Cold and flu medicine
Cold and Flu Medicine is a standalone category in general medicine because most people suffer from the common cold during the fall and winter. The common cold, including chest and head colds and the seasonal flu, is caused by viruses. However, knowing the difference between flu and cold symptoms is essential. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for several weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, that may require hospitalization.
That’s why how to treat cold and how to treat the flu are the most common search criteria on the internet.
When you feel the effects of colds and flu, you will be looking for relief from the symptoms. The good news is that there is a wide range of cold and flu medicines out there that can help relieve these symptoms and help you get over the cold or flu.
Still, the question is: What are the best cold and flu medicines?
In this article, we’ll discuss different approaches to treating colds and flu, the pros and cons of each method, and the vital importance of flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
The treatment you will need will, of course, depend on the symptoms you experience. Some cold and flu medicines can tackle multiple types of symptoms.
Common cold symptoms
Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever and a cold.
With cold symptoms, the nose teems with watery nasal secretions for the first few days. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark mucus is natural and does not usually mean you have developed a bacterial infection, such as a sinus infection.
Flu symptoms
Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu, in particular, is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
Best medicines for cold and flu
No medicines can cure colds and flu. There is a joke that treated flu goes away in seven days, but untreated flu goes away in one week. However, many over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can ease the discomfort caused by the symptoms of colds and flu. Also, prescription medicines and a vaccine can treat and prevent the flu.
Below, we’ll discuss two approaches to cold and flu treatment: traditional and naturopathic.
To ease the discomfort from specific cold and flu symptoms, consider using the following types of OTC medicines:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the best medicines for colds and flu. It helps reduce fever and pain. However, do not take more than one drug that contains acetaminophen. Taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver. Acetaminophen doses should not exceed 4 grams per day, and individuals with liver damage or liver problems should not exceed 2 grams per day.
- Mucinex is a great choice and one of the best medicines for cold and flu. Mucinex is derived from the medication famous for attacking the mucus associated with colds, allergies, flu, or infections. It does this with the help of the active ingredient, guaifenesin, an expectorant that works hard to combat chest congestion by thinning the mucus in your air passages, allowing you to cough it up. Mucinex Maximum Strength features two layers of guaifenesin—one that is released immediately and the other that slowly dissolves over the next 12 hours, giving you half a day of relief.
Note: Medications like Fluticasone (available without a prescription) or Mometasone (prescription needed) are also some of the best medicines for colds and flu that can relieve symptoms. These medicines for cold and flu are also used for seasonal allergies. Antihistamines will also help.
Natural remedies for cold and flu
While there is no better treatment for cold and flu than prevention, there are natural remedies for cold and flu symptoms that do not require you to fill your body with over-the-counter drugs (OTC).
Listed below are natural remedies for cold and flu
Home remedies for cold and flu
Viruses are responsible for colds and flu, so antibiotics cannot cure or prevent these illnesses. Plenty of rest, fluids, and home remedies for cold and flu can help relieve symptoms.
Listed below are home remedies for colds and flu:
- Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu is a home remedy for cold and flu that helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So, resting will help a little.
- Hot liquids are a home remedy for colds and flu that relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. If you’re so congested that you can’t sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and one small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon. Limit yourself to one. Too much alcohol will inflame the membranes and make you feel worse.
Bath with Epsom Salt
- Epsom salt is a mineral compound that can be used in a bathtub. Soaking yourself in a bathtub with Epsom salt is a home remedy for colds and flu that can promote a process known as vasodilation. The blood vessels dilate, so more oxygen travels to different organs. Vasodilation also stimulates the production of white blood cells, which helps fight infections like cold and flu. Epsom salt can also help you by providing pain relief.
- Blocked sinuses and congested airways are common symptoms of a cold, which menthol can help relieve. Menthol, which comes from many types of mint plants, has antibacterial and pain-relieving effects and is an ingredient in many vapor rubs.
- Oregano oil is a home remedy for colds and flu that contains thymol and carvacrol, which both have antibacterial effects. People traditionally use essential oils containing thymol to relieve cold and flu symptoms.
- Honey contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, making it an excellent natural remedy for colds and flu. You can mix honey in lemon tea. This is beneficial because honey can soothe the pain or dryness in the throat, and lemon can help clear congestion.
- Berries contain polyphenols, which have antiviral properties and may help fight flu viruses. Research has shown that elderberries can reduce flu symptoms and that a cranberry beverage could help support immune function. In some in vitro studies, berry extracts demonstrated the potential to help fight off influenza. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are good sources of vitamin C, which can help support the immune system.
