Natural Products that Make a Difference

With the cold and flu season around, many students are dashing around trying their best to prevent getting sick.  One possible cause of the cold and flu season is the openings of schools in the fall bringing students in closer proximity to each other.  Besides the obvious of preventing colds and flu's like washing your hands and using disinfectants there are products that can make a difference in boosting your immunity and treating colds and the flu the natural way.  Most students have the desire to get the Tami-Flu Vaccine and the newest vaccine on the market H1N1 but there are still a lot of students that are suspicious of both vaccine's and would rather choose other methods.  Here are a few natural products and information that students can use when they become ill.

Elderberry also known as Sambucus has been a folk remedy for centuries.  Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system and to fight colds, flu's, bacterial and viral infections.  Elderberry juice was once used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.  Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell.  You can read more about the elderberry extract in the article Fight the Flu with Sambucus.  People with the flu who took elderberry reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not

Umckaloabo also known as  is an African Pelargonium remedy used to treat the flu, colds, and bronchitis.  The Zulu culture of Africa has used this remedy for centuries.  Umcka works like elderberry as a natural immune booster but also has the ability to destroy infections not only caused by a virus, but also infections caused by bacteria.  Boosting the immune system is important since the main concern with a cold or flu is that they can turn into bacterial infection such as pneumonia.  It is also a natural expectorant to remove mucus from your entire respiratory tract.

Echinacea is the most commonly used for protection and to help shorten the duration of the common cold and flu.  It is one of the most popular herbal remedies for respiratory illnesses and is used to support a healthy immune system and maintain an infection free environment.  When you feel the symptoms of a cold you should start taking it right away.  It is recommended that you take Echinacea three weeks at a time to receive its full effectiveness.

These are just a few ways of fighting the flu and colds naturally.  Students can purchase these products online or at their nearest natural health food store like Henry's Farmers Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. These products do fall into the homeopathy group and they will help your body in the long run.