Cold, flu?

The sudden change in temperatures has caused a drastic increase in the number of colds and coincided with a peak of the flu epidemic. The two diseases should not be confused, but both are caused by viruses, the symptoms are similar, and so are the ways to avoid them.

There are more than 200 types of cold viruses, which is why it is impossible to immunize us after having one; we usually suffer from two to five each year. It usually starts gradually, through the nose and throat, and then it can go down into the bronchi. After a few days it heals without treatment.

As for the flu, it starts suddenly, with high fever (colds cause fever, but lower), muscle aches, headache and neck pain, general malaise, stuffy nose and dry cough. It can also cause diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, especially in children. The fever that comes with the flu lasts four to five days, and the cough and tiredness can last three weeks.

100% prevention of colds and flu is impossible, but there are many things we can do to reduce the risk of being exposed to these diseases and, if we do come down, to recover as soon as possible. Here are some of them:

1. Drink liquids in the form of broth: celery, onion, nettle. Once we drink the broth we can make cream of the vegetables and eat it hot. Liquids in the form of infusion: Mallow, plantation, ginger, fennel and elder. Natural lemonade is also very good.

2. Strengthen the intestinal flora with probiotics and fermented products

3. Take KUZU: a root that grows in the forests of India, China and Japan, which reduces flu-like conditions, fights fever and defends against infections of the respiratory system.

4. The atmosphere of the home also helps the immune system to breathe, aromatherapy in the diffusion of saro or ravintsara can greatly improve when it comes to combating symptoms.

5. If we talk about more concentrated extracts of plants, echinacea in drops and propolis will do well.

6. And if at the end we see that we need help with supplementation or some syrup, we will do it with a sugar-free option based on fruit concentrates supplemented with trace elements.

7. Zinc helps to maintain the physical barriers and the integrity of the mucous membrane and causes a direct antiviral effect. We can take it with oligotherapy.

8. Vitamins C and D can also have an important effect on the elimination of radicals, they help us fight respiratory infections and protect the immune system from bronchitis, allergies, and other lung conditions.

Fish, shellfish, eggs, kale, broccoli, kiwi, pepper… among others, are rich in vitamin C. When we already have it, it is essential to rest a lot.