So, you've come down with the flu and want to know how to get rid of the flu fast. Fair enough, who wouldn't? And while there is some temptation to point out the ways in which you could have avoided it, we'll resist and just jump to the chase.
There are of course various medications you can get by prescription from your family physician. We're not M.D.s so won't presume to comment on your relationship with your medical professional. If that's the route you choose, probably best to be compliant with the treatment.
There is though, particularly as related to the flu, something that you might want to consider. In recent years the research of medical anthropologists is revealing that that terrible death toll we often hear about in the flu pandemic of 1918 was at least greatly aggravated by medical misjudgment. Apparently, the treatment for this virulent flu became widely recommended as including mega doses of aspirin. It now appears that such over prescribing contributed significantly to the death toll, as the high doses of aspirin caused stomach bleeding. Such stomach-bleeding entailed wounds that allowed the virus to infect patients' blood. This often led to rapid death.
This observation is not meant to demonize the medical community. Surely those physicians did the very best they could in light of the prevailing medical knowledge. The lesson shouldn't be lost though that any time you're using potent pharmaceuticals even very small errors can have devastating outcomes. Using such drugs always involves some level of risk. Surely, for most cases of flu less risky options are viable.
If some of these suggestions sound a bit on the down-home side, don't be put off. Just because your mother or grandmother gave you the same advice doesn't mean it's not good advice. They did know a thing or two. First on the list, cheesy as it sounds, is the solid advice to get lots of sleep and drink plenty of liquids. Water is top of the list for best fluids to drink. Another important measure, not widely enough shared as it should be, is the need to keep clean. Warm showers are great both for providing symptom relief, such as soothing your aching muscles and clearing up bronchial passageways, but also for the benefit of reducing contagion. If you get everyone else in the house sick, who's going to make your chicken soup?
Fevers are no fun, but unless they start getting dangerously high, 103 being a well known benchmark, you shouldn't interfere with their course. The fever is your body's immune system fighting the illness. We humans didn't make it this far without having a pretty effective built-in flu resistance. Let it do its work!
A great deal of relief can be had through breathing the essence of essential oils. Start by filling up a sink with steaming hot water. You add an ingredient to the water, then place around your head a towel to capture the full effect of the ingredient's essences. Breathe in deeply and let it sooth and clear out your bronchial passages. Three particular ingredients that are highly recommended for this are a couple teaspoons of freshly chopped ginger, eucalyptus or menthol. As you will want to know which of them works best for you, it might be smart to use each individually, noting their effects. Though, if you feel totally overwhelmed, and need a rapid solution, perhaps combining all three might provide a power kick to get you over it.
vitamins can really be helpful, too. Take both A and C. Micellized A is best and the C should be food sourced, which is much more potent than the ascorbic acid sort (so you don't have to take as much, of course). Also vitamin D3 can be good, but better if you can get it through regular exposure to sunlight. Admittedly, this isn't always possible during flu season, but, if it is, it's the way to go.
And last but not least, another down home remedy, but a great one, is to drink warm liquids. They provide plenty of welcomed soothing of flu related discomfort. Tea will be a good choice, with Green tea especially recommended for speeding the passing of flu.
That should get you started. We understand that when you want to know how to get rid of the flu fast, you need quick and effective relief. These ideas should go a long way in getting you that relief.
There are of course various medications you can get by prescription from your family physician. We're not M.D.s so won't presume to comment on your relationship with your medical professional. If that's the route you choose, probably best to be compliant with the treatment.
There is though, particularly as related to the flu, something that you might want to consider. In recent years the research of medical anthropologists is revealing that that terrible death toll we often hear about in the flu pandemic of 1918 was at least greatly aggravated by medical misjudgment. Apparently, the treatment for this virulent flu became widely recommended as including mega doses of aspirin. It now appears that such over prescribing contributed significantly to the death toll, as the high doses of aspirin caused stomach bleeding. Such stomach-bleeding entailed wounds that allowed the virus to infect patients' blood. This often led to rapid death.
This observation is not meant to demonize the medical community. Surely those physicians did the very best they could in light of the prevailing medical knowledge. The lesson shouldn't be lost though that any time you're using potent pharmaceuticals even very small errors can have devastating outcomes. Using such drugs always involves some level of risk. Surely, for most cases of flu less risky options are viable.
If some of these suggestions sound a bit on the down-home side, don't be put off. Just because your mother or grandmother gave you the same advice doesn't mean it's not good advice. They did know a thing or two. First on the list, cheesy as it sounds, is the solid advice to get lots of sleep and drink plenty of liquids. Water is top of the list for best fluids to drink. Another important measure, not widely enough shared as it should be, is the need to keep clean. Warm showers are great both for providing symptom relief, such as soothing your aching muscles and clearing up bronchial passageways, but also for the benefit of reducing contagion. If you get everyone else in the house sick, who's going to make your chicken soup?
Fevers are no fun, but unless they start getting dangerously high, 103 being a well known benchmark, you shouldn't interfere with their course. The fever is your body's immune system fighting the illness. We humans didn't make it this far without having a pretty effective built-in flu resistance. Let it do its work!
A great deal of relief can be had through breathing the essence of essential oils. Start by filling up a sink with steaming hot water. You add an ingredient to the water, then place around your head a towel to capture the full effect of the ingredient's essences. Breathe in deeply and let it sooth and clear out your bronchial passages. Three particular ingredients that are highly recommended for this are a couple teaspoons of freshly chopped ginger, eucalyptus or menthol. As you will want to know which of them works best for you, it might be smart to use each individually, noting their effects. Though, if you feel totally overwhelmed, and need a rapid solution, perhaps combining all three might provide a power kick to get you over it.
vitamins can really be helpful, too. Take both A and C. Micellized A is best and the C should be food sourced, which is much more potent than the ascorbic acid sort (so you don't have to take as much, of course). Also vitamin D3 can be good, but better if you can get it through regular exposure to sunlight. Admittedly, this isn't always possible during flu season, but, if it is, it's the way to go.
And last but not least, another down home remedy, but a great one, is to drink warm liquids. They provide plenty of welcomed soothing of flu related discomfort. Tea will be a good choice, with Green tea especially recommended for speeding the passing of flu.
That should get you started. We understand that when you want to know how to get rid of the flu fast, you need quick and effective relief. These ideas should go a long way in getting you that relief.
About the Author:
Be sure to follow Tosh Caliberni for all the latest news on fast pharmaceutical-free relief at the site: How to Get Rid of the Flu Fast . Also his piece on the 3 Top Ways to Get Rid of a Headache without Medicine can be a real life saver.
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