The cold-flu season is here. An Indian summer long gone and all that is left is unstable weather, piercing wind and an atmospheric pressure that jumps up and down. All those factors reek havoc on our immune system and make us prone to all kinds of viruses. Many people mistakenly think that this is not a big deal-just a minor set back in their everyday life. It is not so simple. Not treated properly, cold and flu are known to lead to serious side effects; lung, heart, kidney, joints and even brain diseases. That is why cold and especially flu should be treated with the respect they deserve. The best advice would be to listen to your doctor, spend as much time in bed as possible, drink lots and lots of fluids and use home remedies.

Cold and flu prevention: Put one slice of lemon behind the cheek and keep it there until there is no more saliva been produced. This simple remedy prevents you from getting cold or flu even after being in contact with a sick person. Lemon juice can be hard on the enamel on your teeth so be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterwards.

Place one lemon in very hot water for a few minutes. Take out the seeds, keep the peel. Crush lemon in a food processor. Mix it with 100 g of soft butter and 1-2 tsp of honey. Use on sandwiches as regular butter.

Take 10-15 fresh pine needles. Chew them thoroughly. Swallow the juice; spit what is left of the needles. This remedy not only prevents cold and flu but relieves dry cough as well.

Mash kiwi with a fork. Mix it with 1 tsp of honey and eat before going to bed. Place crushed onion or garlic in a cup and sniff it 2-3 times a day for 3-5 min.

Grate 2 lemons and 2 heads of garlic and mix them with 1 L of boiled, room temperature, water. After 3 days in a dark place, filter the mixture and keep it in the fridge. Take 1 tbs before breakfast every day. This mix can be taken from early fall to late spring.

Mix 1-2 tsp of apple vinegar with 1 cup of water and drink it.

These three remedies will help to boost your immune system and energy level:

Take 500 g of cranberries, 300 g of garlic and 2 lemons with peel and crash them in a food processor. Add 400 g of honey. Take from 1 tsp to 2 tbsp a day for 3-4 months.

Take 500 g of dried apricots, 1 cup of raisins, 1 lemon (unpeeled), 1 cup of walnuts (pour boiling water over the walnuts first and allow the water to drain before adding to the fruits). Mix everything together in a food processor and add 1 cup of honey. Take 1 tsp 3 times a day.

Take out the seeds from 2 lemons and 2 oranges. Crush the lemons and oranges in a food processor. Put everything in glass container and add 2 tbsp of honey. Keep it at room temperature for 24 hours, and then keep in a fridge. Take 2-3 tsp a day with tea or before a meal.

Cold and Flu treatment:

Crush 1 small head of garlic. Combine with 1 tbsp of apple vinegar and 1 tbsp of honey in 250 ml cup. Fill the cup with boiling water. Stir for 2-3 min then filter and drink, preferably at nighttime.

In one cup of warm water dissolve 1 tsp of salt or baking soda. Gurgle with it as often as necessary. Do not swallow.

Crush 100 g of fresh pine needles, put them in 1 L of hot water, bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Keep covered for 1-2 hours, filter and drink half a cup 3-4 times a day with 1 tsp of honey.

Take a black radish, cut the top part off and carve a hole inside. Fill this hole with honey and cover it with the cut off part. Keep in a warm place for 4 hours. Take 1 tbsp of this juice 3 times a day. Children should take 1 tsp.

Mix together 1 raw egg, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 100 g of vodka. Drink before going to bed.

Mix together one part of honey and one part of grated garlic. Take 1 tbsp of mix with few sips of water right before bed.

Garlic tea. Put 1-3 crushed cloves of garlic in 500 g of boiling water. Let stand for 20 min and drink like tea.