Cold and flu can affect tens and thousands of people annually but you can avoid them with these 9 best natural cold and flu prevention tips.
Cold and the flu season is here and if you get infected with either viruses, it can be crippling, if not potentially deadly. But you can avoid getting sick if you follow a few very important steps.
Every Fall and beginning of Winter, you see signs everywhere offering free flu vaccines. And whether or not you should get the flu vaccine is debatable since even CDC states that it's not always 100% effective. Personally, I don't get the flu vaccines because I rely on prevention and it has worked for me and my family for the most part. My daughter and I got sick with the flu only once and it wasn't as bad since we were healthy to begin with. And we were able to recover using natural remedies. But you have to make your own decision, depending on your health condition, age, and the environment.
Influenza virus is transmitted through droplets from an infected person to another person. Unfortunately, you won't know if a person is contagious or not since the contagious period starts before a person experiences any symptoms during the incubation period. So it's important to take precautionary steps just in case the person near you is infected.
Here are 9 best natural cold and flu prevention tips so you can avoid getting sick with a cold or the flu.
9 Best Natural Cold and Flu Prevention Tips
- Wash your hands often - yeah, yeah, you hear this often but it's the ONLY way for those viral droplets NOT to go into your orifices. And all you need, really, is soap and warm water. No toxic triclosan or any other fancy antibacterial soaps are needed. Washing your hand thoroughly for 20 seconds - Sing or hum "Happy Birthday" song TWICE - with soap and warm water is sufficient enough to kill the germs. Be sure to wash your hands BEFORE you leave your work or school as you don't want to bring those germs back home. If you forget to wash your hands before leaving work, be sure to wash your hands as soon as you walk in the house, before you touch anything.
- Blow Your Nose - if your nose is runny - even if you're not sick - DO NOT sniffle that mucus back into your head. Blow your nose and get that mucus out of your upper respiratory tracts, just in case virus is lurking in it. Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other. And wash your hands after blowing your nose. Better yet, use a Netti Pot (Affiliate Link) or a Sinu Cleanse Nose Spray (Affiliate Link) to flush out any potential germs in your nasal passage.
- Don't travel and avoid crowded places - stay at least 3-5 feet away from anyone coughing or sneezing. Avoid air travel especially since flying in a confined air plane can increase your chance of being infected. If you must travel, take extra immune boosting remedies like (the following links are affiliate links) Echinasea, Elderberry, Astragalus and Vitamin C (I like powder for better absorption.) Also, try not to shake people's hands (fist pump, 👊anyone?) since it'll avoid being in contact with someone who maybe potentially infected.
- Wear a mask - unless you are wearing a "n95" mask, (Amazon Affiliate Link) all the other types are not as effective in filtering out the virus. However, it will prevent you from touching your nose or your mouth. So it's better than NOT wearing a mask.
- Eat and drink - eating antiviral antibacterial spices and antioxidants like ginger, garlic, dark green veggies, oranges, blueberries, Omega-3 rich foods, and even eggs will boost your immune system. Add extra portions of these fruits and vegetables to your daily intake. More importantly, drink water and hydrate for better functioning immune system.
- Rest - if you are not feeling well, even if you haven't been officially diagnosed with the flu or a cold, DO NOT go to work and rest. And the same applies to your kids and schools. For one thing, incubation period for some strains of virus can start even before signs of infection so you might be suffering from the infection even before you think you have a full blown cold or the flu. At the slightest sign or symptoms of not feeling well, you need to rest so your immune system can fight any infection you might have. Do not perform strenuous exercises if you are not feeling well. A short walk or a slow stretch is all you need to get your body moving. Lastly, by resting at home, you are staying away from others who might otherwise get infected being around you. So stay home and rest.
- Anti-germ warfare - viruses can live on hard surfaces for days and less on porous surfaces. If you have to use elevators or ATM machines, press the buttons with your knuckles, open doors with your sleeve covered hands, and if you touched a surface, avoid touching your face with your hands. And if you can, wipe down any surface that you come in contact with often - at the office or at home - with full strength vinegar. Our beloved devices that we take to work or school daily - tablets and phones - should be wiped down with full strength vinegar at the end of the day. Also, don't forget computer keyboard, TV remote control, door knobs, faucets, cabinet pulls and even car keys or key fobs. When I used to travel often, I'd use portable Lysol wipes to wipe down the hotel room and bathroom before we unpacked.
