Battling the FLU Season of 2025 in NW Indiana

Flu season is never easy, especially when it makes its way into our home. This year, we've had our fair share of battling the flu, but we've learned a lot about how to manage it and get through it as a family. We try as many homeopatic items before going to products such as Tamiflu or others prescribed by a doctor. Here’s how we fought the flu this year and what helped us manage it all:

Hydration & Rest: The Essentials

When the flu strikes, hydration and rest are the two most important things we focus on. Flu symptoms can leave you feeling drained, so we make sure everyone is drinking plenty of fluids—water, herbal teas, and electrolyte drinks. We even turn to homemade nourishing broths for extra comfort and nutrients. This is crucial for helping the body stay hydrated and recover more quickly.

Along with fluids, rest is key. We make sure everyone is taking it easy, especially the kids, and getting as much sleep as possible. Rest helps the immune system do its job, so it’s our first line of defense in the recovery process.

Supplements: Zinc and Vitamin C

To help give our immune systems a boost, we also rely on supplements like zinc and vitamin C. Zinc has been shown to help reduce the duration and severity of flu symptoms, so we make sure to take it early on in the illness. We also keep up with vitamin C, either through supplements or by encouraging the kids to eat citrus fruits, as it’s known for its immune-boosting properties.

Sambucol for Adults

For the adults in our household, we also swear by Sambucol Cold and Flu. It’s an elderberry-based syrup that’s been shown to help reduce the severity and duration of flu symptoms. We started taking it right when we felt the first signs of the flu, and it made a noticeable difference in how we were feeling. Sambucol doesn’t completely stop the flu, but it definitely helped to lessen the intensity of the symptoms, especially the first few days when fever and body aches were at their peak.

Oscillococcinum for the Kids

The kids were hit hard this year with Flu A, (while we were on vacation in Hawaii) and we were ready to manage their symptoms too. We started them on Oscillococcinum flu tablets about 30 hours into the illness, and we noticed it helped to lessen the severity of their symptoms. They had two really bad nights of high fevers, but the tablets seemed to help reduce their overall flu symptoms. After the fever broke, the kids were left with a lingering cough, but the worst was over thanks to the early treatment.

Get Outside, Even for a few minutes

I truly believe that while the kids were in HI they got over the flu much much easier than if we were at home. This is because I had the door open and they sat on the balcony or we drove to a beach to be by ourselves to get out in that fresh open air. Now, although we live in the dreary NW Indiana during the flu season, it is still essential to step outside and breath that fresh air, even if its just for a few minutes. Also, if it’s not too freezing outside, get the windows open to get the viruses hit by that fresh cold air. Airing out your home can do wonders during a bit of flu.

The Struggles of the Adult Version

This year, my husband seemed to get hit the hardest by the flu. His symptoms were pretty intense—fever, sore muscles, exhaustion, a bad cough, and even a loss of voice. At about a week, and he’s still battling through the worst of it. The fever is finally gone, but he’s been struggling with extreme fatigue and soreness. We’ve been making sure he’s hydrating, resting, and taking zinc and vitamin C to support his recovery, but it’s been a tough journey for him.

The Lingering Cough

Even after the fever breaks, the lingering cough can stick around for quite a while. We’ve been using honey for the kids to help soothe their throats and quiet the cough, and for adults, we've leaned on more herbal teas to keep things under control. It’s a reminder that while the flu may pass, recovery can take time, especially when it leaves behind those annoying coughs.

Final Thoughts

Every year, flu season seems to throw us a new challenge, but we’ve learned to be proactive and stock up on the tools we need to fight it. We focus on hydration, rest, immune-boosting supplements, and natural remedies like broths and elderberry-based syrups. While it’s been tough, we know that with the right support, we can get through it and keep the rest of the family from getting sick. This year, flu A definitely came with some hard days, but we’re all on the mend and ready for better days ahead.

Stay healthy out there, and take care of yourselves this flu season!