- Steamy showers are a home remedy for colds and flu. They moisturize your nasal passages and may help you relax. If you’re dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
Herbs for cold and flu
Herbs for cold and flu are great options, as they can be found in your home. Herbs for cold and flu have minimal side effects and can be as effective as traditional medicines if appropriately used. It is important to remember that severe health conditions like sinusitis, bronchitis, or meningitis can often mimic common cold symptoms. Therefore, if you have been experiencing severe symptoms for over a week, you need to consult a doctor and not rely on your herbs for cold and flu. Listed
- Echinacea is an herb for colds and flu that Native Americans have used for more than 400 years to prevent them. This natural remedy contains active flavonoids and chemicals that have many therapeutic benefits, like boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation. To get relief from colds and flu, you may use the herb in tea or consume 1-2 grams of its root thrice a day for a week.
- Ginger is a well-known herb for treating colds and flu and has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is perfect for your health as it effectively treats conditions like congestion, cough, sore throat, cold, and fever. It also helps in reducing nausea, which is a symptom of influenza. You can eat a few slices of ginger in small amounts or mix it with a cup of boiling water and drink it. The best option is to consume ginger juice, which gives the best possible results quickly.
- Garlic is an herb for cold and flu that helps fight the common cold because it has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Garlic has long been effective for colds and the flu. People can eat raw garlic, incorporate cooked garlic into meals, or take a supplement. Unless a person has a garlic allergy, it is usually safe.
Homeopathy for cold and flu
Homeopathy offers a safe system of healing that requires some understanding of the homeopathic remedies and their nature. Homeopathy is unique in that it addresses the state of the person who is ill regarding the symptoms that they suffer from at the time and considers the dynamic interconnection of the whole person as a complex system.
Homeopathy for cold and flu is a safe, gentle, and effective medicine that can help you recover quicker from winter cold and flu side effects.
Here is a list of some of the best homeopathic remedies for cold and flu:
- One of the homeopathic remedies for cold and flu works excellently if you have symptoms related to intense thirst, restlessness, and high fever. Does your face sometimes look red? It can also have symptoms of cold and flu. Aconite will help you get the best treatment. In symptoms of flu, use at the first sign of illness. Aconite medicine can work in 24 hours or less than this.
- You can use this homeopathic remedy for colds and flu when you feel quickly becoming ill, and light and commotion make you feel worse. Sometimes, you can also feel a fever and a sore throat. So if you have these symptoms, Belladonna medicine will be the best for you.
- This homeopathic remedy for cold and flu is an effective medicine in the early phases of cold symptoms when throats get sore and start to swell, minor fevers and flushed faces, running nose, and dry hacks set in or start to shake in the chest, particularly around night time.
- Does your nose run during the day but get cramped when trying to sleep? Also, sometimes you may be super sensitive to light, noise, and smells; these are symptoms of the cold and flu. Nux Vomica, one of the homeopathic remedies for colds and flu, will help you treat this quickly.
- This homeopathic remedy for colds and flu is commonly given to children who experience either acute or chronic colds or flu. Do you also feel symptoms related to being plagued by thick, yellow mucus, a wet cough in the morning, and a dry cough at night? You can try the Pulsatilla remedy to overcome colds and flu. Pulsatilla is a natural remedy for colds and flu that is effective with no side effects.
- This homeopathic remedy for colds and flu is mainly given to children with recurrent colds whose symptoms match specific Natrum Mur characteristics.
Arsenicum album:
- A person with frequent colds, sore throats, flu, and chest problems with burning pain and feelings of weakness, restlessness, and anxiety may benefit from this homeopathic remedy. The person’s head may feel hot while the rest of the body is cold, and problems can worsen near midnight. The nose often feels stopped, and the person may sneeze repeatedly without relief.
Conclusion on cold and flu medicine
In the majority of cases, the common cold and flu manifest very mild symptoms. Natural remedies for cold and flu, as well as popular home remedies for cold and flu, will take care of your illness and bring you back to normal fast. Still, it is better to see your primary physician to make sure that the symptoms of the common cold do not cover some serious conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia. If this is the case, you may need special medical care.
If you are a fan of naturopathic medicine, Google for a naturopathic doctor near you and take professional advice.
If you experience common cold and flu symptoms every winter, you may need to undergo natural treatment for a weak immune system under the supervision of a naturopathic doctor.
If you live in the City of Brotherly Love, contact the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic at (267) 403-3085 to schedule an appointment with Victor Tsan, MD, for evaluation and treatment.
