Flu: Causes, Tips & Home Remedies

Flu, primarily known as influenza is a common viral infection that affects the respiratory tracts. Flu or influenza primarily affects the various body organs including the nose, throat, bronchi, lungs etc. Every year flu affects millions of people around the world and every year flu kills more than 6 lakh 50 thousand people in the world. India solely registers more than 10 million cases of influenza every year and we lose thousands of people every year due to this viral infection. Children are most vulnerable to getting infected with the flu. A weak immune system and seasonal changes are the major causes of flu. Flu can spread from one man to another steady precautions are a must to break the spread of flu. Flu can be cured with a few simple tips and home remedies.

 

What is flu?

Flu is a viral infection that mainly affects the upper tract of the respiratory including the nose, bronchi, lungs, throat etc. Flu is a contagious disease that quickly spreads from one man to another. Weakness, high fever, cough, headache, body pain, and runny and stuffy nose are the common symptoms of flu. Flu is a dangerous disease that may lead you to death. This disease mostly affects people at a young age and people with weak immune system gets infection early than others. Drinking plenty of water and proper rest can lessen the effect of the infection. 

 

Types of flu-

There are mainly four types of flu, which are stated below-

• Type A flu- Type A viruses generally come from the birds, and this virus can spread widely and turn into an epidemic. Neglecting the infection can be life-threatening.
• Type B flu- This is a highly contagious virus that affects only humans.
• Type C flu- Type C viruses mainly affect humans and pigs. This disease can lead to local epidemics.
• Type D flu- This category of flu, doesn’t affect human beings.

 

What are the symptoms of flu?

A person affected with flu may suffer the symptoms stated below-

• Weakness
• Pain in the body
• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Tiredness
• High temperature of the body
• Sneezing

 

What are the causes of flu?

The major causes of flu are mentioned below-

• Weak immune system
• In a contact with an infected person
• Viral infection
• Seasonal changes

 

What are the complications of flu?

The complications associated with flu are stated below-

• Pneumonia
• Infection in the ear
• Sinus infections
• Congestive heart failure
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Sneezing
• Headache
• Infection that affects the brain

 

Dos and don’ts for flu treatment

Follow the tips stated below to cure flu at home-

• Increase the intake of garlic
• Take steam inhalation
• Keep yourself hydrated
• Clean and sanitize your hands
• Keep your immune system strong
• Consume Vitamin-C rich products
• Take a proper rest
• Drink an ample amount of water
• Drinking herbal tea helps in curing flu
• Drink coconut water
• Consume raw fruits and vegetables
• Gargle your mouth with warm salty water
• If the throat is paining massage your throat with essential oils including cinnamon oil, peppermint oil etc.
• Inhale the steam
• Take a proper diet
• Consume healthy food
• Enhance your immunity
• Avoid consuming unhealthy food

 

Home remedies for flu

Follow the home remedies stated below to treat flu at home-

 

Home remedy for flu

Ingredients: Honey, water and cinnamon powder

Step 1: Take one tablespoon of honey in a bowl and place the bowl over the boiling water to make the honey lukewarm.

Step 2: Mix a pinch of cinnamon powder with lukewarm honey.

Instructions: Consume this mixture two times a day to eradicate the influence of the virus in the body. This home remedy is one of the effective home remedies for flu.

 

Home remedy for flu

Ingredients: Onion and honey

Step 1: Take an onion and mash it to extract the juice of it in a bowl.

Step 2: Add one tablespoon of honey into the extracted juice and mix both the ingredients properly to get a fine mixture.

Instructions: Drink this mixture three times a day to get fast relief from influenza. This is one of the effective home remedies for flu.

 

Home remedy for flu

Ingredients: Fenugreek powder, lemon juice, honey, ginger, and water

Step 1: Take a glass of warm water and mix 4 tablespoons of fenugreek powder, 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of ginger paste into it.

Step 2: Mix all the ingredients properly and boil the mixture for 15 minutes.

Instructions: Drink this mixture twice a day to treat fever occurred by influenza. Follow this home remedy for flu regularly.

 

Home remedy for flu

Ingredients: Ginger, lemon, green tea bag, and water

Step 1: Take a glass of boiling water and add one tablespoon of crushed ginger with one tablespoon of lemon juice and dip a green tea bag into a glass of water.

Step 2: Keep the green tea bag soaked in a glass of mixture for 10 to 15 minutes.

Instructions: Drink this tea regularly two times a day to clear the blocked throat due to influenza. This home remedy flu is one of the best effective home remedies for flu.

 

Home remedy for flu

Ingredients: Ginger, fennel seed, cinnamon, mint leaves, honey, water, and cardamom

Step 1: Take four cups of water and mix one tablespoon of fennel seed, one piece of crushed ginger, one small piece of cinnamon, a few leaves of mint, 3 crushed cardamom seeds, one tablespoon of honey in it.

Step 2: Boil this mixture till it becomes half of its initial quantity.

Instructions: Inhale the steam of it to solve the problem of congestion. Drink this mixture regularly one or two times a day. This home remedy for flu is one of the potent home remedies to treat flu.