What is Influenza?

Influenza is commonly known as flu, is a highly infectious disease that is caused by influenza viruses. Flu generally strikes the upper respiratory tract, nose and throat, spreading to the lungs and bronchi with time. Influenza has the capability to become an epidemic, striking a large population at a single time. It is the most frequent infectious disease in humans with the average adult contracting two to four infections a year.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of influenza include chills, fever, headache, severe muscular pains, a sore throat, dry cough, stuffy or runny nose, weakness, backache, and loss of appetite. The worst of your symptoms will last about three to five days, but others, such as cough and fatigue, can linger for weeks.

Causes

Some of the causes of influenza are viral infection, unhealthy lifestyle, tension and stress, excessive workload, lack of proper exercise, living in stuffy rooms, touching infected things and staying awake up till late hours.

Complications

Seasonal influenza usually isn't serious usually goes away with no lasting effects. But high-risk children and adults may develop complications such as: Pneumonia, Sinus infections, Ear infections and Bronchitis. Influenza and its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk of developing flu complications include: Older adults, Young children, pregnant women, People who have chronic illnesses, People with weakened immune systems. The best protection against influenza complications is to receive an annual vaccination.

Treatments

While modern medicine does provide several antiviral medications/antibiotics for influenza, that often include numerous side effects. However, many natural treatments for influenza also exist and often work far better than their allopathic counterparts. However, herbs can help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of influenza and help prevent serious complications. Here are some natural flu remedies that are highly beneficial and trial prescriptions at easing flu symptoms and reducing the duration of the illness.

35 Cold And Flu / Influenza Home Remedies

1-French Lavender, Nigella seeds

Steep ¼ tsp Nigella seeds (Kalonji) powder and 1 tsp French Lavender in a cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes and takes this tea lukewarm.
It is highly beneficial not only for chronic Influenza but also effective for premature graying hair, deafness and Alzheimer's.

2-Cinnamon, Ginger powder, Cloves

Boil 5 Cloves, ½ tsp dried Ginger, 1tsp Cinnamon in 1 litre water for 45 minutes and drink this decoction lukewarm.

3-Pumpkin seeds oil, Milk

Mix 1-2 tsp Pumpkin seeds kernels oil in a glass of lukewarm milk and
Drink it in the morning and at night before sleep.

4-Nigella seeds, French Lavender, Liquorice

Make a fine powder of Nigella seeds 50 gm, French Lavender100 gm, Liquorice 100 gm and store in vessel.
Take 1 tsp thrice a day along with lukewarm water.

5-Wheat chaff/Bran, Cloves

Heat an iron pot on fire now pours 2 cups of water now adds 5 cloves and12 gm wheat bran and boils for 2-3 minutes after straining mix sugar to taste and take it lukewarm.

6-Sweet Violet

Boil 6 gm Sweet Violet in a cup of water for 5-10 minutes after filtering drink for 2 weeks daily.

7-Globe thistle

Boil 5gm Globe thistle in a cup of water for 5-10 minutes after filtering drink for 2 weeks daily.

8-Dodder, Common Polypody

Boil 8 gm Dodder/Cuscuta and 6 gm Common Polypody in 2 cup of water until reduced by 1 cup and drink this decoction lukewarm.

9-Jujube, Starflowe

Boil 3 gm Borage/Starflower and 2 dried Jujube in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes after filtering drink it before sleep.

10-Fenugreek seeds, Starflower

Boil 3 gm Borage/Starflower and 7 gm half pounded Fenugreek seeds in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes after filtering drink before sleep for 2 weeks daily.

11-Gum berries, Jujube, Sweet Violet

Boil 3 gm Sweet Violet 7 dried Common Sebestens / Gum berries and 3 dried Jujube in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes after filtering drink it on an empty stomach and before sleep.

12-Quince seeds, Gum berries, Jujube

Soak 3 gm Quince seeds in 60 ml / ¼ cup water for 1-2 hours and separate saliva from seeds with your hands.
Boil 9 dried Common Sebestens / Gum berries and 7 dried Jujube in 9 oz water for 5 minutes.
Mix it with Quince seeds water and sugar to taste and again boil for 2-3 minutes drink this decoction twice a day.

13-Gum berries, Starflower, Sweet Violet, Liquorice, French Lavender

Make a fine powder of French Lavender, Liquorices, Sweet Violet, dried Gum berries, Borage/Starflower each one is 12 gm.
Now divide it in 3 equal parts make fresh tea with one part and add salt to taste take this tea lukewarm.
The tea should be freshly prepared thrice a day.

14-Poppy seeds, Carom, Sweet Violet, Black peppers, Gum berries

Boil half pounded 3 gm Poppy seeds 3 gm Carom seeds 5 gm Sweet Violet, 10 Black peppers and 10 dried Common Sebestens / Gum berries in 300 ml water for 5-10 minutes.
Strain and mix with sugar to taste and drink lukewarm twice a day.

15-Wild mustard, Gum berries, Nigella seeds, Jujube, Starflower

Boil each of 5 gm, Borage/Starflower Nigella seeds,Wild mustard/London rocket,5 Gum berries and 5 Jujube in 13 oz water until reduced by 9 oz.
After straining mix sugar to taste and drink lukewarm twice a day.

16-Starflower, Liquorice, Wild mustard, Gum berries, Nigella seeds

Boil each of 3 gm Borage/Starflower, Nigella seeds, Liquorice, Wild mustard/London rocket and 9 Gum berries in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes.
After filtering mix sugar to taste and drink lukewarm twice a day especially before sleep.

