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David Freeman
Flu symptoms can cause a world of misery, from fever and cough to sore throat, nasal congestion, aches, and chills. But there are ways to feel better.

Prescription antiviral drugs may ease symptoms of the flu when taken shortly after you get sick. In many cases, however, simple home remedies may be all you need for relief of mild to moderate flu symptoms. Here are 10 natural remedies for the flu.

Drink up
The flu can leave you dehydrated, especially if you have vomiting or diarrhoea. So be sure to get enough fluids. Water is fine. So are fruit juices and electrolyte beverages. You may want to stay away from caffeinated drinks, because caffeine is a diuretic. Herbal tea with honey can soothe a sore throat. If you feel nauseated, try taking small sips of liquids — gulps might cause you to throw up. How can you be sure you’re getting enough fluid? Your urine should be pale yellow, almost colourless. How about drinking alcohol? No way. When you have the flu, the last thing you want to do is drink alcohol. It makes you sleepy, and flu does that already.

Sip some soup
For generations, caring parents have been serving chicken soup to children with colds and flu. But was your mother right? Possibly. A study published in the journal Chest showed that chicken soup may help with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections like the flu.

“I believe that chicken soup does help with symptoms,” says Reid Blackwelder, professor of family medicine at East Tennessee State University in Kingsport. But not all doctors agree that chemistry alone explains the soup’s apparent benefits. When you lean over a bowl of hot chicken soup and the vapour gets up your nose, you feel better. But some of the benefit is clearly emotional. It just makes you feel better having someone make soup for you.

Be a couch potato
Listen to your body. If it’s telling you not to exercise, don’t. If it’s urging you to spend all day in bed, do. Don’t press on with daily chores even in the face of severe cold or flu symptoms. Rest is another way of supporting the body’s ability to fight infection. And don’t skimp on nighttime sleep. Good sleep cycles help the immune system work well, so it’s important to get your full eight hours of sleep each night.

Humidify
Breathing moist air helps ease nasal congestion and sore throat pain. One good strategy is to indulge in a steamy shower several times a day — or just turn on the shower and sit in the bathroom for a few minutes, inhaling the steam. Another is to use a steam vaporiser or a humidifier. Clean it often to make sure it’s free of mold and mildew.

Make a tent
Need a quick way to open clogged airways? Bring a pot of water to a boil and remove it from the heat. Drape a towel over your head, close your eyes, and lean over the water under the “tent,” breathing deeply through your nose for 30 seconds. David Kiefer, a clinical instructor of family medicine at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in Seattle, recommends adding a drop or two of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to the water for extra phlegm-busting power. Repeat this as often as necessary to ease congestion.

Try a warm compress
On the forehead and nose, a warm cloth is a great way to relieve headache or sinus pain.

Be a sucker
Cough drops, throat lozenges, and hard candy can be surprisingly effective at easing a cough or sore throat. Some doctors swear by lozenges containing slippery elm. Others recommend zinc lozenges to help shorten cold symptoms.

Swish and spit
Gargling with salt water helps get rid of the thick mucus that can collect at the back of the throat, especially after you’ve been lying down. It can also help ease stuffy ears.

Try nasal irrigation
To ease stuffiness and post-nasal drip — and perhaps cut the risk of getting a sinus infection — some doctors recommend nasal irrigation. You can buy a neti pot in health food stores and drug stores, or opt for a saline squeeze bottle. You pour salt water into one nostril and let it run out the other, clearing out your nasal passages. You can buy pre-made saline solution or make it by mixing salt and lukewarm sterile or distilled water.

Line up a caregiver
A caregiver can’t lower your temperature or cure a sore throat, but having someone to tuck you into bed and bring you fluids is very comforting. If a friend or family member offers to help, even if it’s only to stop by and check in on you, count your blessings — and take them up on it.