Last updated on August 9th, 2022 at 11:19 am

It’s almost fall, which means saying goodbye to the blazing heat of summer, and saying hello to cooler and shorter days. Unfortunately, fall also means preparing for the upcoming flu season. But, how do you know if you actually have the flu? Here are some tips from Boiron pharmacist Christophe Merville, D. Pharm. to help you demystify whether those symptoms are really the flu.

Are you experiencing digestive issues accompanied by a fever or fatigue? It may not be the flu. A stomach bug can often be disguised as a seasonal flu. Unlike seasonal flu, a stomach flu is primarily marked by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

On the other hand, the flu is marked by not only chills, fever, muscle aches, but typically accompanied by a sore throat and congestion. Seasonal flu is also classified as a viral infection, while a stomach flu is caused by the presence of bacteria in the digestive tract.

If you’re suffering with a stomach-related ailment, Dr. Merville recommends the following single medicines: Arsenicum album 30C to relieve symptoms of food poisoning; Cinchona officinalis 6C for diarrhea with gas and bloating; Podophyllum 30C for diarrhea with intestinal growling; Nux vomica 6C for stomach aches, nausea and heartburn associated with stomach flu; and, Colocynthis 6C for painful digestive cramps associated with stomach flu.*

To find relief from seasonal flu try Oscillococcinum. Take Oscillo at the first sign of flu-like symptoms to help reduce the duration and severity of body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue.*

To help you find the right homeopathic medicines for your symptoms during flu season, download our free Medicine Finder app.

* These “Uses” have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.