As we head towards December, the likelihood we will succumb to a cold or flu increases.
When it does, most of us will opt for over the counter medicines to help relieve the symptoms while we wait for the worst of it to pass.
While paracetamol and other decongestant medications can help, one pharmacist recommends another option we can prepare at home they say can reduce cold and flu symptoms by as much as two days.
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Jana Abelovska, a Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy recommends one home remedy that costs just pennies that’s as good as its more expensive over-the-counter treatment.
Jana commented: “Some studies have suggested that using a saline nasal spray or drops can reduce the number of days your cold lasts for as well as reducing symptoms. These treatments are available over the counter, so if you go to the pharmacy and pick some up as soon as you notice symptoms, it might be able to stop your cold from getting worse, or help you feel better sooner.”
And while Jana says using a saline nasal spray can reduce the length of symptoms, you easily prepare it much cheaper at home by simply mixing salt with water.
âYou can also make your own salt solution at home, mixing sea salt with water,” the pharmacist suggests. “Studies have shown that using this solution to gargle and clear your nose might shorten a cold by as much as two days.
“Itâs just the same as the commercial over-the-counter saline solutions – a little less convenient but cheaper, and easy to prepare if youâre feeling too poorly to go out to the pharmacy.”
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As well as this cheap home treatment that might help shorten the length of time we experience symptoms, Jana offers more advice on how we can start to feel better sooner.
Plenty of rest
The Superintendent Pharmacist says: “Itâs important to make sure that you get enough rest as soon as you realise that youâre coming down with a cold. Making an extra effort to get enough sleep will help boost your immune system – especially as having a cold can affect how well you sleep at night, as lying down can worsen your symptoms.
Stay hydrated
The Superintendent Pharmacist says: âStay hydrated on the first day of your cold. There are two main reasons for this – firstly, cold symptoms such as sweating, coughing or having a runny nose all deplete the water in your body which can lead to dehydration. Secondly, staying hydrated will help loosen any mucus, helping relieve congestion.
âWater is a perfect choice, but hot drinks can also provide special benefits – hot tea might soothe your throat, as well as helping with congestion. Ginger, which has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years, might be able to reduce inflammation, making ginger tea (or lemon and ginger tea for added flavour!) a popular pick.
Over the counter treatments
The Superintendent Pharmacist says: “Combined cold and flu medications can also help, with a combination of ingredients designed to treat the symptoms – they will often include paracetamol for pain relief, and phenylephrine to relieve a runny or stuffy nose and nasal congestion. Just make sure that you donât take additional paracetamol on top of the combined treatment, as taking too much paracetamol can damage your liver.
âDonât take antibiotics for your cold. The common cold is a virus, so antibiotics wonât help – your doctor wonât prescribe them, and if you have any left over from a previous illness, donât take them for your new cold. Antibiotics are a powerful drug that should only be used under doctorsâ supervision. The more antibiotics are used when they shouldnât be, the more bacteria are able to adapt so that these drugs lose their efficacy.”
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