With the winter season steadily kicking in, hospitals and doctors’ offices will in no time be swarmed with patients displaying similar symptoms of the common cold. High fever, coughs, sore and inflated throats, headaches, chills, fatigue and nausea are among the most common symptoms shown by people who have contracted the common cold.
It can be treated with over the counter or prescription medication depending on the severity.
Then kicks in the homemade remedies; I am sure we have all heard, as remedies, references being made to honey, garlic, vinegar, ginger, eucalyptus, lemons and boiling water. Although these concoctions have been tried and tested, one question remains of just how safe these homemade remedies are.
“Before a doctor prescribes any form of medication which needs to be ingested, there are factors that need to be taken into consideration – like the patient’s age, possible allergies, side effects and the physique of the patient,” explains general practitioner, Dr Keletso Mohudi.
In this way, the doctor is able to identify the type of medicine best suited for the patient and the dosage and frequency the patient must take in.
Both over the counter medicines and prescription medication are made from the very herbs and plants used in the home-made remedies, minus all the synthetic ingredients so there is little harm that can be done by the concoction, explained Dr Mohudi.
One thing, however, that they all have in common regarding the healing of the common cold is that the patient should consume a lot of fluids and rest a lot. During the cold weather when the body is most vulnerable to the common cold, it is also advisable to boost one’s immune system through the use of Vitamin C and Zinc supplements, which immensely prevent the common cold infections.
Dr Mohudi stated that it is no coincidence that the best way to prevent the common cold is no different from the best way to prevent heart disease, stroke and cancer which involves getting a lot of exercise, completely cutting off drinking of alcohol and smoking and having a healthy diet because the healthier the body is the less chances of contracting any sickness.
