At the first hint of a flu this winter intervene immediately with some tried and true, natural immune-boosting techniques. Flu symptoms include chills, cough, fever of 102F or more, headache, muscle aches and pains, pain with inhalation, scratchy and sore throat, and water red eyes. Is it a cold or the flu? One distinction is that it is rare to have a fever, headache, and exhaustion with a cold.

Keep these early flu intervention tips handy this winter:

Tips for Early Treatment

* Vitamin C: 1,500 mg every 2-3 hours.

* Zinc: 30 mg daily or zinc lozenges.

* Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.

* Humidify your room or inhale steam.

* Rinse your mouth and gargle with warm saltwater.

* Inhale Olbas to relieve a stuffy nose.

* Get extra rest and enough sleep.

Sore Throat Solutions

* Onion and Honey: Slice one whole white or yellow onion and spread the slices on a thin baking dish; cover with honey. Warm in the oven at 150F for 1 hour. Remove the onions and mix 1 tablespoon of the honey in 1 cup of hot water.

* Myrrh and/or Propolis: Mix 1/3 to 1 teaspoon of myrrh or propolis tincture, or combine them, in 1/2 cup of warm water. Gargle twice a day.

* Raspberry leaves and lemon: Steep 1 tablespoon of dry raspberry leaves with a little fresh lemon juice in 2 cups of hot water; mix with 1 teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling.

* Warm saltwater: Mix 1/3 teaspoon of table or sea salt into 1 cup of warm water. It should not be too salty but taste about the salinity of tears. Use as a mouth rinse and gargle as needed to control symptoms.

* Zinc Lozenges: Suck on zinc lozenges as need to control symptoms. Don’t exceed 30 mg per day.