Top 5 natural remedies to keep the doctor away

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It is flu season once again as kids start to prepare for the beginning of classes. While taking antiviral drugs may be what your doctor will advise to ease the symptoms, sometimes, taking natural cure or remedies may be the best option you have.

Always remember that the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is not just a sentence old wives and our grandparents have made up. It is actually based on a belief that apples have medical benefits that can make a person healthy and avoid flu and colds.

Besides apple, here is a list of the top five home remedies that can keep the doctor away and help you ease symptoms of flu and colds in a jiffy.

Sip on hot chicken noodle soup.

WebMD writes that based on a study, chicken soup can help ease symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. Furthermore, inhalation of the hot vapor coming from the soup also clears up clogged nose and makes breathing easier, especially when you have colds.

Mix up ginger, honey and lemon for a nice upgrade to your lemonade.

Do you feel dizzy and about to throw up due to the headache caused by your colds? Are you feeling nauseous because of motion sickness brought about by the flu? If you are, then NDTV recommends that you mix up a lemonade-like concoction using lemonade, honey and ginger to make you feel better.

Load up on fruits and vegetables.

According to WebMD, to battle the other adverse complications of flu, you can eat the following:
• Banana - to help soothe tummy aches
• Blueberries - to help stop diarrhea and lower fever as it is high in natural aspirin
• Chili peppers - to open up sinuses and aid in the breakage of mucus
• Onion - loaded with phytochemicals that can fight bronchitis and other infections
• Tea - either black or green contains a phytochemical called catechin that aids in the easing diarrhea and other infections

Crushed garlic for ear pain or infection.

Kids are especially prone to ear infection whenever they get the flu or have colds, that is why The Health Site recommends using garlic, either by crushing it or making an oil out of it, to help ease ear pain. If you opt to use the crushed garlic, wrap it in cotton ball then insert in painful ear. Keep it inside for 15 minutes. If you wish to try the oil, heat five to six cloves with a bit of mustard or coconut oil until it turns red. After it has cool down, you can put about one to two drops in the ear to ease the pain.

Keep yourself hydrated.

Whether trying to battle the flu, fever or cough, staying hydrated will help thin out the mucus cause by postnasal drips and keep the mucous membranes wet and moist, WebMD writes.