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Frequent coughs and colds
My husband and I both suffer from frequent coughs and colds which almost always follow spending time with our grandchildren. They are 6, 4 and 1 and always seem to have runny noses. We see them once a fortnight which just gives us time to get over a cold before they arrive with another one.
While a healthy adult should only succumb to around two colds a year, children can catch as many as six or nine. The minute my four-year-old daughter shows any sign of a runny nose, I cut out dairy from her diet (which produces excess mucous in the body) and add 10 drops of Bioforce's new Echinacea Complex - a herbal tincture that includes Plantago - to her fruit juice, both at breakfast and supper.
Most people have now heard of echinacea, the best-selling immune-boosting plant, but plantago is less well known. It is an odourless plant found in Europe and Asia where is grows in vast quantities in dry meadows and fields. It has both astringent and expectorant properties, which have made it a traditional treatment for bronchial infections and blocked nasal passages, as well as inflammation of the inner ear in kids. Its soothing action is thanks to the high proportion of mucilage found in the plant - and in your shoes, I would give the children’s mother a bottle to help them fight off coughs and colds at this time of the year. This tincture costs £4.79 for 30ml. For stockists, call Bioforce on (01294-277344).
It sounds like you and your husband need to build your resistance too. One of the most powerful antiviral agents for adults is another herb called Goldenseal which again, you can take in tincture form. Alternatively, take a two-pronged approach and drink a herbal tea that combines echinacea and goldenseal. Farmacia (0207-831 0830), London’s first phamacy with on-site complementary therapies and remedies, stocks a wide range of herbs and herbal teas. This one costs £3.95 for 20 teabags.
The use of allicin, the primary active agent generated by garlic, for general well-being is on the increase and its role as an antioxidant has been widely investigated. Health Perception have a supplement called Allimax, which provdes the body with a guaranteed 100% yield of allicin. Each Allimax capsule contains 180mg allicin powder and, because it is absorbed so rapidly, it is unlikely to cause any repetitive odour. Phone 01252 861454 for ordering and information.