- Get Chiropractic Spinal Adjustments - I might be biased here but having a full body chiropractic adjustment will re-align your spine properly, improving the spinal nerve flow to your organs, increasing IgA levels to fight stressed to the bod. And it helps your immune system to respond to any viral or bacterial infections better.
- Acupuncture - Eastern medicine has been around for thousands years and long before any antibiotics or antiviral medicine were around. Acupuncture focuses on balancing the chi in your body. And when chi is balanced, it helps to improve your body's response to external attack on the system so it can fight the viral invasion, preventing you from being infected or reducing the severity and the duration of the flu.
And one more. We eat a ton of probiotics containing food like Kimchi, pickles, and sauerkraut. Having good bacteria in your gut improves your immune system and we don't live without them!
Even with these precautions, you might not feel well at times so how do you know if you have the cold or the flu? Check out the following posts on how to differentiate between the two and natural remedies if you do come down with a cold or the flu.
- The difference between the flu and cold
- 50 Natural Remedies for cold
- Asian Pear and Honey Cough Remedy
- Ginger Lemon Honey Immune Boosting Syrup
- Ginger Honey Cough Drops
Disclaimer: Flu like symptoms can mimic many serious conditions. And a mild viral or bacterial infection can lead to something more serious than a common cold or flu. If symptoms persist or worsen, see your doctor. These preventive methods are my opinion only and what works for me. This is not a medical advice nor the methods have been proven to prevent flu or cold.
Emmanuelle (CurlyMonkey) says
I use lavender, rosemary and eucalyptus in prevention every winter.
Emmanuelle (CurlyMonkey) says
The fact of changing your toothbrush was a "ahhh" moment, even though I nevet get the flu. But my husband does... I am a big fan of garlic myself. In addition to your list, I also use essential oils in friction and in a diffuser.
Dr. Karen Lee says
Aromatherapy works well for improving immune system.
What essential oils do you use for flu or keeping your immune system healthy?
Bonnie Lee says
Great list Karen. I agree with # the most wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
I am a nurse and work in a Hospital that has been bursting at the seams with Flu victims. Not fun.
I do get the flu shot (occupational hazard), but so do my coworkers and many have been affected by this strain.
We do lots of soup with garlic and onions this time of year. French onion is on the menu for tonight as a matter of fact.
Thanks for the reminder about the ginger tea. I will make the Whistling Kettle one of my afternoon stops to pick some up.
Bonnie
Dr. Karen Lee says
NYS Gov'r declared Public Health Emergency today. There are 19,000 cases reported so far vs total of 4,400 cases last year.
Stay healthy Bonnie. I heard that even if you had the flu shot, you can get it bad. French onion soup sounds great!
Jessica says
What if you're breastfeeding a new infant? Does that impact any of the recommendations you've made here?
Dr. Karen Lee says
If you are breastfeeding, I'd be careful of doing anything out of ordinary. For one thing, I know garlic might make your baby gassy. And you should ask your naturopathic doctor if homeopathic remedies and herbs (Echinacea) are safe to take if you are breastfeeding. But everything else on the list should be safe.
But just to be safe, I'd check with your Leche League for any questions regarding flu remedies and breastfeeding.
Auriette says
I saw a list of tips today from LinkedIn, and they included one that I've always done, so I guess it must help - change your toothbrush. I usually wait until I'm sure I'm not contagious (so I won't re-infect myself).
Another thing, if my husband or I get sick, I make sure we have separate towels in the bathroom. Sure, we just washed our hands when we used the towel, but I figure it can't hurt.
On ordinary days, we don't hesitate to eat or drink after each other, but of course we don't when either one of us gets sick.
This year, I've been trying to remember to use my hand sanitizer more while we're running errands; I tend to forget.
