Medication, vaccination, be careful, stay away, stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands. It seems like this season, you can?t even go one day without being bombarded with swine flu information. This is the time of the year when every kid comes home from school covered in germs. You intend to wash your hands enough and maybe even do, but then notice your co-worker, or person near you on the train, filthy, wiping their nose with their hands, touching the rail.  Just the thoughts can make you sick. Well, I have some advice that you may already know?your mom?s. In this case (as in so many) mom knows best.
Chicken soup can really make you feel better. It is a warm liquid. It works to suppress the inflammation, it works as a detoxifying agent the vitamins help the immune system and it just makes you feel good.  Also chicken soup contains cysteine which makes your sputum thin. Echinacea can help ward off infections. It inhibits the enzyme hyaluronidase, which contributes to bug spread.  Therefore by inhibiting this enzyme Echinacea helps to localize the disease.
Sugar decreases the immune system response, so it?s a good idea not to take in any simple sugars. Inulin, which is a prebiotic, also is believed to be beneficial for your immune system.  It is in leeks, garlic, chicory etc. Vitamin C is believed to be indispensible for treating common cold.  It improves your reaction to stress, caused by viruses or bacteria, by preventing oxidative stress damage.  In other words it works mainly as an antioxidant helper. Natural sources of Vitamin C: oranges, lime, papaya, lemon, strawberry, liver etc.  By the way the richest plant source of vitamin C is Kakadu plum and Camu Camu.
Do not forget about Garlic, that has antiviral and antibacterial properties.  I personally love garlic. For those people, who cannot tolerate garlic, Andrographis_paniculata, and Indian herb, may be a good alternative. Vitamin A, vitamin E, Carotenoids ( colored fruits and vegetables ), protein and microelements are also helpful.
And finally, it?s not only drugs that we take, but the way that we take care of ourselves and our state of mind. If you have chronic stress, the immune system is inhibited. You, then, are producing too much cortisol, which suppresses your immune system and brings it down. Belief and positive energy does so much for you. It has been scientifically proven. Appreciation is better than relaxation. It is not enough to just relax. You must feel gratitude and appreciation. You need to love people to get better.