The poor mans flu remedy

Observation indicates that I am not the only one dealing with the dreaded plague. Particularly among us folk that don't have our mothers to baby us. If you're like me, flat out refusing to go to the doctors because the fees are bollocks and money is better spent elsewhere, you like to do a bit of a DIY health regime.

In a quest to build my body into the ultimate germ and bug fighting machine, I've discovered ‘prevention' kicks the pants off ‘reaction'. Chances are if you're out pashing various hormone-enraged youths every weekend, living in an old villa, drinking and smoking in copious amounts and eating Maggie 2-minute-noodles for dinner most nights, your immune system is looking a bit shabby.

Angela Haldane is a registered naturopath, writing health related articles for the New Zealand Herald every weekend as well as offering her pearls of wisdom to 95bFM listeners. Haldane agrees that if you haven't got the building blocks there for a healthy immune system, then that's when it can go a little pear-shaped.

The stomach contains a disgustingly high amount of bacteria, 3kg of the crap in our digestive system. In saying that, bacteria tends to have a negative connotation to go with it, when in fact most of it is bloody good for you. Haldane recommends a simple serving of about six spoonfuls of yoghurt a day can help the good bacteria fight its arch nemesis.

Ever wondered why you get random white dots on your finger nails? You're screwed on the zinc front, as in you have a deficiency. Zinc along with iron is vital to maintaining your healthy winter self; feeling lethargic, general sleepiness and wounds taking there time to heal are all indicators that you don't have enough of the stuff. Again it's as simple as eating the right food. Meat is the obvious choice for iron, but don't forget the faithful vegetables. The greener the vegetable is, the richer in iron it will be. Orange vegetables are sweet for their Vitamin C too; although it has been said that the unsuspecting kiwi fruit and cranberry juice is better than your average orange.

If you haven't become friends with Echinacea yet, it's about time you get acquainted. The name can sound a bit technical, but it's just an herb prepared from the roots, it's more effective that way evidently. Seriously, I cannot push Echinacea on you enough. As money-strapped students, it is far more effective to invest in a bottle of Healtherie's tablets, or even herbal tea, and take them every day to build up your immune system. The chances of you getting sick are drastically reduced, and it ends up being cheaper than not taking them and eventually having to fork out for a doctor's bill and various medicines.

Garlic is another gem that is high in natural antibiotics. If you want to get all crazy voodoo in the kitchen, finely chop up some garlic in ¼ cup of manuka honey with some fresh thyme or sage. This becomes a syrup, and while it's probably not the best thing you've ever tasted, taking it in spoonfuls every day really doesn't hurt.

Chilli may be a round-house-kick to your face, but the more of that you get down you, the better. Hot and spicy food is fantastic for when you've got the winter sniffles. While it's probably an idea to eat it in a private, confined space, due to the rapid rate at which snot will run from your nose, the spiciness allows the body to sweat all the yucky crap out of your body. Ginger is another ingredient that is known for its cold-fighting abilities. Buying it fresh and putting it in stir-fries is one way to do it, or cut off a chunk in boiling water, let it stoop for a bit, and you've got yourself a hearty tea.

If you really don't think the wonders of natural ingredients is going to make the cut, let's step it up a notch to the next on the budget list. Vicks. There is more than what meets the eye to this multi-purpose necessity. I've had beef with the old Vicks rub-on ever since I was a kid; I did NOT like that clammy, stinging vapour on my chest as I tried to sleep. Mother's know best however, and as repulsive as I find it, it works.

The absolute stonker trick with Vicks is the "mini-sauna"; fill a bowl with boiling water, scoop in a couple of teaspoons to dissolve and grab a towel to place over your head. What you're basically doing is steaming your face; the towel keeps all the precious vapours where you can breathe them in. Two things: for the sake of your eyesight do not open your eyes, it stings, and it burns, it's hell. Number two, have a box of tissues handy because the aim of this exercise is to get the gunk out, which means stopping to blow your nose every minute.

Another snazzy trick I came across works in a bit of the old reflexology. The theory behind this is that certain points of our feet are all related to particular areas in our nervous system and the organs. The two toes down from the biggest toe are related to your sinuses; if you rub a little Vicks under these two toes and whack on some socks, it is meant to decongest the nasal passages. I'm still working out if this is a far-fetched myth, but there is no harm in trying. Bonus, you have minty smelling feet.

Besides all these theories, common sense is the winner on the day. Going out partying when you're already rundown won't do you any favours, and smoking and caffeine are dead setters for destroying your immune system. As over-compulsive as it may seem, don't be afraid to invest in hand sanitiser, particularly when we spend the majority of out time touching keyboards. Lord knows what gremlins await us there.

Most of all just keep tabs on our body. Start to recognise that vague tickle in your throat or the colour of your snot. If it's clear, then you're in the clear. If it's yellowy/green, you've got to be seen.