As we approach the winter season, many of us begin to feel chills in our bones; when the weather is so cold, the knee-jerk reaction is to get to the kitchen cupboard for herbal remedies to fight off the severity of the season. Most of us in North America know that the winter season often causes serious respiratory diseases / infections and associated complications. Having a layout plan to prevent health problems in the cold season would be well planned with this well-known thoughtful statement: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment.
One of the most severe respiratory infections, which affects between five and twenty percent of people living in the United States each year from mid-autumn to the late winter season, is known as the flu; Flu can cause serious respiratory infections, a debilitating illness, hospital admissions and even death. Influenza is contagious and affects the respiratory system, nose, throat and lungs; it can be infected by sneezing, shaking hands, coughing, or being in direct contact with the affected person. Pneumonia and bronchitis are among the serious complications associated with the flu.
People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart, and lung disease are at risk of failure when they become infected with the flu virus. To prevent the flu, it is recommended that every person aged 6 months and older, if not contraindicated, receive an annual flu vaccine from October to May; and, according to some experts, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination of antibodies that protect against infection of infectious viruses in order to develop in our body, it is better that people are vaccinated, that they are protected before the flu begins to spread in their community .
In addition, there are common medications that can prevent the flu and related complications, and others that can alleviate the symptoms a little; However, health researchers have noted that we still do not have medicine for colds or flu. And, like conventional medicine, herbal medicine researchers who promote health through natural practice also claim that herbal remedies may also give you short-term help, and some may even help you get better. At this point, since natural / non-pharmacological agents can prevent the flu and alleviate the symptoms, as well as common medications, it would be useful to continue which of these herbal remedies are more promising.
Almost everyone would welcome a cup of hot herbal tea during the cold season, especially if it is a medicine and tasty at the same time. From tea kettles to tea pots on the kitchen table and from the medicine cabinet to the analyzing table in the doctor’s office, warm liquid has always been a basic or primary recommendation to keep the chest warm, increase breathing comfort and reduce the risk of infection.
Drinking herbal tea is more than a delightful experience for people of different cultures around the world; Researchers have found that the health benefits of green and other herbal teas can have a positive effect on cardiovascular, immune, and cognitive health. In addition, these herbal teas are full of antioxidants to combat the disease and can reduce the risk of colds and flu; getting enough caffeine-free fluids is vital when you suffer from the flu, because the flu can leave you dehydrated, especially if you experience vomiting or diarrhea. (http://webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting)
Herbal teas make great, low calorie and warm drinks. In addition to the positive effect on health, herbal teas are aromatic and attractive. Researchers have identified a variety of herbal teas with healing properties.
For those who have a medical or personal reason for not getting a flu vaccine, there may be natural remedies for reducing the common cold or the effects and duration of the flu; Herbal teas can be another form of prophylaxis for treating, calming or easing the severe symptoms of the flu virus.
Finally, it can be simply explained that, based on these relevant findings of the literature, it promises that the use of herbal teas may be more beneficial to our well-being than we think. Although it is extremely important to follow the recommendations of public health officials regarding influenza vaccination, washing hands as the main method of prevention and antiviral therapy, we cannot ignore the benefits of herbal remedies that have been the only source of relief for many cultures around the world since the beginning of civilization.
