l properties.
The flowers and berries are antimicrobial, and many people use elderberry syrup as a daily supplement to prevent illness because it gives the immune system a powerful boost.
When you do come down with something, you may use natural elderberry elixirs, oils and syrups to shorten the length of illness, stop a cough and break a fever.
In 2004, the Journal of International Medical Research printed the results of a study that tested the effectiveness and safety of using elderberry extract to treat two strains of influenza.
All participants in the study were at least 18 years old, but the researchers found that supplementing with elderberry extract reduced the length of sickness by approximately four days.
They also concluded that the supplement is safe for consumption. The patients consumed four 15-milliliter servings of elderberry syrup for five consecutive dats.
Similar results were found in a 2017 study that determined elderberry extract reduced the severity of cold symptoms and the length of illness for more than 300 airline passengers.
The best way to use this natural flu remedy is to buy or make an all-natural elderberry syrup.
It’s safe for children as a preventative measure and treatment, but make sure to follow directions to ensure the proper dosage for your child’s age.
3. Probiotics & Yogurt
Have you heard about your gut microbiome?
If not, this refers to the collection of microorganisms living inside your digestive system, including your colon and stomach.
A lot more research is needed to fully understand all of these microbes and what impact they each have on our overall health, but most medical professionals are already convinced that the secret to a strong immune system and a long, healthy life lies in the gut.
Many health conditions are now believed to start with an imbalance in these microbes. Your unhealthy or damaging microorganisms outnumber your beneficial microbes, leaving your body susceptible to disease and illness.
The solution is to supplement with live cultures that restore balance and give the advantage to tiny organisms known to promote a strong immune system and overall health.
Many medical professionals now recommend probiotics to older people who are at risk of dying from the flu, but probiotics are also available for children.
Look for chewables and gummies that have at least two probiotic strains. You can also feed your children more yogurt and fermented foods that are loaded with natural probiotics.
Make sure to fill them up with raw veggies as well because that’s what your healthy microbes eat.
4. Nasal Saline Irrigation
Did you know that nasal irrigation systems are now made just for children?
These products allow you to wash out the nasal passages, reducing inflammation in the mucus membranes and relieving the symptoms of the common cold and flu.
There are also saline sprays that are puffed into the nose without the messier wash process.
Not only can nasal irrigation relieve congestion, sneezing and other uncomfortable symptoms of the flu, but research has found that they may reduce the length of illness when used consistently.
A study revealed in a 2009 issue of the journal American Family Physician found that irrigation is safe, effective and affordable for many people suffering from upper respiratory infections.
Honey is one of the oldest and most trusted natural remedies for the flu and common cold, and we now have scientific evidence that it has medicinal value.
For instance, one 2014 study published in the Archives of Medical Research found that Manuka honey can effectively inhibit the flu virus.
This study was in the lab not in humans, but it backs up what people all around the world have believed for hundreds of years.
One of the simplest ways to use honey is to mix it with hot tea and sip away your sore throat and cough.
There’s also some scientific proof that giving children honey about 30 minutes before bed will help them sleep better. That may help tired parents get some rest as well.
There’s a lot of controversy over the use of zinc lozenges to treat colds or th