Before we talk about flu symptoms and how to manage them, lets first look at the difference between colds and flu. Common cold symptoms may include one or more of the following symptoms:

nose discharge

stuffed up feeling

cough

sore throat

headache

With flu, you may experience any or all of the above symptoms, but you’ll also have:

a fever or chills

body aches or pains

and possibly gastrointestinal disturbances

You can see straight away, by the symptoms, that flu is more serious than a cold. You wouldn’t get a fever unless your body was responding to something that wants to greatly disturb it.

A fever in itself is a good thing. It means your body is dealing effectively with throwing out the pathogen that is trying to gain entry. The more violent the fever, the more healthy you are. The milder the fever, the weaker you are - your body just doesn’t have the energy to fight.

Imagine someone trying to break in to your house. If you are prepared and indignant, chances are you’ll put up a powerful fight and win. If you are unprepared and feel vulnerable, chances are you’ll not fight at all and the burglar will probably get away with what he came for, possibly hurting you in the process.

Preparing your body for pathogen invasions means allowing things to take their course. Children are not born with an immune system. They need to practice by catching mild diseases.

Do you remember the chicken pox (and other childhood diseases) parties where people would bring their child to catch it? That’s what it was all about.

Today, in the vaccine laden world, this concept is no longer fashionable. But it is the best way for children’s immune system to become strong.

By experience.

Let them catch colds. Let them develop flu symptoms. Just keep an eye on things and be prepared to seek professional advice if you think it’s necessary.

A few days in bed may be all that is necessary. And when a child has recovered from an illness, without any suppressive drugs, you can often see a growth spurt. They needed that experience to evolve.

And they’ll become healthier adults, as a result.

Back to flu symptoms.

So you have a fever.

But you’ll also likely to have body aches. This can take the form of muscle aches or bone aches. Only you can feel the difference.

In addition to a fever and body aches, you may also have gastrointestinal symptoms. Perhaps in the form of nausea or vomiting or diarrhoea.

Digestion takes a huge amount of energy, so when you are very unwell, you will not feel hungry. This is because the energy it takes to digest is needed elsewhere.

The old saying of ‘starve a fever’ is very sound advice. Never try to force feed anyone who is acutely ill.

But continue to drink plenty.

Seek professional advice if it continues more than a couple of days without showing signs of improvement.

Homeopathic medicines work with the body, rather than suppressing its symptoms. This means you can effectively deal with your flu symptoms with a specific homeopathic medicine for your type of flu. This will speed up the process, without causing damage.