The heavy head, the wretched coughing and a streaming red nose - there is nothing glamorous about being struck down with a bad cold.
Many cold and flu remedies we pick up in the pharmacy can be both costly and full of sugar.
Yes, sometimes you can't beat a natural remedy when it comes to our health.
Here are some things that can help get rid of the symptoms associated with the common cold, (or as some like to call it, the viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract)
1. Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is a time-honoured way to soothe a sore throat while also helping to clear mucus from the throat. Put a quarter teaspoon of salt in an eight-ounce glass of warm water and let dissolve - gargle at intervals throughout the day to help relieve a sore throat. Younger children will have difficulty doing this so avoid unless they are over the age of about 6 years.
2. Pine Buds
Apparently, Native Americans used a natural syrup made from fresh pine buds to help with respiratory infections during the winter months. It helps reduce bronchial spasm and thins out any mucus lying on the chest. Available at health stores, this will help hugely for anyone with a nasty cough (Children or adults with persistent coughs or breathing difficulties should see their GP first) Spruce buds also have strong antiseptic and antibacterial effects which can also help lungs expel any gook that may be irritating them. You can also get pine needle tea which is particularly soothing this time of the year. Available at your health store.
3. Ivy Thyme
This worked wonders for me recently. It's a combination of Ivy and Thyme leaves - It works by soothing spasm in your respiratory tract. The ivy relaxes the bronchial tubes, which stops that awful hacking. Thyme loosens the mucus. Take about 15 drops in water. It tastes just like an old boot but it can work wonders.
4. Echinacea
Stop colds before they even start - This is a herbaceous flowering plant which belongs to the daisy family and has been shown to work by improving the immune system to bugs helping avoid more common infections or chest infections. Take it as drops every day leading up to the woeful winter months and you could avoid being prey to some of those nasty germs floating about.
5. Plantago
Sinus playing up? That icky feeling of blocked nose and ears with a phlegmy rasp can be soothed by trying Plantago. It is a herbaceous plant, found all over the world which has been used since prehistoric times as a herbal remedy. It's anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, an expectorant and anti-histamine. The leaves are used for insect bites and poison ivy rashes while in folklore it's claimed to cure snakebite. If you are battling your way through winter colds, try this to reduce your chances of dealing with The Snot.
6. Ginger
Add this to everything! It is well used in Chinese medicine and known as a warming blood tonic. Ginger will pep up your circulation which keeps everything moving. It's analgesic and also has strong anti-inflammatory properties which can help relieve some of the discomfort caused by flu and colds. Pop it into your water each day or for the braver, straight up chew a two-inch piece every day.
These remedies are mostly geared towards adults but check with your health store about the dosage for children as they are all natural. If all else fails, we prescribe binge-watching reruns of the Gilmore Girls, cosy dressing gowns and a hot water bottle. And hugs.
Sniff.
