Natural remedies for the flu and boosting immunity

slyraven82 said:...eliminating everything that weakens the immune system...

Sugar—in any form you can find it, including all those nasty additives hidden in processed foods.
Milk.
White flour and all those processed flour products.
Out-of-season fruit in the US.
Fruit juices.
Soda pop.

🤣

And how exactly does this weaken the immune system?

I’d honestly love to find an answer to that question shadowfalcon33 posed.

Just to throw my two cents in—my situation is remarkably similar to Kumek’s. Almost none of those things you listed as "immune boosters" actually make it onto my plate. Most of it is stuff I'm strictly forbidden from eating, and the rest? I just don't like it. It’s not that I’m a total medical anomaly like Kumek might be, but my immune system holds up just fine. By that logic, I guess my diet is doing something right. On the flip side, looking at your first group, I don't touch carbonated drinks and I barely eat fruit at all—certainly not out-of-season stuff. So, if I were putting together a list, it would basically be the exact opposite of yours.

Back in the 1920s, this German doctor came up with this wild hypothesis. He believed that flu and cold viruses don't actually enter through your nose, eyes, or mouth, but through the ears instead. Because of that, he suggested this specific way to treat the flu: as soon as you feel those first symptoms creeping in, you drop a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide into your ear. You just let it sit there for maybe 5 to 10 minutes and then drain it out... though I think people usually try to rinse it with water afterward. When the peroxide hits your ear, it stings a little and starts foaming up. You do the exact same thing with the other ear, assuming both aren't infected at once. The idea is to keep repeating this every hour or two until the foaming stops happening. Apparently, if you catch it early enough, it works about 80% of the time. This was actually used over in Germany back in the day, but it eventually fell out of favor because mainstream doctors just flat-out reject the whole theory. I haven't actually tried it myself yet... but it’s been quite a while—maybe seven or eight years, or even longer, since I've had the flu, and I'm only 24... plus, I've never even gotten a flu shot... 😉

Angela Kelly said:I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread like this here in the Health section... just so we can all share tips on boosting our immune systems, fighting off the flu, and managing autoimmune conditions.
It’s honestly so helpful to know what actually works to strengthen our immunity and get our bodies back on track—everything from dietary tweaks to vitamins, minerals, and other supplements.
I’d love for anyone who knows a thing or two about "home remedies," supplements, or alternative wellness methods to jump in and share their wisdom here..

This is such a great topic! 👍 Honestly, in this day and age, everyone pretty much needs to become their own health expert if they want to stay ahead of the curve. It feels like the only way to dodge some of those modern lifestyle diseases that seem to be everywhere lately. 🙂

shadowfalcon33 said:🤣

Wait, what does this have to do with having a weak immune system?

Honestly, shadowfalcon33, sometimes I seriously wonder how you even managed to become a moderator in the first place...

Isn't it basically just a weak immune system behind almost every illness (except for the chronic stuff)? 🤔

Look, here’s an old-school remedy for you:
- Eat about 5 to 10 beef patties... make sure they're big... none of that soy crap or whatever else.
- Load up on onions with all that (plus a bit of pepper)
- Wash it all down with a little beer (supposedly good for the kidneys)

Then, once you're done with all that, just finish it off with some herbal tea...

Kumek said:Good grief, are you kidding me? If I actually knew the difference my cells feel between glucose from white sugar versus whole grains, I’d be lost forever.😉

Man... 🙄 😁

The difference is night and day. Seriously.

1. Glucose from refined sugar is osmotically active, which basically dehydrates your cells. (A massive concentration of osmotically active particles hits all at once, pulling water out of the cell into the extracellular space, which eventually just ends up in your urine)

That sudden dehydration irritation triggers cellular inflammation. Inflammation leads to increased oxidation, which ramps up free radical production, causing tissue damage and potentially even damaging DNA—which can lead to malignant changes.

3) It forces an insulin spike, which tells the body to "store" that glucose as fat, saving it for "lean times" (which, in modern America, almost never happen, so the fat just keeps piling up)😲

4) Once that insulin spike clears everything out, your blood sugar crashes. You end up hungry again immediately, reaching for that next piece of chocolate (or sugar cube)...

5) Glucose from whole grains is released much more slowly. There’s no sudden cellular dehydration; instead, you get a steady release of glucose that provides energy gradually—just enough to power you through until your next (whole grain) meal. 🙂

dustycanyon6 said:...once you notice the first symptoms, just put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in your ear, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then drain it out...

