Cold and Flu

How to use symptoms to tell the difference between a cold and the flu

• Headache - prominent in flu

• Fever - prominent in flu

• Fatigue - extreme fatigue in flu; mild fatigue with a cold

• Aches - prominent in flu

• Runny nose - occasionally in flu; common with a cold

• Cough - common in both

• Sore throat - sometimes in flu; common with a cold

Treatment

• If you have a fever drink fruit and vegetable juice. You can also make a potassium broth

• Get adequate rest

• Gargle salt water 3 times a day - 1/2 tsp salt in 1 glass of warm water

Hydrotherapy

• For nasal congestion try steam inhalation

Herbs

• Cough syrup

• Honey onion cough syrup

• Golden seal tea - Golden seal is referred to as the king of mucous membrane

• Ginger tea for its anti-inflammatory effects

• Elderberry flower tea - helps to clear mucus from airways

• Mullein tea - helps to clear mucus from airways and is a pulmonary tonic

• Stinging Nettle tea - useful if you also have allergies

Supplements

• Vitamin C - you can take up to 5000 mg at a time but if you experience diarrhea cut back by 1000mg

• Zinc lozenges - 50 mg while you are sick

• NAC if you have a lot of mucus - 1200-1800 mg while you are sick