9 Natural Remedies for Flu and Colds during Pregnancy

Cold and flu are never exciting experiences and if you are expecting your child, it can turn into more dangerous cases. When pregnant, your immune system operates at a much lower resistance than usual. A weakened immune system prevents the body from rejecting your unborn child which is now still a foreign substance to the body.

The downside of it is that you are more susceptible to getting colds and flu, and you can no longer turn to over-the-counter medications to treat them because these medicines can have negative effect on your unborn baby.

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It is recommended as far as possible to fight off colds and flu during pregnancy by using natural remedies which reduce the symptoms yet do not harm to your own health or your baby’s safety. Here are some natural home remedies for flu and colds during pregnancy you should know.

1 Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar alkalizes the body and helps kill viruses. An alkalized environment is hostile to most bacteria and viruses.

So during pregnancy, if you see first symptoms of cold and flu, make a mixture of 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a glass of warm water, gargle and then drink. It is perfectly safe to repeat hourly until all the symptoms disappear.

2 Garlic

Garlic is a superstar when it comes to combating colds and flu. It is a powerhouse of antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties that are of great help in killing the harmful bacteria and viruses.

Many studies also pointed out that allicin – a compound found in whole garlic helped promote blood circulation, lowered the blood pressure and cholesterol levels in pregnant women.

However, a doctor should be consulted on dosages, especially when you take garlic supplement.

3 Coconut oil

Coconut oil gains its popularity by its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. High concentrations of acid lauric in coconut oil is thought to destroy the lipid coating around viruses and make it easier for the immune system to get rid of.

It is safe for pregnant women to use coconut oil, both topically and internally. You can use it as cooking oil, or choose to out a few spoons of coconut oil in a hot beverage.

4 Salt water

No matter how simple this remedy sounds, it secures a spot in this list thanks to its ability to create an unfavorable environment which bacteria and viruses cannot develop in. And it’s perfectly safe to pregnant women. The saline solution can reduce the severity of typical symptoms like sore throat and coughing.

You can choose to gargle your mouth with warm salt water several times a day. If you have a runny nose, use a dropper to drop salt water into two nostrils. It will thin the mucous and remove irritants effectively.

5 Chicken soup

More than a feel-good soup, a bowl of chicken with several nutritious ingredients can help mommy-to-be get well faster. Easy to digest, rich in nutrients, vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties, this dish provides hydration and eases the symptoms of cold and flu very effectively.

It is advised to include cayenne powder, garlic, ginger, onion, thyme, and mushroom in the dish. All of these ingredients are good cold and flu fighters.

6 Ginger

Ginger is one time-tested remedy for colds and flu during pregnancy. As ginger is so good at warming the body, it is believed to clear up toxins in your body, improve blood circulation and efficiently get rid of harmful bacteria and viruses caused illness for mom and the unborn baby.

You can make a glass of fresh ginger tea and add a tablespoon of honey and some fresh lemon to fight off the illness.

A bonus is that ginger also helps to relieve heartburn during pregnancy too which you may be suffering from..

Drinking a ginger, lemon and honey tea while you are pregnant or breastfeeding is a great natural alternative to medications such as Med-Lemon which have aspirin in and are therefore not safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding!

7 Onion

Onion is one powerful cold and flu fighter. Mothers of generations have believed in the power of onion in treating cold and flu for pregnant women and children as well. Rich in sulfuric compounds, onion is so good at killing bacteria and viruses and relieving the symptoms.

Mothers choose to chop up slices of onion and spread it around the bed to help clean the air. It is also very beneficial to add raw onion to your daily diet.

However, the sulfuric compound is also responsible for bad breath after eating onion. So make sure you master some tricks to overcome onion breath.

8 Sleep

An evident yet important remedy for colds and flu is sleep. Especially when you are pregnant, you need more rest to let your body heal itself. So drink more water to stay well-hydrated and sleep a little more.

9 Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits such as lemon, limes, grapefruits, tangerines, oranges are packed with vitamin C and antibacterial properties. These fruits benefit mommies by kill harmful bacteria, speed up the healing process and create alkaline environment in the body. Most illnesses are paralyzed in alkaline environments.

Besides, the peel of these fruit can also reduce coughing.

Above are some home remedies for cold and flu you should keep in hand during pregnancy. If you have to take medicine, carefully seek for advice from doctors and experts.

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About The Author

This article is written by Ashley Bennet, a co-owner of AuthorityRemedies. She has worked and trained in the field of Nutrition and Health for over 3 years, consistently providing people with useful information about nutrition as well as helping them with their common health problems.

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