'How to choose a cold and flu remedy in winter

Tag : Dehydrated Fruit
Instant solution to  cure head cold: Head for the bottle store. You can't beat a hot toddy, sayspharmacist Sarah Pattison. 'The steam clears the nasal passages andthe hot liquid and alcohol is relaxing. Mix a little whisky in amug of boiling water, with honey and sugar to taste.'
Over the next 24 hours: Don't make a doctor's appointment. 'There's nothing they can giveyou that you can't buy at the chemist,' says Pattison. 'Choose acold and flu remedy that contains a decongestant and paracetamol.'For day, try non-drowsy Flusin, Grippon or Coldcaps (prices varyfrom R20 to R50) to relieve a blocked nose, fever and aches andpains. For nighttime, Vicks Medinite (R55) may encourage sleep.
With a runny nose, you lose water through mucous and once you'redehydrated the immune system is weakened. 'Drink fresh fruit juicemixed with water,' says Pattison. 'You'll rehydrate and boost yourvitamin C intake.'
For a stuffy head, hold your head over a bowl of hot water mixedwith a teaspoon of Vicks Vaporub or Puma Balm (R20). At night, ruba small amount into the chest for a similar effect.
Headache
Symptoms: A sharp pounding pain or a dull ache in your head.
Instant solution: Pop a pill or press a point. Over-the-counter painkillers offerfast relief. Choose one that contains caffeine, such asParacetacod, Analgen or Docdol (R30), as this speeds the painkilleraction and constricts blood flow to the head, which can help reducepain. If you don't want to pop a pain pill, you could try a herbalformulation such as Tranquilyt (R65), which contains camomile andvalerian to help you unwind.
You can also try this quick acupressure trick for instant painrelief: Apply pressure in the mound of muscle between the thumb andindex finger (using the thumb and finger of your opposite hand).Pressing here, sometimes known as the 'aspirin point', is said tocalm the mind, relax the upper body and relieve tension in the neckand shoulders.
Over the next 24 hours: If you get tension-induced headaches from days at a computer, lieon the floor with a golf or tennis ball under your upper back androll it around your shoulders and back.
Sore throat
Symptoms: 'Sandpaper' throat, with or without the symptoms of a head cold.
Instant solution: Suck a sweet. You can't beat an antiseptic lozenge, says Pattison.Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation. Or try Propolin ThroatSpray (R60)  propolis is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory andimmune-boosting.
'If your sore throat is really severe, choose a spray that containsa local anaesthetic as well as an antiseptic,' says Pattison. TryOrochlor or AAA Spray (R50). Over the next 24 hours: Hot water andhoney drinks are soothing and will help keep you hydrated. To helpboost your vitamin intake, drink plenty of fresh fruit juicediluted with water, as for a head cold.
Exhaustion
Symptoms: Tiredness because of too little or poor-quality sleep.
Instant solution: Go Oriental. For an instant burst of energy, you can't beatginseng supplements, such as Lepping Ginseng (R40) or HolotropicGinseng (R80), says general practitioner Dr Sarah Brewer. As amother of three, she's no stranger to sleepless nights. 'It willhave an instant energy-boosting effect,' she explains. 'And asginseng is what's known as an adaptogenic herb, which means ithelps the body adapt to the effects of stress, you'll be betterable to cope with whatever the day throws at you.'
Over the next 24 hours: Get some exercise. 'It's the last thing you feel like doing whenyou're exhausted, but it will make you feel less tired for the restof the day.' Says Dr Brewer. 'I have a treadmill that I jump onwhen I get a chance.' Even a 20-minute brisk walk will make a bigdifference to how alert and energetic you feel.
Persistent cough
Symptoms: A deep, chesty cough or a dry, tickly, throaty cough.
Instant solution: Ask your pharmacist for a cough mixture, but be sure to describeyour symptoms so you get the right one, says Pattison. 'If you'vegot a chesty, phlegmy cough, you need an expectorant to bring thephlegm up  suppressing it at this stage can just cause furtherproblems.
But if you're left with a tickly, irritating cough at the end of acold, a suppressant, to stop the coughing action, is fine.'
Try Benylin Chesty Cough Mixture (R30), Solphyllex (R50) or Dilinct(R40) if you're feeling chesty. Pholtex (R37), Silomat Co (R37) andBenylin (R40) are good for tickly coughs.
Over the next 24 hours: If you want a natural solution, Weleda Cough elixir (R35) willhelp with cold symptoms, too. Or try Alcophyllex (R12), which alsoacts as an expectorant. Always see your doctor if a cough doesn'tget better after two weeks, as it may be a sign of an underlyinginfection requiring treatment.
Stress and anxiety
Symptoms: Irritability, lack of concentration, inability to relax. Instantsolution: Reach for an exotic herb. 'Kava kava root will give youinstant relief,' says Dr Brewer.
Over the next 24 hours: Try alternate nostril breathing, says Susan Clark, author of WhatReally Works  The Insider's Guide to Natural Health (Thorsons,R286,95 from kalahari.net). Seal the right nostril with your thumband breathe in through your left nostril to a slow count of four.
Hold your breath while you close your left nostril with the thirdfinger of your right hand, then release the air to a slow count ofeight. Keep your left nostril closed and breathe in through yourright side to a slow count of four. Hold your breath again as youswitch nostrils, seal the right side while you release to a countof eight. Aim for 10 repetitions twice a day when you're underpressure.