Tag: pharmacy

Do Home Remedies for Coughs and Colds Really Work?

With the days getting noticeably shorter and temperatures falling, many of us living in the UK are beginning to suffer with symptoms of coughs, colds, sniffles or even the flu. While colds are inconvenient and can make you feel utterly miserable, they are rarely dangerous for those without underlying health concerns, and can often be treated with over the counter, or homemade remedies.

Below are some of the most commonly used home remedies for coughs and colds in the UK, along with their effectiveness.

Echinacea

Believed to boost the immune system by increasing white blood cells which fight infections and reduces many cold symptoms, this herbal remedy has been used for centuries. Its effectiveness is unverified, however.

Honey and lemon

Honey and lemon stirred into a glass of hot water to soothe a sore throat helps to keep you hydrated, while also giving you a boost of vitamin C and energy. There may also be antibacterial properties in the honey, and the steam from the hot beverage can help to reduce congestion.

Ginger

Used for medicinal purposes throughout the centuries, ginger is believed to soothe a range of ailments due to its active compounds, which include gingerols and shogaols. With research having shown these compounds to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, they may help to reduce symptoms of a cold such as a sore throat.

Garlic

With antimicrobial and antiviral properties that may help the immune system fight viral infections and relieve the common cold, garlic may relieve cold symptoms, but the evidence isn’t really there to back the theory.

Zinc

An essential mineral that the body doesn’t make on its own, some say that taking zinc within 24 hours of the onset of a cold, can limit its duration and severity, and there is some evidence to prove this. For those with a balanced diet, however, additional zinc shouldn’t be required, and in fact, too much can be harmful.

Menthol

Found in many over-the-counter-medicines, menthol is an essential oil derived from mint plants. While some people find that it can ease congestion, there is little evidence to prove that it actually helps.

Vitamin D

Vitamin has been proven to help prevent colds, and while we can get vitamin D from certain foods and from skin exposure to sunlight, levels in most foods are low and the sun isn’t strong enough during the winter months. So, taking a vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter may help with a cold as a good immune system support.

Probiotics

During periods of illness, probiotics can help to keep your gut healthy, and as your immune system is linked to your gut, a healthy gut will usually mean a healthier immune system. They can be found in yoghurt and other fermented foods, or taken as a probiotic supplement.

Fortunately, the rise in online pharmacies has meant that those stuck at home in isolation due to a common cold or bout of the flu, can easily get the over-the-counter remedies that they need. With the evidence showing that at least some of those remedies mentioned above can help prevent a cold or lessen symptoms, keeping yourself healthier during flu season, has never been easier.

Could Online Pharmacies Be the Future for UK Patients?

Transformed in part by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists are more often than not, the first port of call now for patients with minor illnesses seeking help, advice and support. With online pharmacies able to dispense drugs more freely (but in a regulated manner, naturally), and GPs inundated with requests for appointments that they simply can’t cope with, it’s little surprise that this combination has become a winning one.

What impact has the digital age had on pharmacies?

But it isn’t just COVID-19 that has impacted the way we seek medical advice and treatment, the internet has transformed it, too. In much the same way as the digital age has changed the way we shop for items such as groceries and clothing, it’s had a noticeable impact on pharmacies, too. Millions of people in the UK now purchase medicines and over-the-counter remedies online, and seek guidance and support from health professionals over the internet.

The internet has disrupted the usual chain of events that would happen when a patient sought medical help in the UK: a GP consultation would take place, followed by the writing of a prescription, the handing over of the prescription to the pharmacist, and finally the supplying of the prescribed drugs to the patient. Nowadays, however, online pharmacies are giving patients more choice and control over how they manage their health and wellbeing.

How did online pharmacies become so popular?

Around for roughly 20 years, it’s only in recent years that online pharmacies have really begun to make an impact on communities, with studies having shown that as many as 25% of UK residents have used, or are likely to use, an online pharmacy. While the major high street pharmacies have strong online presences now, too, there are other, equally reputable companies that also operate only online and are extremely popular.

Due in part to an ageing population and more people living with long-term conditions, online pharmacies have experienced an upsurge in demand of late, and are even teaching the NHS a thing or two!

The NHS and online pharmacies

A trend reflected in the UK, a reported 4 out of 5 US citizens go online to check their symptoms before choosing to visit a medical practitioner, and while many doctors don’t advise symptom checking online, the NHS is actively encouraging patients to schedule online consultations or book appointments online.

Electronic prescriptions can also be sent from GP surgeries to pharmacies using the NHS Electronic Prescription Service, and is fast replacing traditional paper prescriptions. Not only does this save the NHS money, but it’s also changing the way patients think about their prescriptions.

Online pharmacies help those who are housebound to purchase over-the-counter remedies for a variety of conditions, along with helping them gain access to other products and services typically sold in a bricks and mortar pharmacy, too. But it isn’t just those who are housebound benefitting from online pharmacies, in fact, they can be used by anyone who hasn’t got the time to visit their local pharmacy in person, and with a wide range of products sold, why not get your cold treatment delivered in the same way as your clothes and groceries?