.

For all the above problems, if the symptoms persist longer than usual, it is important to visit your doctor and discuss your problem. Viral infections can often swirl out of control and lead to life threatening situations. Home remedies are effective and should work if you catch the problem in the first few days. So, make sure you diligently follow the home remedies to treat the problem.

However, if you are unable to see effective results, visit your doctor and get the medication you need.

Try these home remedies the next time you are down with a viral infection. They will help you heal—quickly and naturally!