This Morning doctor Zoe Williams has revealed some natural remedies for cold and flu that people could try at home amid a shortage of medicines.
On the ITV show on Friday, she explained why she believed some cold and flu medicines were running out in supermarkets and high street stores. She told This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary: "Colds are rife at the moment, flu is rife at the moment and coronavirus is still around."
She added: "People are trying really hard to self-manage their own illnesses, quite rightly." Dr Zoe said that it was a shortage in the shops themselves and that the products were being "made and restocked all the time".
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She then advised people to ask their pharmacists about alternative products they could use. Dr Zoe then went on to discuss the natural remedies people can try out at home, reports Birmingham Live.
Natural remedies for cold or flu
Vitamin C
Dr Zoe said there was no evidence that suggests Vitamin C prevents you from getting a cold. But she did say that if you get enough of it regularly, it could lead to "less severe symptoms" and you getting better quicker. She urged people to eat things like broccoli, peppers and tomatoes to get their dose of Vitamin C through food.
Echinacea
Today, people use echinacea to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu, and reduce symptoms, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever. Many herbalists also recommend echinacea to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections. Dr Zoe said it wouldn't help get rid of a cold or the flu, but it could reduce the length of symptoms. She also said that people need to have it in their systems before the illness hits for it to have an effect.
Organic honey
Dr Zoe said that organic honey can help to alleviate a sore cough.
Vicks vapor rub
Dr Zoe said that vapor rub can be effective if you put it on your neck and your chest. She admitted though that it didn't actually work as a decongestant. She said: "It doesn't actually work as a decongestant but it sort of tricks the brain because of the strong smell and makes you feel less congested."
Irrigation bottle
Nasal irrigation bottles are used to clean the nasal cavity. Physicians recommend nasal irrigation to treat various sinus conditions. Dr Zoe demonstrated how you fill it with salt water and then spray it up your nose, which clears mucus through the other nostril. She seemed excited about this natural remedy, as she said it really helped relieve congestion.
Oregano oil
Some people believe that essential oils of oregano can really help with a cough and cold. But Dr Zoe said there was " limited evidence about this being antimicrobial" and preventing the pathogenicity of microorganisms like other antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants.
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