Millions reach for the Tylenol when they feel the nasty symptoms of the flu dragging them down. But new research shows the drug is no more effective than a placebo in reducing fever and other flu symptoms.

Researchers in New Zealand randomly gave 80 adults with flu symptoms either 1,000 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a placebo for five days. They found no difference between the two groups in severity of symptoms, daily temperature, or length of sickness.

The researchers’ conclusion? There is no evidence whatsoever that Tylenol helps flu sufferers.1

But it’s not only useless… Taking too much Tylenol can cause severe liver damage, particularly when mixed with alcohol.

Some 500 people in the U.S. die from acetaminophen overdoses each year.2 Ironically, the signs of liver damage include flu like symptoms such as fever and loss of appetite.

This can dupe people into taking even more Tylenol—the very thing that is killing them!3,4

If you are battling the flu, there are natural remedies that can bring you more relief than Tylenol: 5,6,7

Eat garlic: This pungent superfood is a powerful flu fighter. Garlic contains compounds called allion and allicin. They have direct antiviral effects. Take garlic when symptoms first appear. It can help destroy the virus before it becomes a full-blown case of the flu.

To get the most out of garlic’s flu-fighting properties, chew a raw clove every three or four hours. If that is too distasteful, cut cloves into pieces and swallow them like pills. You can also mix the garlic with a spoonful of honey. If raw garlic is not your thing, add a few cloves to soups or stews. It will lose some potency in cooking, but still give you some benefits.

Get steamy: Fill the bathroom or kitchen sink with steaming hot water. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the steam. Breathe deeply. The steam clears congestion in your head and chest. It thins the mucus in your sinuses. It can also help to add healing aromatics to the water. Try two teaspoons of chopped fresh ginger, a teaspoon of menthol ointment, or a few drops of eucalyptus oil.

Use a salt rinse: A salty nasal rinse can thin mucus, ease postnasal drip, and moisten dry membranes. You can get saline sprays at any drug or grocery store. Spray the rinse into one nostril and then gently blow out. Repeat on the other side.

Spice it up: Ginger helps you make a protein called interferon. It fights viral infections. Chili peppers are a great source of capsaicin, an antioxidant that can clear your head of mucus. Eating horseradish can also help open airways.

Stay hydrated: Drink at least eight cups (64 ounces) of liquid each day. Fluids help thin out mucus. Drink lots of water, clear soups, broths, or electrolyte replacement drinks until the fever resolves. Hot drinks may work better than cold. Avoid coffee, teas with caffeine, and alcohol. They can dry out your sinuses.

What provides you the most relief when dealing with a nasty flu? Comment below…

In Good Health,

Angela Salerno
Publisher, INH Health Watch

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References:
1http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/tylenol-is-ineffective-against-flu-symptoms/?ref=health&_r=1
2http://www.medicaldaily.com/acetaminophen-tylenols-active-ingredient-kills-nearly-500-americans-every-year-257654
3http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168830.htm
4https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/tylenol-may-not-be-as-safe-and-effective-as-we-thought/
5http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/home-remedies-for-fast-flu-relief
6http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/cold-and-flu/5-flu-fighting-foods
7http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/colds-flu-immune-system?page=3