Home flu and cough remedies - do they work?

JANUARY is a dreary month for many reasons - it's bitterly cold, the post-festive high has definitely faded and most of us have picked up some form of winter ailment.
In most cases, over-the-counter medicines and sleep can pull you through your bug.
As GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye told Sun Health: "The best thing you can do for a cold or flu is rest, which is completely free."
But you might be thinking of giving at some at-home treatments a go.
From essential oils to honey and chicken soup, we put nine home remedies to the test by asking GPs to give their verdict on them.
1. Steam inhalation and essential oils
Steam inhalation can help clear nasal congestion, Dr Kaye said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant to Patient.info, said she used to recommend the treatment a lot.
What you need to do is pour some hot water into a bowl, lean over it with a towel placed over your head to trap in the steam and breathe normally. Don't do this for longer than 10 to 15 minutes and be careful not to burn yourself with the hot water.
Some people choose to add a few drops of essential oils to the liquid.
According to Dr Jarvis, there's no particular evidence that adding oils to the hot water can make a difference to easing your symptoms, though she said menthol "might help clear your airways slightly".
Dr Kaye said she wouldn't recommend one brand over another, though you could try something with menthol or eucalyptus.
But she emphasised that you first need to check with a pharmacist if essential oils are safe to use - especially with children.
Overall, just the steam should be effective, the GP added.
You can also use a humidifier for the same purpose, Dr Kaye went on.
If you don't want to invest in a device, a budget trick would be to pop a bowl of water next to your radiator.
2. Gargling salt water and nasal irrigation
Gargling salt water is a popular remedy for easing the discomfort and pain of a sore throat, but Dr Jarvis said there's not a huge amount of evidence that it works.
"Sometimes it may help, and it is recommended by the NHS," she told Sun Health.
It involves dissolving half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and gargling it at the back of your throat before spitting it out - you don't want to swallow the mixture.
But Dr Jarvis emphasised that children shouldn't try this method.
If you have a sore throat, Dr Kaye recommended you suck on ice chips, ice lollies and sugar free boiled sweets.
Nasal irrigation might be helpful for clearing a runny nose or if you have sinusitis, Dr Jarvis added, saying she has recommended the Neilmed sinus rinse.
But you need to be really careful to do this under sterile conditions, she stressed.
Dr Kaye suggested saline nose spray and nose drops for decongestion and loosening mucus.
3. Tea with lemon, ginger and honey
Both GPs said honey could be helpful in soothing a sore throat and cough.
No need to buy expensive varieties like Manuka, Dr Kaye said.
And having hot drinks can help with dehydration and loosening congestion, she added.
But Dr Jarvis emphasised that children under 12 months shouldn't have honey, as it contain bacteria that could produce toxins in a baby's intestines, leading to a serious illness called infant botulism.
She added that there wasn't specific evidence that lemon or ginger could help you get over a winter ailment.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Having apple cider vinegar is unlikely to cause harm, but it's not clear if it's helpful, Dr Kaye said.
There's very little evidence that it can ease winter ailments, Dr Jarvis added.
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