Ways to save… at the chemist
Health – can’t afford to get sick?
Sometimes you can’t help it: make sure your purse doesn’t suffer with you.
Go generic
When you buy medicine without a
prescription to teat minor ailments, you can usually be sure that generics will
be cheaper than their branded equivalents. As long as both products contain
exactly the same active ingredients at the same strength (always check the
packaging), the generic or own-brand medicine will ultimately have exactly the
same effect as the branded one and so could save you money.
Get free samples
Ask your doctor for free samples of
vitamins or supplements. “Unfortunately, our law have changed, so no medication
samples are given out, but there are often samples of vitamins or supplements,”
says Dr Tamyn McKeag, WH’s health advisor. Dermatologists may have freebies of
face creams, cleansers and sunscreens. Eye doctors often give out free contact
lens cleaners.
Peek inside your kitchen
Feeling below par? Don’t rush to the
chemist – relief may be as close as your kitchen. McKeag shows you how to heal
yourself at home:
Milk – Dip gauze in skim milk (it contains
a soothing protein called lactoferrin) and lay it over a rash to reduce
inflammation.
Honey – Pure honey contains natural
bacteria-fighting properties. Clean a cut, then smear honey over it and apply a
bandage.
Fennel – Can be used to ease an upset
stomach. Turkish research found that intoxicated rats experienced less nausea
when they were fed fennel.
Ginger – Not just for your teatime. Add a
slice of fresh ginger or lemon as a natural remedy for nausea – especially
useful if you’re pregnant.
Salt water – This has brilliant
antibacterial properties when used as a throat gargle, nasal rinse or to clean
open wounds or piercings.
Oils – Olive oil or sweet almond oil drops
can unblock waxy ears. With a dropped or small syringe, drip three drops of
room-temperature olive or sweet almond oil into your ear. Lie with your head
tilted to the side to allow drops to settle for a few minutes. This will soften
any hardened wax.
Psyche out sickness
Two brain tricks that can heal your body
The ailment - Allergies
The mental medicine
Laughter – Line up those side-splitters
when allergies strike. A study from Physiology and Behaviour showed that
participants were less affected by allergens after seeing a funny film. The
reason: laughter revs your parasympathetic nervous system, stopping allergens
from taking hold.
Your therapy – Weekly viewings of 30 Rock.
The aliment – Cuts, scrapes and bruises
The mental medicine
A healthy relationship – positive
interaction can speed recovery by at least a day, says psychiatrist Dr Janice
Kielcolt-Glaser. “It boosts cytokines (chemicals that recruit cells needed for
making repairs) in the area around the wound.”
Your therapy – Trade massages with your partner at the end o a long day. Bliss.