...This was actually common practice in Germany back in the last century, but it fell out of favor because doctors just flat-out refuse to entertain the idea.

Honestly, I can't say I'm surprised why!! 😲 🙂

On a side note, I occasionally use hydrogen peroxide drops (Debrox) in my ear just to clear out some wax. 🙄 😁

I haven't had the flu in years. Now I'm starting to wonder—is that thanks to the Debrox or the vaccines? 😕 😕 😕

Hey boss... just a quick, maybe stupid question here...

What’s the deal with fruit? You know, like bananas, apples, and all that stuff...
Is that actually better for you than things like coffee or chocolate?

Angela Kelly said:Look, autoimmune stuff and the flu aren't even the same thing... I never actually said they were linked... I was just opening up a discussion about alternative ways to handle the flu and autoimmune issues..

The common denominator, obviously— it's just the human immune system

* Please, everyone, let's keep it civil and try not to get all aggressive and start picking fights over nothing

Angela Kelly said:Alternative ways to fight the flu and boost immunity
I figured it’d be useful to have a thread like this here on the Health forum... just so we can learn how to beef up our immune systems, kick the flu's ass, and manage autoimmune conditions

Based on that second quote (which is basically your original post that started this whole mess), you threw autoimmune diseases in there by mistake—likely just because you didn't realize they don't fit under "natural ways to boost immunity" at all 😉

Here's the reality check:
You don't really know what those specific diseases entail, and honestly, as a total amateur, you couldn't wrap your head around their actual causes anyway (not that anyone fully understands them yet)... either way, they have zero connection to natural methods for preventing the flu.

If we took this same logic and moved it over to the Beauty section, it would sound something like this:

Someone starts a thread titled: Waxing, how to deal with unwanted hair

And then the post goes: excess hair, ingrowns, pain, cost, blah blah blah and ends with: and that's why I think we should talk about waxing and hair straightening here

😁

**I'm not trying to pick a fight, I'm just having a little fun here

Kumek said:You’re absolutely right—it’s a philosophy. There’s no need to go hunting for scientific backing here. But that stance you took regarding foods that help or hinder the flu? It’s pure wishful thinking, not science. I’m just pointing that out "for the record." Not looking for a fight, per se. Just thought it should be noted.😉

By the way, I barely eat any of the stuff you listed. Last time I even touched an antibiotic was probably twenty years ago, if that. As for the flu or a common cold? I can't remember the last time I was sick—maybe fifteen years back. Actually, let’s just say I haven't been sidelined by anything in over fifteen years. Not even a sniffle. So, does that mean I can conclude my diet is more effective against the flu than yours? Or should we follow your logic and assume your child’s health is strictly a direct result of what they eat?

Kumek, unfortunately, my kid doesn't exactly share your rock-solid immune system. It's much more fragile, frankly. He spent the entire past week stuck at home—again—dealing with yet another viral bug. 😢

I’ve laid out exactly how I attempt to bolster Markić’s immune system—basically by stripping away everything that tears it down. And no, I didn't just pull this information out of thin air. This isn't guesswork. It's based on actual textbooks, published research, specialized courses... direct conversations with doctors. It comes from eleven years of meticulous tracking, documenting what actually helps him and what only makes things worse. Does anyone really think you gain that kind of insight without putting in the work?
When I actually put what I've learned into practice? I get results.

Yeah, my son only took the antibiotics once. That was the one time he couldn't fight off the bacterial infection on his own.
We managed to fix most other ailments through diet, herbal teas... just staying put at home.
If I had actually given him medicine every single time he was sick... who knows what his kidneys or liver would even look like by now?
I’ve started looking at things from a different angle lately. Specifically, his health. Is it even worth worrying about? Maybe.
And that brings us to the other methods. I think it’s worth laying them all out right here. Everything from diet and specific tea selections—and the reasoning behind them—to why someone might opt for inhalation or certain essential oils. Why go with cabbage compresses for the lungs? Why hold off on breaking a fever, and under what specific circumstances is that actually a valid move? Let's get into it.

It’s frustrating. Given the current state of my finances, I can't exactly upgrade him to a premium diet right now. Hopefully, as I move up the ladder at work, things will shift. But until then? If I can't afford those high-end, nutritionally dense specialty brands—which are outrageously overpriced, by the way—the next best thing is simply cutting out the junk that’s actively harming his health. That has to be enough for now.
I just called you out... and look at that reaction. So much for being subtle. This is exactly the kind of response I was expecting.

I don't need any explanations or clarifications. I'll present my own findings when and if I feel like it. Do whatever you want with that.

