Natural home remedies for colds and flu

For a cold usually help only home remedies

02/10/2013

As temperatures drop, the risk of colds increases again. But not only a scratchy throat, cough and runny nose cause many people in winter problems, even the "real" flu has in cold weather again high season. Under certain circumstances, this viral disease can be very dangerous, which is why experts, especially those who are at risk for the health and the elderly, often recommend a flu vaccine. In the case of a cold, on the other hand, only home remedies usually help.

In most cases, there is a "harmless" cold
Winter is approaching - and with it more and more people who have caught cold. Symptoms such as runny nose, coughing, hoarseness, and slightly elevated temperature are often referred to as flu. But in most cases it is not a "real flu" or influenza, but a cold or a flu infection. While the latter is usually mild, the so-called "seasonal influenza" can be very dangerous because it is a serious viral disease. Typical signs of this disease are initial freezing and a strong sense of malady, in most cases very high fever occurs up to 40 ° C. Headache and body aches, dry cough, watery eyes, sore throat, runny nose or nausea are also possible symptoms of influenza.

Risk patients will be advised to take flu vaccine
In order to avoid risks by contagion with the "real flu", experts recommend again and again a flu protection vaccine. In particular, it addresses those people who are at an increased risk of developing severe outcomes in influenza, such as the chronically ill, HIV-infected, or pregnant women. Older people over the age of 60 are also at particular risk, according to the "Standing Vaccination Commission". The reason: In older people, the immune system is generally weaker than younger, so infections are usually more severe than in younger, healthy patients. In addition, many older people suffer from cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, which can also adversely affect the course of the disease.

Vaccine is adapted every year to new virus strains
Accordingly, Dr. Jörg Woeste, general practitioner in weather, anyone over 60 years to a flu vaccine, which is free. "For this group is also true that she should be vaccinated once against pneumococci. Pneumococci are bacteria responsible for the most common pneumonia. Both - flu like pneumococci - are transmitted via droplet infection, "said the health expert to the" WAZ ". There is no reason to worry about the vaccine, which has been used for years and is being adjusted every year for new virus strains. The advantage is according to Dr. Jörg Woeste: "The southern hemisphere already had the flu and we can use that to rebuild our vaccine."

"Influenza can be deadly"
According to Dr. Woeste still has a lot of catching up to do in the case of older people with regard to flu vaccinations, because "the European Union's target of achieving a vaccination rate of 75 percent in the elderly and persons with chronic underlying diseases by 2014/15 is not nearly as high in Germany reached, "explains the doctor in conversation with the newspaper. The reason for this, the expert sees, among other things, in the massive warnings of a swine flu epidemic at the beginning of the year, by which the influenza was hardly paid attention. A big problem Woeste, because "an influenza can be deadly."

No vaccine need for younger people
In younger, healthy people, on the other hand, Dr. Jörg Woeste has no reason to vaccinate because infections in this case are usually not a problem for the body. On the other hand, the problem becomes "if additional risks exist or if people work in an area in which they can infect others," the physician told the newspaper. Then vaccination was important, affected here, for example, educators in day care centers. With side effects must, according to Dr. Jörg Woeste after a vaccine will not be counted more or less than other medicines too, therefore, the vaccination should take place on the advice of the doctor as a precaution before the weekend.

Medication for a cold senseless
However, if you suffer from a mostly harmless cold, you do not have to resort to medication right away. Quite the contrary: Since different viruses can be the trigger, a drug control here is basically impossible, explains Dr. med. Jörg Woeste continues. Instead, only home remedies come into question for a flu infection. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, sufferers should contact a doctor if symptoms persist or become more severe in order to rule out serious illnesses.

The most important thing: protection
In general, when it comes to a cold, it's all about sparing. In addition, as much as possible should be drunk, suitable here especially water and herbal tea, depending on whether the throat is already hot and red. As a precautionary measure, one should always be careful to cough and sneeze into the elbow so that fewer germs get into the air. In addition, it is advisable to be in the fresh air and to pay attention to regular and thorough disinfecting or washing your hands.

Warm full baths with pine needle oil a soothing application
Naturopathy offers a variety of home remedies for cough, home remedies for colds or home remedies for sore throats. In addition to tea infusions with anise, eucalyptus or fennel, for example, warm full baths are also a pleasant alternative for colds. However, the prerequisite here is that the person concerned does not have an elevated temperature. The water should have a temperature of 35 to 38 degrees in this application, bath additives such as eucalyptus oil, pine needle or pine oil have a positive effect on blood circulation and respiratory tract. However, with regard to the duration of use, according to the "Stiftung Warentest", a little caution should be exercised: "Do not use the baths for more than a week. In total, three to four bathrooms are advisable. In infants and toddlers should be dispensed with the essential oils. "(Nr)