The weather change between season has always been confusing and undoubtedly the cold snap last week left me a cold with blocked nose and sore throat. But I found my cure from Holland & Barrett and got rid of it in two days.
At the first day, I took cold and flu tablets in a bid to kill the virus before it spread further but the common flu symptom of runny nose has quickly turned into a blocked nose, forcing me to breathe through my mouth, which ended up giving me a sore throat.
Manuka Honey
One of the first things that I asked for at the health and wellness retailer is Manuka Honey. Its antibacterial and antioxidant properites are what set it apart from traditional honey – I’ve picked the strongest strength ManukaPharm MGO740, now reduced from £109.99 to £49.50, and comes with a free MGO40 honey as gift.
A spoonful of Manuka Honey mixed with room temperature water a day not only soothes the swelling of my throat but also boosts my immune system. It’s thick in texture but it melts quickly in water. ManukaPharm’s products scored a high 4.7 out of five stars, with a shopper saying: “I take a daily teaspoon full after followings some research from Germany with hospital trials that are very good.”
“Absolutely great manuka, been using this for my contact dermatitis/ eczema and this manuka took it away a couple years ago, all other chemicals from GP couldn’t help for year,” a second highly recommended.
Comvita also offers promotion on their Manuka Honey with discounts from 20 to 40% off depending on the strength.
Vitamin C Tablets
While Vitamin C doesn’t cure cold after you’ve become ill but the benefits help to reduce the duration and severity. The Holland & Barrett High Strength Effervescent Vit C 1000mg Orange Flavour 20 Tablets (£1.80) are handy and I take it with me to the office or on travel.
The orange flavoured tablets contribute to the normal function of the immune system and help support the normal function of vessels, bones, cartilage, gums, teeth, and skin. I take it first thing in the morning and it speeds up my recovery, which could have dragged on for another week.
Nasal Spray
Shop assistant Aya recommended a very helpful item to clear the sinus congestion on my second-day flu. The A.Vogel Sinuforce Nasal Spray+Menthol is a quick way to clear airway so I didn’t have to blow my nose every minute. To use the spray is simple, shake the bottle and remove the cap and hold it upright while spraying. It’s best to grab tissues because it can go messy.
The miracle product is unfortunately unavailable H&B online but it’s available on Amazon at £8.99. Alternatively, you can try Weleda’s Rhinodoron Nasal Spray, £10.99, which is suitable for babies and vegans.
Vitamin B
For overall health, vitamin B are essential for brain function and energy production – which are disrupted by the virus and shop assistant manager, Peter, suggested me to take Solgar Vitamin B-Complex “100” Extra High Potency Capsules, now £23.45 for 100mg. It contains eight types of vitamin B and is considered a powerful “all rounder” for those who are looking to improve wellbeing.
MyVitamins B tablets also includes all eight kinds of vitamin B in single tablet forms, it’s £13.99 for 360 tablets.
Lozenges
With the discomfort in my thorat, Peter said it’s best to try the Ricola Soothe & Clear Honey, Lemon & Echinacea 20 Lozenges – a sweet yet soothing candy for an instant relief. But he also shared a tip: “Take a few of them and drop them in a cup of hot water, it can also help to unblock your nose.”
And it worked – the citrus scent of lemon and hot steam open up my blocked nose so I could breathe again and when I felt itchy in my throat, I popped one and had it as candies. Fisherman’s Friend Original is also a good one if you are a fan of strong menthol, you can get it at Boots and Superdrug.