Echinacea To Prevent Common Cold and the Flu

Using Echinacea and other preventative tips and measures to avoid getting a cold or flu.

Everyone hates getting a cold or flu but even the healthiest people are susceptible to falling ill. I will discuss the simplest ways of staying healthy and if you do feel the beginnings of a flu or cold, how you can either prevent it from getting worse or easing the symptoms.

The easiest ways of preventing colds and the flu:

If you do feel the symptoms of a cold, flu coming on or if you're in close contact with people who are ill you may want to consider taking Echinacea (Purple Coneflower). Forget about taking over the counter cold and flu medications because they do not work and they are expensive. In the past, Echinacea was used by North America's Native Indians to treat fevers and by early settlers to North America for treating colds and the flu. Echinacea is most effective when it is taken just when you feel symptoms of a flu or cold. By taking it at this stage, your symptoms will either disappear entirely or the symptoms will be very mild, almost unnoticeable. Taking echinacea once the cold or flu has gotten worse will not help.

If you are in close contact with sick people, you may want to take Echinacea to keep your immune system resistant to the flu or cold. I prefer using capsules from a quality manufacturer of Echinacea. However, it should not be used for a prolonged period of time because it will lose its effect of boosting your immune system and be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions.

Since the time that I wrote this article many years ago, I have stopped using Echinacea. I find that it is not very effective and there are much better natural alternatives. The key is to use what works best for you and to use these natural products right at the onset of cold or flu symptoms. Once a cold and flu has gotten hold of you nothing will work except: drink plenty of liquids, get adeqate rest and eventually you will feel better.

By following these simple tips, you will remain healthy.