Flu Home Remedies

Don't get tired or run-down. Paint the living room, clean the attic, or build a basement playroom some other time, not during flu season.

If you've been blowing your nose a lot, it's probably pretty sore. So lubricate your nostrils frequently to decrease irritation, says Pane.

Soaking your feet in hot water may help if you have a headache or nasal congestion, says Dr. Thrash.

Make sure your sickroom has a good supply of fresh air at all times, says Dr. Thrash. But avoid a draft. Prevent chills by using warm, close-fitting bedclothes.

A back rub may help activate your immune system to fight the flu, says Dr. Thrash. And it's very comforting.

During the worst phase of the flu, you probably won't have an appetite at all.

A sore or scratchy throat is apt to accompany the flu.

Every year, scientists develop a vaccine against the most recently circulating strain of the virus.

Because the virus spreads easily, stay away from movies, theaters, shopping centers, and other crowded places during an epidemic, says Thomas Gossel, Ph.D., R.Ph.

The flu is a very infectious disease that spreads like wildfire, says Thomas Gossel, Ph.D., R.Ph. So don't be a workaholic or a martyr.

Prolonged exposure to wet and cold weather lowers your resistance and increases your risk of infection.

You shouldn't have much trouble following this advice, since you're probably too sick to do much else.

Smoking and alcohol can also impair your resistance. Smoking, in particular, injures the respiratory tract and makes you more susceptible to the flu, Dr. Gossel says.

Liquids are especially important to prevent dehydration if you have a fever. In addition, fluids can provide needed nutrients when you're too sick to eat.

Kissing is an efficient way for the flu to spread, says Dr. Gossel. Just sleeping in the same room with a sick spouse is asking for trouble.

Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can reduce the fever, headache, and body aches that so often accompany the flu. Follow label instructions.

Over-the-counter cold medicines may give you some temporary relief of symptoms, says Dr. Gossel. Those with antihistamines, for instance, can dry up a runny nose.

Sucking on hard candy and lozenges keeps your throat moist so it feels better, says Mary Ann Pane, R.N. If you're concerned about the calories these products contain, look for sugar-free brands.

Raising the humidity in your bedroom also helps reduce the discomfort of a cough, sore throat, or dry nasal passages.

One characteristic of the flu is tired, achy muscles. Warm them and ease their pain with a warm bath or heating pad, says Pane.