Quick relief from colds, cold sores & laryngitis

Pharmacy shelves are filled with with treatments for sore throats and stuffy noses. But these simple tips might work just as well:

• Gargle salt water to relieve a sore throat.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Try inhaling steam from hot water laced with menthol, eucalyptus or pine oil to clear blocked airways.
• Use vapour rubs to soothe symptoms in babies and children.
• Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) may lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration of a cold.
• Zinc supplement taken at the onset of symptoms may also help.

A tingling sensation near your lips or nostrils may mean a cold sore is coming. Act fast with over-the-counter remedies to stop it.

• Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus HSV-1, last for 8 to 10 days and will often recur, especially when you're feeling rundown.
• Anti-viral cream, applied as soon as the tingling starts, will speed the healing process of the blister that develops.
• Patches that contain hydrocolloid gel aid healing and hide the sore.
• Cold sores are infectious, so avoid kissing and oral sex. And don't share dishes, lipstick, towels or washcloths until a complete scab forms.

An inflamed larynx or voice box is usually caused by a virus, and can often get better with simple home treatments. Persistent cases may be due to bacteria and require antibiotics.

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and try not to swallow or cough excessively.
• If you have a hoarse voice, rest your vocal cords. Don't shout, talk, sing or whisper for long periods.
• Gargling with mouthwash or salty water can help to ease a sore throat.
• Menthol inhalation and an air humidifier help to clear the airways.
• If you smoke, it's time to stop.

Colds, cold sores and laryngitis can really put a damper in our schedules. But with this advice, you could get back to normal much more quickly.