That's all I've got.
Dr. Karen Lee says
I change toothbrush too after I'm better! Forgot to add that!
My kids use their own towels - it's sibling rivalry thing - so that's easy.
Thanks for reminding me about the tooth brush.
Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green says
I'm avoiding crowds and taking vitamins. I have asthma so the flu is very serious for me. I can't decide about the chiropractor though because sick people seem to go and I don't want to pick up their germs.
Dr. Karen Lee says
You are right about NOT being around sick people. You should call the office and check to see if they have any appointments when there are no other patients. Tell them you are immune-compromised. They might accommodate you. I used to, for certain patients. 🙂
Tiffany (NatureMom) says
I need to load up on garlic and elderberry syrup before I get on a plane this Sunday. I am always afraid that people will be on board who are sick. Ugh!
Dr. Karen Lee says
With this bad flu season, I'm thinking the same thing Tiffany. I'm already taking extra Echinacea and Vit C. Maybe I'll wear one of those white surgical masks on the plane. Remember SARS?
Jenny B says
We take elderberry syrup like crazy over here! One thing I always mention in relation to elderberry syrup is that if you do buy it, make sure that you check the label -- there is a very popular brand that has sugar as it's #2 ingredient. There is NO need for sugar in elderberry syrup, elderberries are sweet on their own! That's just paying for filler. Go for 100% elderberry syrup! Love this list!
Dr. Karen Lee says
Thanks Jenny!
Good to know about the sugar. I rather see honey in cough syrups. But I guess the best thing to do is to make your own. 🙂
Kiihele says
I have long been a proponent of Chiropractic having worked as a Chiropractic Asst. for almost 25 yrs. as well as many of your other suggestions. When my boys were young and in school I kept them relatively healthy by giving them a liquid Echinacea which when used at the first sign of a cold usually nipped it in the bud. If they had a cough, I would make my own cough syrup by slicing an onion and drizzling about a tablespoon of honey over it. The onion "sweats" and makes a really tasty onion syrup which the kids didn't mind taking. In their 18 years or so at home I think they only had maybe one or two colds. One of the things they requested from their college campuses was a bottle of Echinacea.
Dr. Karen Lee says
Didn't know you were CA for 25 yrs! Awesome! Echinacea tincture and Chiropractic adjustments prevented my kids from having ear infections.
Jennifer says
Being unsociable is a great way to reduce exposure! My friend just retired after many years of teaching first grade, and it's probably the first year in which she hasn't gotten a bad cold or the flu (yet, anyway). My mom was a big proponent of the salt water gargle, and it does seem to work if you start as soon as you notice a sore throat coming on. I think I prefer honey lemon tea myself!I don't usually get the flu shot, but since I'll be on campus with lots of sniffling students in a couple weeks, I think it might be worth it to have that extra protection.
If you use elderberries, be careful to get all the stems and seeds out...they contain cyanide-producing glycosides.
Dr. Karen Lee says
Like I said, being a hermit helps. 😉
Your mom is so wise. (I think I like her more than you do. lol) I know someone who's hospitalized even though he had the flu shot. And my parents, who sneaks in flu shots without telling me every year, still get sick. So, who knows. I don't want to get into pros and cons of vaccines but it seems like flu shot is no guarantee that you won't get it.
Thanks for letting me know about elderberries. I'll keep that in mind. I don't want to be in a headline, "A woman dies of cyanide poisoning from homemade cough syrup"
Lori Buff says
Onions are similar to garlic for cold/flu prevention, you can get a lot of good out of eating raw onions. They also may help people who have germs stay away from you, haha. Cleaning the phones you put up to your face is another good way to prevent these germs from getting into your system.
Dr. Karen Lee says
You are right! Thanks for reminding me. I just updated the post.
Phones, public door knobs, ATM machines (BIG one), and even shopping carts are areas where you should be concerned with. I don't even touch faucet handles in public bathrooms and open doors with my sleeves when coming out. Maybe paranoid but I don't want to be the victim.
I do shake hands though. I'm not Howie Mandel. LOL.
Stay healthy!