 of salt water up your nose may not initially seem appealing, everyone that I have recommended this option to seems to find it helpful. You can use a 'neti' pot, which looks very similar to a gravy strainer, or a special nasal irrigator. Both items can be found in your Peoples Pharmacy. I make my own nasal rinse solution; I dissolve _ tsp of sea salt (make sure it contains NO ADDED IODINE) in 1 cup of water. People also find that regular nasal irrigation can be very helpful if they suffer from seasonal allergies.
.....Be cautious about "herbal decongestants" or "breath better" herbal cold products. In some |
cases, they may contain an herb called Ephedra or ma huang. A clearing of the nasal and lung passages can be felt very quickly after taking these products. However, other unwanted side effects can be: increased heart rate, raising blood pressure, nervousness and insomnia. People who have a heart condition, cardiovascular disease, asthma, or take thyroid medicine should not use these types of products. Check with your Peoples Pharmacist to see if these products are right for you.
.....The best way to treat a cold or flu is the natural way; stay at home, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. The best way to not catch a cold is to stay healthy; get plenty of rest, avoid large amounts of sugary snacks, wash your hands regularly, eat well and take a multivitamin. You could fill an entire book with natural remedies for colds. I haven't even mentioned |
some other great options such as; Vicks Vapour rub, Astralagus, elderberries, goldenseal, garlic and ginger. For more information, read some of my previous health articles on the Peoples Drug Mart Website. There are cold and immune system articles that appeared in the November 2005 and April 2002 issues of the Peoples First Magazine. To find more home remedies read the  BC Health Guide; it is full of great information about almost every health condition. It is available for free at any Peoples Pharmacy.
Written By Ian Lloyd, Pharmacist & Chartered Herbalist
Peoples Pharmacy, Victoria |
WHERE PEOPLE COME FIRST