12 Home Remedies To Treat Viral Infections & Boost Immune Response

One of the most effective stuffy nose remedies is to make a saltwater treatment. Rinsing your sinuses with saltwater should clear your congestion dramatically, removing harmful virus microorganisms along with the mucus. This will speed your body up in its healing process, helping you to get better, faster.

To make a saltwater treatment, mix a quarter of a teaspoon of salt with a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a small syringe to squirt water into your nose, then hold one nostril closed with one finger while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. 

This won’t feel too comfortable, but you should be able to get used to it. Let it drain, then repeat two to three times before moving onto the other nostril.

Your mum or grandma most likely gave you honey and tea when you were ill, and there’s a reason for this that goes beyond old wives’ tales. Honey is a natural sweetener, so it’s much better for you than sugar, and it has natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Manuka honey in particular has been found in studies to efficiently inhibit the replication of influenza virus.

You can buy honey from your local supermarket, but manuka honey is a bit more specialist, so you’re more likely to find that in health stores or online. Simply squeeze a teaspoon of honey into your daily cups of tea and give it a stir. Add a drop of lemon juice for the ultimate virus-fighting combination.

Here’s another mum’s favourite! There’s also science behind this popular supper dish to suggest it really can clear up viral infections faster. It’s thought that hot liquids, such as soup, help reduce mucus build-up and keep you hydrated. So why chicken soup in particular? Well, research shows that it has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce a cold's unpleasant side effects.

Essential oils aren’t just nice to smell – they’re also pretty impressive in fighting common viral infections like cold and flu. There are certain ingredients in essential oils that produce antiviral activity, including bergamot oil, eucalyptus oil, red thyme, and cinnamon leaf. Studies have also suggested that tea tree oil might have antiviral properties when used as an aromatherapy oil.

If you haven’t already heard of Andrographis leaves, it’s worth doing your research on them. They contain immunostimulatory properties, which essentially means that when you get sick, they can help your immune cells to fight against a virus more effectively. Andrographis leaves also help your spleen to produce a greater number of white blood cells, which you need to ward off infection in the first place.

There’s even evidence to suggest that Andrographis leaves reduce fevers, decrease inflammation, and prevent viruses from reproducing. You can buy these as dried leaves or in powder or capsule form online, and they’re suitable for supplementing with on a daily basis.

Vitamin D is thought to regulate more than 2,000 genes, including those that make up our immune system. This makes vitamin D an incredibly effective natural defense against viral infections. You won’t find vitamin D in most food sources – instead, it’s synthesized by your body when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

If you’ve ever wondered why more people get ill in the winter, it’s because they’re exposed to less UV radiation from the sun. Many doctors argue that the current recommended daily amount of vitamin D, 400 units per day, is much too low. Try to go for double or triple this amount, and supplement if you don’t think you get enough from sunlight only.

Your immune system is mostly contained within your digestive tract, which explains why the levels of beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, in our digestive systems are so important for a healthy immune system function.