It's the time of year that Colds and the Flu manage to waylay the best of us no matter how much we try to avoid them.

Though you cannot avoid the unpleasant symptoms that go along with these illnesses, you can manage treat them effectively. With a quick trip to the local pharmacy, you can stock up on many different products to relieve all your symptoms.

However, there is an abundant of equally effective home remedies that are available without adding unnecessary medications to your system.

Here are a few treatment ideas to try to ease your symptoms.

Coughs

Lung congestion and sore throats are one of the most common ailments. Consistent coughing can prolong throat irritation and cause additional head and chest pain. By breathing in hot steam, you can unclog congestion in your sinuses and your bronchi, and alleviate a painful throat.

Tent a towel over a bowl of boiled water that has been steeped with a small amount of chamomile and baking soda. Carefully inhale the mixture slowly until you feel congestion loosen. The chamomile provides a soothing element and the baking soda has antibacterial properties to help fight infections.

Throats

Sore throats are often a precursor to illness and by acting on it immediately you may be able to halt the severity of the cold. Drinking plenty of fluids is key to keeping your throat lubricated and adding honey to tea is by far the most popular method.

Juices high in vitamin C help boost immune systems and water either cold or warm with lemon and honey keeps you hydrated and helps rid toxins out of your system naturally.

The Flu

There is never enough rest when you have been hit with the flu. Drinking fluids and resting are the number one factors in decreasing the length of time it has you in its grip.

There are many old recipes for keeping fever at bay but cooling clothes on head and neck areas can lower temperatures quickly. Heating pads or compresses applied to aches can help muscle and joint pain associated with the flu.

We have all heard about the healing properties of chicken soup mainly for its nutritional value of the vegetables and the soothing factor of the broth itself. In fact any food that provides high amounts of nutrients can help to boost our immune system and speed healing.

Of course, any illness that has a high fever, or does not seem to mend quickly needs to be evaluated by a medical professional and when it comes to infants and the elderly, medical care is essential. But for many normal healthy adults, often the nutrients we put in our body can minimize the severity any illness we pick up along the way.

Trial and error are the key so next time you feel under the weather, try a few home spun remedies before you hit the medicine chest. You may be surprised at how effective these old fashion ideas can work today.