5 Ways I Treat Colds & Flu Naturally

It comes around every year and it always seems like ‘it’s predicted to be the worst year ever’. The dreaded flu! Time for your flu shot, right?

Not so fast hot shot! Not in my house! Home remedies for colds and flu are my jam!

Before you even ask, yes my kids have all the major vaccines, I just don’t happen to believe that the flu shot is actually necessary for my family. We are generally healthy, get a moderate amount of exercise, drink mostly water, get decent sleep, etc.

Neither my kids nor I have had the flu shot in probably 5 or so years and I don’t plan to get one this year. Instead, we support our immune systems naturally and treat the symptoms should they arise.

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links. Any purchase you make by clicking these links will earn me a small commission but will not cost you anything extra.  Please see my Disclosure page for more details.

RELATED: Natural Ways to Treat Seasonal Allergies

5 Home Remedies for Cold & Flu Season

*I am not a medical professional nor claim to be one.  I cannot guarantee that what I do for my family will help you.  Please consult a medical professional to determine if these are right for you.*

Essential Oils

We all have diffusers in our bedrooms and from August (when school starts) through March, we diffuse essential oils every night. For the most part, I diffuse lemon, peppermint, frankincense, eucalyptus, lavender, and sometimes I’ll throw something else in there.

Most of my oils come from Plant Therapy. They have good quality oils at a good price and I can get them relatively quickly (sold online).

Flu Bomb Roller Ball

We use a Flu Bomb Roller Ball on the bottoms of our feet before bed each night as well. I am not an expert in Essential Oils but this is the recipe I use:

In a 10ml roller bottle, add:

• 10 drops Germ Fighter (Plant Therapy branded oil)
• 10 drops Lemon
• 5 drops Frankincense
• 5 drops Oregano
• 2 drops Tea Tree Oil
• top with Fractionated Coconut Oil

Ginger/Lemon/Cayenne Pepper Shots

Yep, you read that right, ginger is potent stuff, it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial so whenever I feel something like a cold or the flu coming on, I reach for my juicer.

I just eyeball it but my shot is roughly 1oz juiced ginger, 1oz juiced lemon and sprinkle as much cayenne pepper on top as you like.

Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry syrup is loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties and is known to be both anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Exactly what you need to give you old immune system the support it needs.

I give my kids (and take myself) 1tbsp every night before bed.

You can make your own (it’s super easy) or you can buy it. I prefer to make my own because it’s much cheaper and I can adjust the amount of honey I put in to suit our tastes. The most difficult ingredient to find will be the elderberries and you can buy those on Amazon. This is what I buy:

The store bought brands either taste awful (one brand almost made me vomit) or are way to sweet.

A few years ago, the flu was rampant in my area and people were buying up elderberry syrup like it was water. Last year it was hard to find dried elderberries online and if you could find them, they were super expensive so my tip is, be prepared.

Oscillococcinum

This stuff saved us last year. My son came home from school the day before winter break and didn’t feel well. He was tired, felt warm and was complaining that his legs were achy. I don’t like to give fever reducing medication unless there’s a high fever because I want the body to do it’s job.

I suspected he was coming down with the flu. I didn’t want him to be sick for Christmas so I bought some Oscillococcinum and followed the dosing and frequency directions practically to the minute.

Between that and some Motrin (when his fever was 103), he was back to his normal self in about 5 days. I never did take him to the doctor to confirm the flu but I’m pretty sure that’s what he had.

Epsom Salt Bath

When you feel like crap with an achy body, there’s nothing more relaxing than a hot bath to soak in. I’m not a fan of baths on the regular but when my body feels awful, I’ll soak for a bit.

When my kids are sick with colds or flu like symptoms, I send them straight to a hot bath with epsom salts and a drop or two of lavender essential oil. The epsom salts help to relax and draw the toxins out of the body and the lavender helps to relax and calm the body.

Daily Maintenance for Immune Support

I believe home remedies for colds and flu are superior to over the counter medications and shots but you still have to do a few things along the way too. There are things you should do as part of overall good health that oh by the way, also help your body fight off illnesses.

Like take a good probiotic, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, eat healthy foods and a good old back crack every once in a while can help boost your immunity. I’m a firm believer in chiropractic care but I’ll leave that for another post.

I have my own personal reservations about the flu shot and it’s ‘effectiveness’ which is why I choose to avoid it. Ultimately, you must decide what is right for you and your family however, these are the home remedies for colds and flu that have so far worked for us.

Make it a green day!