Sugar... adding to what placidfox55 already pointed out...
Sugar basically breaks down into three main categories: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Simple enough, right?
Glucose is a monosaccharide—the simplest form of sugar out there. It’s the easiest one for the body to absorb, moving straight into the bloodstream without needing any digestive heavy lifting. You’ll find it tucked away in plants and fruit, usually hanging out alongside fructose. Simple enough, right?
Unprocessed glucose gets sent off to be stored as glycogen in the liver. But when we indulge in our typical American dietary excesses—flooding the system with way too much sugar—the liver simply can't keep up. It hits capacity and starts dumping it back into the bloodstream as fatty acids. We all know exactly what that does to us, don't we?
Monosaccharides combine to form disaccharides. It’s basic chemistry, really. Take galactose, for instance—that simple sugar produced when your body breaks down the lactose found in milk. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you have a disaccharide. Simple enough, right?

Polysaccharides—complex sugars like pectin or cellulose—are essentially chains of monosaccharides, much like what you'd find in grains. They don't even register as sweet until they’ve been thoroughly chewed and mixed with your saliva enzymes. Because of that breakdown process, they enter the bloodstream gradually. It doesn't trigger those jagged spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, providing a more sustained energy release instead. Plus, it doesn't leave your cells feeling dehydrated. Why rush the process?

When you flood your system with massive amounts of sugar, what are you actually getting? Aside from a spike in calories, absolutely nothing. It’s pure empty fuel. You're just putting unnecessary strain on your liver and your pancreas. And then there's the gut microbiome—refined sugar acts like a breeding ground for those nasty bacteria that end up wiping out your B vitamins. Is it really worth the trade-off?
When we consume standard industrial sugar, our bodies experience this massive "sugar rush" that demands neutralization through heavy acid production. To balance things out, the body undergoes an emergency mobilization of its mineral reserves...
What about brown sugar?
Unfortunately, most of what you see on shelves today is just white sugar with molasses tossed back in to mimic the color and flavor.

It’s the same story with pretty much any food containing sugar.

People have already dissected this guy's pros and cons on this subforum. It isn't hard to find his old threads.

Then there's flour and processed grain products. Once they hit your system, they trigger a surge of mucus in our membranes... providing the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. They just ramp up that mucus production right when we're already struggling with a cold or illness, making it nearly impossible to clear our lungs...

Mass-produced fruit juices and sodas? Just liquid sugar.

.....

and so on...

Štef, I hear you, everything you said makes sense—really, it does—but it doesn't actually answer what Kumek was asking. Look, at the end of the day, a glucose molecule is just a glucose molecule. Once it hits the cell, the body doesn't care if it came from an organic farm or a factory... it’s all the same deal. The real kicker is that it takes longer for it to even hit your bloodstream if you're eating whole grains versus just slamming some cookies. But honestly? You get that exact same effect—that slow absorption and the delayed insulin response from the pancreas—if you just pair some bread with something super greasy, like 😁
...

slyraven82 said:Sugar—well, building on what placidfox55 was saying earlier...
Basically, you can break sugar down into three main categories: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

...

Look, I mean, it’s really kind of you to lay all that out, but honestly? That’s just basic stuff you’d find in any high school chemistry textbook. Most people hanging out on this forum already have that covered.

Besides, if you're really committed to treating your son with alternative methods while he stays constantly sick, isn't it worth pausing to ask yourself if something in the approach isn't quite hitting the mark? 😉Just some food for thought...

Honestly, all this lecturing from so-called "experts" is getting old. Why don't you guys just go find somewhere else to play pretend? Maybe you could be useful elsewhere, like developing a vaccine for avian flu or some other medication actually effective enough to cut down the need for alternative stuff... I only started this thread because there aren't any properly formulated chemical drugs out there that help with things like (so far unknown strains of) influenza... or arthritis... or fibromyalgia...
For crying out loud... if you're all such geniuses, why don't you just find us a solution for these diseases then? 😁
Until then, we'll just have to keep fighting the good fight the only way we know how.

Look, Angela Kelly, anyone can have a bad day and mess things up—it happens to the best of us. Why are you getting all worked up now? For crying out loud, I wasn't trying to take a shot at you...

Besides, spreading fake news about health and meds is potentially DANGEROUS stuff. Trying to stop the misinformation and actually get the right facts out there is something we should be doing for everyone else. Or am I totally off base here? 🙂

Angela Kelly said:Oh, please... if you all are such absolute geniuses—truly, the brightest minds in the country—then why don't you just go ahead and find us a cure for these diseases already? Seriously!😁

Listen, honey—some of us actually go through with it! We really do. But let me tell you, it’s never quite that simple—it’s rarely a straight line from A to B, you know? It’s more like trying to navigate a crowded sidewalk in New York City while carrying a tray of hot coffees—lots of unexpected turns and little bumps along the way!

