By Emma Exon

With flu season in full swing, many people are contracting the virus that is beginning to turn deadly. In the majority of cases, the flu is extremely treatable and should resolve itself within a few days to weeks. However, the illness can be quite uncomfortable. Here are just a couple of my personal favorite home remedies for when you’re sick.

1. Get a humidifier: when you have the flu, it can often be accompanied with a sore or scratchy throat. In the middle of winter, the cold and dry air doesn’t help to rid yourself of that pesky cough. A room humidifier can be an effective way to add moisture to the air in your room. Try adding a few drops of eucalyptus to aid with clearing congestion.
2. Drink lots of tea with honey: herbal teas can help add an extra boost of nutrients to the body as well as soothe an upset stomach. Add a couple drops of honey to act as a natural sweetener that won’t upset your stomach and will coat your throat.
3. Invest in a heated blanket: If you live in Illinois, chances are you already have a heated blanket, but if not, it’s definitely worth the cost. Rather than piling on blanket after blanket to keep you warm with a fever, simply using one heated blanket and adjusting it to the desired temperature will do the trick without smothering you.
4. Chicken noodle soup: everyone knows that chicken noodle soup is good for the soul, but it’s also good for the flu. It helps to hydrate while being a gentle food that may not seem as revolting as other options when you’re sick. My personal favorite is Mrs. Grass noodle soup with extra noodles!
5. BRAT: BRAT is an acronym that stands for Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast. If soup doesn’t sound appealing, then try one of these foods that are known to be especially gentle on the body, while filling you up and being overall quite healthy.
6. Drink lots of fluids: When you’re sick, it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated. Plain old water or electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade are perfect. Your body needs water to nurse you back to health, and you can’t get better without it.
7. Take a short walk just to get moving: In my experience, I always feel better if I get up and walk around a little. When you get moving, it helps to drain congestion. However, over-exercising puts even more stress on your body, so participate in moderation.
8. Essential oils: there are over 90 essential oils, each with its own set of health benefits. You can find one that fits your needs and try rubbing some on pressure points on your wrists and neck or add a few drops to your humidifier.
9. Netflix: When you’re bored in bed, it’s hard to think about anything other than how lousy you may feel. Try distracting yourself by binge-watching your favorite show or movies. It’s a mindless activity that can be done from the comfort of your bed.
10. Laughter: It’s 100 percent true that laughter is the best medicine. Studies prove that laughing decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies. So FaceTime a friend or settle on watching a comedy over a drama.

No one likes being sick, but with the right tricks, you can get back to feeling like your old self again in no time!