Ginger to Turmeric, Herbal Home Remedies to Treat Flu

JAKARTA - Warm herbal drinks are often the choice of the public to relieve flu, especially when the weather is rainy and the body condition is declining. The mixture of spices is believed to be able to help warm the body, relieve breathing, and increase resistance so that symptoms such as coughing, colds, and chills can gradually improve.

The General Chair of the Association of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicine Developers Indonesia (PDPOTJI) Inggrid Tania explained that herbal and spice formulas in the home kitchen can be used and consumed for prevention and treatment of flu in the rainy season.

"Everything is to increase immunity or resistance or immunity. It also warms the body, also helps relieve fever or chills, cough, cold, sore throat, stuffy nose, or shortness of breath," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Inggrid explained that ingredients such as ginger, kencur, turmeric, temulawak, to various spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom can be used as herbal flu ingredients. Even red onions and garlic have similar properties.

In addition, herbal plants such as habatus sauda, sambiloto, pegagan, meniran, and noni are known to help increase immunity and relieve fever, cough, cold, and sore throat.

According to him, the herbal concoction recipe can be adjusted to the body's needs and many references are available on various digital channels, including YouTube. For preventive purposes, herbal drinks can be consumed one to two glasses per day regularly.

For people who want a more practical way, Inggrid recommends using natural ingredients in the form of finished products or packaged products that have a POM Agency distribution permit. These products generally contain ginger, turmeric, or kencur, with the addition of natural sweeteners in the form of honey.

"So if we make herbal concoctions, for example, we can use honey as a sweetener because honey is not only a sweetener but also has properties. And herbal products are also many that are based on honey, which in them, for example, are also mixed with ginger, turmeric, kencur, peppermint, for example," said Inggrid.

He added that herbal ingredients are also useful to help the body stay fit and prevent fatigue due to intensive activities after holidays or work pressure that often trigger a decrease in immunity.

Some combinations that can be used include ginger and turmeric combined with galangal and black pepper. Another alternative, a mixture of ginger and turmeric with ginseng, licorice, or sweet root that is relatively difficult to find can be consumed through ready-to-drink herbal products.

As a complement, Inggrid also recommends the intake of supplements such as vitamins C, D, A, and E to maintain the body's resistance to flu. Minerals such as zinc, selenium, iron, and vitamin B complex also play a role so that the body is not easily sick.

He advised the public to check the level of vitamin D3 in the blood, because outdoor activities are not necessarily sufficient for the needs of this vitamin. Supplements can be an alternative to meeting daily needs and are available in various forms, such as soft capsules or capsules.

"Actually, most vitamins and minerals can be fulfilled from daily food. As long as, for example, we choose a balanced nutritious diet where there are more servings of vegetables and fruits. But we still need protein, for example, fat also needs a little and carbohydrates also need enough. So don't we, for example, consume instant food, fast food, yes that's for sure we won't be able to protect ourselves from flu if we eat like that," he said.