Sore throat, sinusitis, rhinitis and cough, these are the symptoms that often accompany us throughout the autumn and winter period. But natural remedies in the form of macerates and tinctures extracted from plants such as rosa canina, black alder and echinacea may be really helpful. Let's see what are the best treatments that you can use for flu symptoms, alone or together to exploit their synergy. However, before starting to take the remedies, always ask your doctor for advice if you are pregnant, during breastfeeding or if you are already taking medication in order to avoid interactions. Any treatment should be followed for no more than 20 days.
Rosa canina
Dog rose is traditionally considered a remedy for flu and colds, coughs and bronchitis but it is also a useful preventive treatment able to boost the immune system, to reduce the risk of infection and recurrences. In fact, the dog rose is anti-inflammatory, has high values of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds with an antioxidant action and fatty acids that act for the well-being of the organism (Jimenez et al, PLoS One, 2016 - Iliasoglu et al, J Food Sci Technol., 2017). As reported by scientific studies, remedies based on dog rose extracts have shown a clear antiviral action and help to modulate and regulate the functioning of the immune system (Zabihollahi et al, Indian J Pharmacol., 2012 - Sadigh-Eteghad et al, Bioimpacts, 2011). You can find the dog rose in the form of glycerin macerate. You can take 40 drops per day in the morning in a glass of water. The treatment should be followed for 20 days then a break of 10 days should be taken before starting again with the macerate, if it is needed.
Black alder
The black alder, alnus glutinosa, is an anti-inflammatory and anti-catarrhal remedy (Altinyay et al, J Ethnopharmacol., 2016) that works in synergy with the rosa canina by helping in case of inflammatory symptoms already present such as sinusitis, bronchitis, tracheitis and cough. While the rosa canina can be taken in the morning the black alder, in the form of glycerin macerate, can be taken in the evening, 40 drops in water without food.
Echinacea
Echinacea, scientific name echinacea angustifolia, as mother tincture is useful both as a prevention and as a treatment for infections of the airways, it is immunostimulant and antiseptic, therefore useful to avoid infections but also to help in case of flu, pharyngitis and rhinitis (Di Pierro et al, Altern Med Rev, 2012). The mother tincture of Echinacea can be taken as a prevention, in this case 25 drops once a day are enough. In case of flu symptoms, you can take 30 drops 3 times a day or 40 drops morning and evening if you use the echinacea together with the other glycerin macerates.