For heaven's sake—and I mean this with all the affection in my heart—could we please, just once, stop using that word "vaccine"? Honestly, my ears are starting to ring from the sheer repetition of it! I feel like I’ve spent my entire life listening to endless political shouting matches on cable news, and frankly, I’ve had quite enough of the constant noise.
It seems like you might have cut off mid-sentence! I'm standing by—whenever you're ready to drop that text, just send it over. I'll be right here, ready to dive in and give it that complete American overhaul we discussed. Just paste it whenever you can! Just wanted to drop this here—just for your information! Strain = Soy.
Solution = solution. Simple as that! It really boils down to that—no need to overcomplicate things with fancy jargon or endless meetings when the answer is staring you right in the face. It’s like when you're troubleshooting a glitchy piece of software—sometimes you don't need a whole IT department at Microsoft; you just need the actual fix! Just a straightforward resolution. Simple, right?

And you just keep on blathering—not just in this little corner of the internet, either—so don't go thinking anyone’s actually sent you packing yet!

rustymoose54 said:Štef, everything you wrote is technically correct, but it doesn't actually answer Kumek's question. A glucose molecule is just a glucose molecule; once it hits the cell, its origin doesn't matter. The real issue is timing. It takes longer for sugar to enter the bloodstream when it comes from whole grains compared to pastries. But you get that same effect—slower absorption and a more gradual pancreatic response—if you eat bread alongside something heavy in fat, like 😁

Pastries, sodas, chocolate... they're packed with sugar. Simple, classic monosaccharides with tiny molecules. They hit our system fast, hard, and in massive quantities. That’s the crux of it. That sudden surge, that overwhelming volume, is what wreaks havoc on the body.

To get that same amount of sugar from grains? You’d have to eat and eat and eat... constantly, for a long, long time... just to build up that much sugar at the entry point of the body. Besides, we're talking about polysaccharides here—large, complex chains that absorb gradually. They don't throw the body out of balance.

It all comes down to the sheer volume hitting us at once... and the speed of absorption. With standard sugar, you end up with a massive amount being absorbed "all at once." Naturally, the body reacts to that spike, and that's where the consequences follow.

Look, dea, please—just don't come at ME with all that carbohydrate metabolism stuff, seriously... 🙂

It’s all well and good, really, and I’m not trying to pick a fight or anything—do whatever you think is best for you and your kid—but just please, spare me the lecture on sugar, okay? My blood pressure can't take it... I'll end up losing my mind, and nobody wants that (not being personal or anything!) 😉

That post you quoted? It was actually talking about what Kumek and placidfox55 said, not you.

I honestly feel like slyraven82 belongs to some kind of cult where they aren't even allowed to take medication (maybe Jehovah's Witnesses or something)...

Look, I've definitely overdone it on meds myself at times, but I don't think they're actually all that bad..

And as for eating healthy, I just don't see why people make it out to be such an expensive or complicated ordeal.

nimbledriver81 said:Look, it’s nice of you to lay all that out, but honestly? That’s just basic chemistry found in any high school textbook. Most people on this forum already know it.

Secondly, if you're really trying to treat your son with alternative methods while he stays constantly sick, isn't it time to ask yourself what you might be doing wrong? 😉 Just thinking out loud...

nimbledriver81, it turns out they don't actually know. Or if they do, they don't distinguish between the reaction triggered by monosaccharides versus polysaccharides... nor the actual ratio involved when eating a single cookie versus a cup of rice.

For the record, I am not "trying" to treat my child; I am treating him. I am managing his recovery whenever an illness hits.
This is done under STRICT MEDICAL SUPERVISION—consultations, professional advice, and immense effort from both the doctors and us (Mark and myself).

What I AM attempting is to prevent the constant cycle of getting sick—to bolster his immune system.
So, using a trial-and-error method, keeping detailed logs, educating ourselves, and—I will say it again—CONSULTING WITH A DOCTOR, I stick to what works. If something causes a negative reaction, I reduce it or cut it out entirely. That’s where I see the most success.

I am simply sharing these experiences here. I'm not spreading misinformation, I'm not attacking anyone, and I'm not playing philosopher. I am merely stating MY experience, because in the end, maybe even that might help someone.