17-Quince seeds, Starflower, Wild mustard, Nigella seeds

Boil 5 gm Nigella seeds (Kalonji) and each of 3 gm Borage/Starflower, Wild mustard/London rocket, Quince seeds in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes.
Ater filtering mix salt to taste and drink lukewarm thrice a day especially before sleep. This tea should be freshly prepared when needed.

18-Carom seeds, Jujube, Wild mustard

Boil 5 gm Carom seeds,5 Jujube and 3 gm Wild mustard/London rocket, in 9 oz water for 5-10 minutes.
After straining mix sugar to taste and drink lukewarm in morning and again prepare fresh tea and take before sleep.

19-Lebbek Tree seeds, Carom, Wild mustard, French Lavender, Starflower

Make a fine powder of French Lavender, Carom seeds, Sweet Violet , Wild mustard/London rocket, Acacia Speciosa/Lebbek Tree seeds each one is 3 gm and Salt 1 gm and store in vessel
Take 1 tsp along with lukewarm water thrice a day.

20-Sweet Violet, Carom, Oleander seeds, Nigella seeds

Make a fine powder of Sweet Violet, Carom seeds, Nigella seeds(Kalonji),and Oleander/Thevetia nerrifolia seeds each one is 5 gm Salt 1 gm and store in vessel.
Dissolve 1 tsp this powder in a cup of boiling water and take it lukewarm. This tea should be freshly prepared thrice a day.

21-Liquorice, , Jujube, Oleander, Carom, Quince, Lebbek Tree seeds

Make a fine powder of Liquorice, Acacia Speciosa/Lebbek Tree seeds Carom seeds, Quince seeds each one is 5 gm and Oleander seeds10 gm, Salt 1 gm and 10 Jujube sieve through a muslin piece and store in vessel and
Dissolve 1 tsp this powder in a cup of boiling water and take it lukewarm. This tea should be freshly prepared thrice a day.

22-Bitter apple, Thorn Apple, Carom, Nigella seeds, Sweet Violet, Liquorice

Make a fine powder of 1 gm Bitter apple/Bitter cucumber and 1 gm Thorn Apple seeds and take each one is 5 gm Liquorice, Carom seeds, Nigella seeds, Sweet Violet now sieve through a muslin piece and mix Honey to make pills in Gram size and
Take 1 pill thrice a day. If you have cough with flu then take these pills along with 20 gm Jujube syrup.

13 NASAL DROPS AND OILS, NASAL WASH, NOSE INHALERS

1-Black-Oil tree, Bitter apple, Sesame oil

Pound 100 gm Bitter apple/Bitter cucumber and 100 gm Staff tree / Black-Oil tree seeds and boil in 1 & ½ litre water until reduced by ½ litre .
now add 250 gm / 9 oz Sesame oil and simmer on a low flame until water evaporates not burn after filtering let it cool now fill this oil in a dropper bottle.
Drip 1-2 drops in each nostril and apply this oil onto your head. This opens up the blocked nasal passages and at the same time soothes headache.

2-Aluminum chloride, slacked Lime

Mix well same quantity of Aluminum chloride and eatable slacked Lime and fill in a nasal spray bottle and inhale it.
It is most effective to get relief from untimely stopped influenza.

3-Lebbek Tree, Carom, Nigella seeds

Make fine powder of Acacia Speciosa/Lebbek Tree, Nigella seeds, Carom seeds each one is 10 gm and save in a vessel.
When need smell 1 pinch it will help to start sneezing and this opens up the blocked nasal passages and enables you to breathe easily and you get relief from headache also.

4-Cotton milk plant, Lebbek Tree seeds

Make fine powder of 10 gm Acacia Speciosa /Lebbek Tree seeds, 10 gm Cotton milk plant seeds, store in a vessel.
When need smell 1 pinch it will help to start sneezing and loosening stuck phlegm from throat and nose and you get relief from headache also.

5-Sweet Violet leaves

Boil 12 gm Sweet Violet leaves in 2 glass of water and wash your nose with this water.
It stimulates circulation and the flow of mucus.

6-Neem leaves

Boil 12 gm Neem leaves in 2 glass of water and wash your nose with this water.
It also helps de-congest the choked nose and sinuses.

7-Asafoetida

Dissolve 8 grain Asafoetida in a glass of boiling water and gurgle with this solution.
It helps loosen the mucous from your nose and throat.

8-Poppy seeds

Boil 12 gm Poppy seeds in 2 glass of water and take steam for excessive sneezing.

9-Chamomile, Turnip

Boil 1 baby Turnip and 6 gm Chamomile in 2 glass of water and inhale the steam to your nose and head for excessive sneezing and headache.
Steamy water also helps loosen the mucous from your nose and throat.

10-Lukewarm Salt Water

If your ears blocked due to flu then gurgle with lukewarm water by adding some salt.
This soothes the symptoms and at the same time loosens the phlegm.

11-Nigella seeds

Sprinkle some Nigella seeds on an iron pan or sauce pan and smell to open your nose. It helps clear a stuffy nose.

13-Grams Foment

Pour some Turmeric powder on cinders and inhale its smoke to clear a stuffy nose.
Roast 1 cup Grams and pour into a small cotton bag now foment with this your nose; forehead and temples then chew and eat these Grams.