MNHQ needs your avoiding/surviving winter sniffles advice and tips.

[AbbyMumsnet]

It's that time of year when the lurgies hit with a vengeance. So, regardless of whether you've survived unscathed so far or spent New Year's Eve under the duvet, clutching a hot water bottle, we'd appreciate your advice/tips etc on how to avoid colds, sniffles et al - and how to lessen the impact if you or your family does get hit by a horrible bug. What weird concoctions do you take? Cider vinegar? Sambucol? Whiskey? Do you swear by echinacea or some other strange herb grown in a yurt? And what happens in your home if ebola, sorry, we mean man-flu, strikes your poor partner becomes ill? Do world's collide? Do let us know your thoughts.

Thanking you kindly.

An apple a day. Tasty and works splendidly. DD gets a grated apple first thing every day. DP has to fend for himself and occasionally gets colds and a funny flu-like thing at the equinoxes and solstices . the weirdo.

Sambucol and menthol crystals to clear my head if it gets that far!

Prevention - everyone washes hands when they come back into the house, and avoids touching their eyes, mouth or noses while they are out as this helps stop the viruses getting you!

Recovery - Manuka honey - sipped slowly off the spoon because any heat (e.g. in water) will kill the antibiotic/anti-viral element (this is why you should look for cold extracted Manuka).

When DH gets ill - he retreats to a bed in the spare room and is brought everything he needs, until I and the kids think he is better! DH also takes Echinacea but the rest of us don't as anyone with an allergy shouldn't take Echinacea.

I try burning tea tree oil for it's antibacterial properties to ward off germs, also buy tea tree shower gel etc, I'm sure we've been healthier since we started using it!! I expect it's a placebo effect but who cares if it works?
I used to take echinacea but found it gave me terrible headaches so I don't go near it these days.

Keep warm, eat properly, get enough sleep and wash your hands when you've been out. V boring but it works.

Same as Abbymumsnet, a couple of days ago posted about the efficacy of the flu job, now have pounding headache and sore throat and its DHs 40th birthday.

Horton - in the event of a flu pandemic, hand-washing and avoiding touching stuff that may have the virus on it is the best thing you can do to protect yourself. I don't really bother with anything beyond normal cleanliness for colds, etc, but in the event of a pandemic I'd be right there with the soap and hand-sprays.

My fave tip for surviving winter bugs is...

If you can't beat 'em, bring 'em down with you.

In other words, save up a lovely big phlegmmy sneeze and release over a nice tempting (but bought or made cheaply of course - you wouldn't want to waste good cake) chocolate spongecake, and in a few days time when you are no feeling like death warmed up, offer it free to someone you reaaally hate.

'I've already eaten a whole one, you'll be saving me from myself!' usually does the trick.

Habbibu, totally understand about the flu thing - I've had it once and hope never to have it again! But I can't say I worry terribly about colds, at least not enough to do extra washing because of it. I am minging, though.

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