Natural cold remedies..

[Becca19962014]

Any suggestions? My head feels stuffed and my throat is hurting a lot, minimal runny nose. I've had a sugar free strepsil but it turns out I can't have any over the counter meds because of my blood pressure issues recently (though I'm wondering if that was down to me becoming ill as its not usually that high) and must limit the strepsils because artificial sweeteners really effect my diabetes.

I already take painkillers for my other conditions.

I've tried ginger and lemon tea (which was horrible!) and have echiniecea tea.

I'm resting as much as I can anyway (other illnesses at the moment badly controlled and under investigation) but that's really hard right now due to my throat hurting so much.

Thanks in advance!

Have you got any white spots on your tonsils? If you do, you need to go to the doc because that's a bacterial infection. If not, try making a gargle from sage tea and a little salt.

Not spots but lines and it's literally only one. The other is fine.

I tried getting a GP appointment but was sent to pharmacy where I was told to see a GP. Now have used my taxi money so can't go back (pharmacy hear surgery closed Monday's). I know the NHS is stretched but so am I! I'm now. I know someone who died from complications from tonsillitis (they were told to go home as it was a 'just' a virus and they'd be fine and phone if there was a problem - they died (in front of me, I was 10) before the ambulance could arrive) so I get very anxious whenever it's mentioned.

Housing benefit due tomorrow so could try then.

Yes, you need to go to the doc. I know what it's like to not have the money for the bus fare. It socks. I hope you feel better soon. Try a sage gargle in the meantime.

I went this morning and started antibiotics an hour later. They were very angry about what happened and said I was very lucky I'd got someone to intervene and get an appointment.

Our health board is doing this stupid thing of denying any help for tonsillitis for seven days, then insisting on a swab which takes at least three before antibiotics are given. Luckily my GP just goes their job, I could tell they were angry though.

Still I've started them now. Hoping no side effects and it'll improve a bit now.

Hope you are feeling better. Antbiotics should kick in quick hopefully.

Echinacea tablets are best but you need the medicinal ones. Superdrug have some since potters are discontinued.

Throat is feeling a bit better, probably psychosomatic! I've definitely got a cold as well. I'll look into echinacea tablets, thankyou.

I swear by kwai garlic capsules (kwai have a higher garlic yield than other brands and far more than eating garlic). Taken with meals you shouldn't smell. Take 2 when I feel a cold coming and it rarely materialises. If I leave it too late I get the cold symptoms, sniffles etc but don't feel lousy and it's short lived. Has worked for nearly 10 years for me.