Gabrielle’s top tips for beating colds this Winter.

I thought I had nicely escaped the bugs which were invading my family and friends but alas this was wishful thinking. A couple of weeks' back I joined the competition for the most sneezes, splutters and hankies used in one day. But it wasn't all bad.

What did I do?

Echinacea

I had been taking Echinacea at a low dose for a couple of weeks so I simply increased the dose to that recommended on the pack for a few days. I did actually enjoy the one day being a couch potato. I drank lots of hot tea (no sugar, not good for the immune system, and no milk, can be mucous forming) but with the juice of half a lemon and some honey.

Sleep

I slept quite a lot too and felt the rest day did me a lot of good.

Nature C

I am a big fan of Nature C, quite a low dose natural food-source Vitamin C, which really suits my system very well and soothes my conscience too as it is produced in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Bronchosan

Speaking of soothing, the traditional type cough bottle that is Bronchosan really helped too when it seemed cold might be heading lungwards, something to be avoided.

Happily the cold only lasted a few days and as there is evidence that taking Echinacea for a longer period of time can be helpful for those with a compromised immune system (I've had pneumonia and have a tendency towards getting coughs) I am now happily back to taking low daily does again.

Funnily enough, I find that by taking natural remedies I don't have left-over discomfort nor the lingering cold which was a feature years ago when I used less natural cold and flu support.

The following steps may be helpful in avoiding a cold or not being so badly knocked out by the virus.

Wrap up well when going out in the cold. Make sure the coat is zipped up, wear a warm scarf around the neck, keeping the neck and chest warm. Wear woolly hat on the head covering the ears and don't forget the gloves.

Make sure to get to bed early enough to get sufficient sleep.

Wash hands regularly, as common surfaces such as escalator handrails, ATMs, shopping trollies and cash may be contaminated with viruses. Carrying a hand sanitizer is also a good idea.

Eat warming soups and stews with ginger in.

Change out of damp clothes quickly.

Laughter is the best medicine so watch a funny movie or go see a comedy in the cinema.

Support yourself using natural remedies such as Echinaforce and Nature C.

If you do get a cold be nice to yourself and enjoy being wrapped up on the couch.

And before you know it you'll be back to yourself again and as good as new.