The dreaded moment when those aches and chills hit. Spending the night on the bathroom floor. Kids throwing up on the way to the bathroom and the terrible days when it is coming out both ends. You have the flu. First, I need to define that the FLU is very different than a COLD. This is my protocol and the natural flu remedies I keep on hand for the FLU. The common cold is considered a minor illness and the flu can be deadly and is serious.
They both are typically respiratory viral infections. Viruses are sensitive to temperature and get carried on the air with coughing and sneezing. *So cleaning the air with smudging or diffusing oils will help stop the spread. Here are the differences:
FLU: Will have a fever, muscle pain and aches. Can last a week or longer and is caused by the influenza virus. Your main thing to take is Elderberry syrup, tea or tincture in warm water.
A COLD: will stay localized in the respiratory tract (sinuses, throat, lungs etc) and has a cough, sore throat, sinus congestion, sneezing, lots of mucus. Lasting from 4-5 days unless you suppress it and can be caused by lots of different viruses.
What To Do: Natural Flu Remedies
Is it food poisoning or not? Just a bug going around? Knowing what to have on hand and keeping a stock is key. By the time sicknesses hit us, there is no time to order something you need and wait for shipping. There are basic things to keep on hand, because I know where it usually hits me or my kids the most.
All of us have a “weak point” The place where being sick always seems to hit us. For one of my kids, it is her stomach. My other it is her lungs. So knowing this helps me key in, and know how to spend my money wisely. This way I always have on hand what I need if something hits us.
There are several posts that go together with this one. They are broken down into several places sickness usually hits us. You will see a lot of supplements are the same throughout, and then there are some specific to where it hits you. Other posts that you could look into are:
- Strep Throat and Tonsils
- Coughs and Sore Throat
- Lungs, pneumonia, RSV
- Sinuses, mucus and infections
- Earache
- and Fever
My Natural Flu Remedies for Chills and Throwing Up
For body aches and chills:
*You do need to read the fever protocol since you will have a fever if you have the flu. You DO NOT want to break your fever. You do not want to take a cold bath or drink cold water. That said, call your doctor for a fever in a baby under 3 months, a fever over 103°F (39.4°C), trouble breathing, or signs of dehydration.
To help the aches and chills- First, draw yourself a hot bath. Then add a cup of Epsom salts. You can also add a couple drops of lavender, wintergreen, or eucalyptus essential oils (skip wintergreen and eucalyptus for young kids). Try and take a soak right before bed is best, so that the chills are gone and you can sleep better.
A heating pad, or rice bag is amazing to use after the bath to keep you relaxed and warm. Then sleep, sleep, sleep as much as you can.
For those sore muscles after all the shakes and aches are done, this deep tissue oil is amazing for pain and muscles- DEEP TISSUE. You want the 2oz oil. You want to take Elderberry, Vitamin C and Zinc- one of them every hour and make sure you drink and sleep.
If you have throwing up with chills, add this:
A bowl/trash can by the bed.
I also take 1 tsp of silver on an empty stomach. I believe it helps my body fight off whatever bug is in my stomach. Even if I throw up, I take another 1 tsp.
- Omni Defense Ionic Silver Many people use it for immune support. There is no taste and you may use it topically or internally. I find it soothes a sore throat. Pour enough in mouth to gargle with and gargle for as long as you can- 2 minutes at least. Tell younger kids to make bubbles. You can swallow after you gargle. Do this once or twice a day.
I try not to drink only plain water.
For me, it seems to bring on more nausea and throwing up. You need to have some fresh juice or something added to the water so it does not come right back up. Do not force yourself to eat. I believe it slows down healing. Your body does not need to focus on digesting, you want it to heal and focus there. So do not worry about food, but you DO NOT want to get dehydrated. Make sure you drink, drink, drink. More like sip, sip, sip. Take smaller intake and see how it settles and sip all day. Do fresh juices, teas and the Rehydration mix below!
You can make your own “pedialyte” and this way you will not have all the chemicals, toxins and sugars that are not good for you. It is very simple and cheap and I have some pre made in baggies ready to go just in case.
Here is the recipe for a Rehydration and Electrolyte Mix:
You can make this in large batches and keep in airtight container. If making a large batch do the math and fill your jar. When you need it you will simply scoop 1 1/4 tsp of the mix into water. All of these are found in your grocery store.
- 1/4 tsp Real Salt
- 1/4 tsp salt substitute
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp organic sugar or turbinado sugar
You then add mix into 4 cups of water and sip on it all day and make more when gone. Even if you throw up, keep sipping. For a free label you can print one HERE.
For babies and young kids, remember you are focusing on hydration and sipping liquids but call your doctor if your child has no wet diaper in 6 or more hours, no tears when crying, is very sleepy, or cannot keep anything down. The CDC also has a helpful list of flu warning signs.
For nausea:
Rub ginger and peppermint essential oil on tummy. Drink ginger tea and you can also put a drop of peppermint under your tongue to help settle diarrhea (adults only).
Since we already went there… let’s address diarrhea
There is not much you can do here if you are throwing up. Let it run its course and get out of you. Just keep drinking. You can do the peppermint oil like I said above, and if it is going past a few days, call your doctor (especially if you see blood). Once you are done throwing up, eat some bread, oatmeal and a banana.
You can also use an essential oil for digestion to get things moving quicker. It will also help stop the diarrhea. You simply rub it under your belly button. Dilute it well for kids, and ask your pediatrician before using oils on babies.
After you are over what you got, it is important to build the immune system with things like:
Hope that helps and gives you an idea of what to do and empowers YOU. Please check with your pediatrician before giving silver or oils to babies and young kids. If you want to spread the oil further and water it down for sensitive skin just use essential oils with olive oil or coconut oil.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
