By Alliance Intern Kaitlyn Downer from Oregon State University ‘25
Let’s be real — getting sick sucks. Between flu, COVID and RSV, it feels like everyone is catching something, and unfortunately, flu cases are actually at a 15-year high. Back when COVID had us all wearing masks and staying at home, flu rates were at extremely low levels. That alone proves that prevention works, but now that many people have stopped worrying as much and are not wearing masks, viruses are making a major comeback.
Prevention Is Key
The best way to avoid illness is to be proactive. Vaccines for flu, COVID and RSV can help to be preventative, and wearing a mask in crowded places is also beneficial.
Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters are a relatively inexpensive ($100) way to help make a difference too, especially in indoor spaces.
Other than the usual prevention methods like washing your hands frequently, one of the cheapest and most effective preventatives is to have adequate Vitamin D levels by taking Vitamin D3. Other natural ways to support your immune system include taking elderberry and assuring you have essential vitamins from a balanced diet.
And don’t forget the importance of keeping up with sleep, getting adequate exercise and staying hydrated with electrolytes. Not living off of sugar and caffeine helps, too, but it’s easier said than done.
Testing & Early Treatment
If you do start feeling sick, don’t wait around hoping it’ll go away on its own. There are now home combined tests for flu and COVID (both of which can have similar symptoms) and many clinics offer combined flu, COVID and RSV tests so that you can know what you’re dealing with.
This is really important because if you take an antiviral in the first 48 hours of symptom onset, you can usually feel much better within a day. The antivirals will still work up to 5 days after onset, but will be less effective. So while you probably feel like crap, it’s really worthwhile to get tested as soon as possible.
Sadly, we’re operating in an information vacuum because the Trump administration has pulled down much of the CDC information and is not allowing CDC updates.
Alternative Natural Flu Remedies
If you do get the flu, you can try a homeopathic flu remedy, which many people swear by, like in the community where I grew up. If you have a sore throat, Eclectic’s Elderberry and Red Root Throat Spray can make an immediate difference.
You can also try wellness shots with ginger, cayenne and turmeric. They might burn, but they can help boost your body’s defenses. Just open the wellness shots and chug. You can then soothe your throat with some hot tea and a spoonful of unheated manuka honey (to keep it bioactive), which may help fight bacteria if taken on its own.
Echinacea was always a staple remedy in my home, as well as grapefruit seed extract, which may be the worst thing you’ll ever taste. Let us know if you’ve found other effective remedies.
No One Wants to Be Sick
At the end of the day, no one wants to be stuck in bed feeling awful. We each have an important choice that will affect not only ourselves but people we love and others around us. Will we be proactive and help protect immuno-compromised people and older people who are vulnerable?
Fortunately, we have great preventative solutions – vaccines, masks, Vitamin D3 and hand washing – as well as actions we can take if we do get sick, such as natural remedies and proper testing.
Taking care of yourself now means less chance of getting wrecked by whatever virus is going around. Do what you can, be gentle with yourself and stay healthy!