• Decongestant: Helps to decrease swelling and inflammation in the nose. If the nasal spray decongestant is used for more than three days, it can become irritating to nasal membranes, resulting in "rebound congestion", so it is recommended to switch to a commercial saline solution after three days.
• Antihistamines: Taken to relieve the symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and congestion. Side effects are dry mouth and drowsiness, especially with the first few doses.
• Chicken soup: Also known as New York penicillin, chicken soup is believed to be a natural decongestant, spreading heat throughout the upper body and thus aiding in the release of mucus.
• Hot drinks: Hot water with lemon and honey or hot toddy with lemon and cloves are considered great for congestion, especially before bed. A daily cup of green tea is considered a good antioxidant.
• Echinachea: The purple flower and extracts from it became popular in Europe in 1930 to combat cold and flu symptoms. A study by the New England Journal of Medicine in July 2005 concluded that it has "no significant effects on infection" but there is evidence that it boosts the activity of the immune system when taken daily and gives a faster recovery.
• Astragalus: A warming tonic used in Chinese herbal medicine with anti-viral and immune-enhancing properties. Considered safe enough to take on a daily basis, it helps to build the body's resistance to disease.
• Siberian ginseng: Supports the adrenal glands, and is believed to help cope with stress and aid with recovery after cold and flu.
• Vitamin C: Studies have shown that taking 1,000mg of vitamin C a day can reduce the severity of cold symptoms by about 20 per cent and shorten your suffering by about a day on average. But there's no evidence that it can prevent colds.
• Zinc: In one study, 50 people with colds who took zinc lozenges every two hours were able to cut short their suffering by four days compared with 50 who didn't. But other trials have shown no benefit.
• Anas barbariae: Also known as Oscillococcinum, it is widely used in the US and Europe in the treatment of early stages of flu. Made from extracts of duck liver and heart, it is considered to be effective against the flu by the Lancet and the British Medical Journal.
• Eucalyptus: A great remedy for blocked sinuses and respiratory problems; burn eucalyptus oil or rub it on your chest and back.
• Garlic: A natural decongestant, some recommend eating three raw cloves a day but perhaps small amounts in food would be preferable.
• Hydrotherapy: Promote sweating by taking hot baths and keeping your feet hot at all times. One method is to soak your feet in hot water with mustard powder and scrub yourself with a mitt drenched in cold water to loosen congestion.
• Acupuncture: This is said to stimulate natural resistance and relieve congestion, headaches, fever and coughing depending on the pressure points used.