Being sick isn’t fun, even though you’re home in bed and off work. The combination of fever, chills, sneezing, sore throat, body aches, and nasal congestion can be enough to make anyone miserable from the common cold and flu.

You probably already have plenty of home remedies in your kitchen cupboards and bathroom cabinet that can alleviate your symptoms and get rid of your cold or flu.

Keep reading to see what cold and flu home remedies you can conjure up at home to feel better fast.

Common Cold vs the Flu

You have a cough, congestion, and a high fever. Is it a common cold or could it be the flu? The common cold and flu have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart.

The common cold and the flu are caused by a viral infection in the respiratory tract. While symptoms for each are similar, cold symptoms are usually milder than flu.

Because the common cold and flu are very contagious, they can easily spread from person to person.

Common Cold Symptoms

People usually experience symptoms of the common cold two to three days after being infected, and the symptoms can last around two to 10 days.

If you have the following symptoms, then you may have a common cold^:

·         Sneezing

·         Nasal congestion

·         Runny nose

·         Sore throat

·         Coughing

·         Post-nasal drip (mucus going down your throat)

·         Watery eyes

·         Fever

Initially, the flu may feel like a common cold with congestion, coughing, and a sore throat. Colds usually develop slowly. But the flu tends to come on suddenly. And while a cold can be miserable, the flu usually makes you feel much worse.

COLD AND FLU HOME REMEDIES

Natural Flu Remedies

·         Herbal Teas

·         Eating Ginger or Garlic

·         Chicken Soup

·         Honey

·         Lemon

·         Take a hot shower or use a humidifier to loosen congestion

·         Saltwater gargle

Over-the-Counter Treatments

·         OTC medications (Tylenol for Cold Cough Flu, Sudafed, etc)

·         Echinacea

·         Vitamin C

·         Probiotics

·         Vapour Rub

Visit Miles Pharmacy online or in store for a full selection of the best natural remedies for cold and flu symptoms and over-the-counter medications at each of our locations in South London. If you’d like to get a flu shot to prevent getting the flu this season, visit Miles Pharmacy or our travel health clinics for routine and travel vaccinations.