If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

This winter, there seems to be a whole range of tummy bugs going around. Those of us with children at school are always prone to having the various bugs brought into the house. Obviously with the more serious ones we should follow the instructions that our mothers and grandmothers gave us, drink plenty of water, keep warm and rest. But what else can we do to protect ourselves and to make things a bit easier should we catch up.

I have already written one item on ginger. Ginger seems to help all digestive problems. It is available in capsules for those wanting a more serious dose but you can just try ginger cookies, ginger cake, ginger tea or putting some ground ginger on your cereal in the morning.

Peppermint is another herb that is excellent for the digestive system. There again, it is available in capsules and is quite popular as peppermint tea. It would be advisable to avoid mint sweets when unwell and try to stick to more healthy methods of taking it. Peppermint oil is available, some of which can be taken internally and some of which can be rubbed on your tummy externally.

It is also important to boost your immune system. I believe that everybody should have a good quality multinutrient every day. The companies that I normally recommend are Solgar and Higher Nature but there are many other good manufacturers around as well as many not so good ones. Don’t buy it just because it is the cheapest, these are not usually the best. A multinutrient contains many items, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients aimed at an all round balance. Obviously a healthy diet with your five portions of fruit and vegetables is recommended as well.

Other popular products that boost your immune system are Sambucol, which is black elderberry extract and full of nutrients and echinacea, which is herb most often taken in tincture (homeopathic liquid) form and just a few drops a day can have a noticeable effect.

The advantages of homeopathic treatment is that the tablets are dissolved under the tongue, so even if you are unable to keep food down they can still be absorbed into the blood stream. Arsen alb 30 is recommended when there are burning pains in the stomach, China 30 if there is lots of wind and Phosporus 30 if there is exhaustion and a desire for cold drinks.

Generally it is important to make sure that you don’t get dehydrated. If fluids are not kept down contact your doctor or your pharmacist, they can provide something that will help. Always contact your doctor if the symptoms persist.

Tags: bug, dehydration, diarrhoa, diarrhoea, Ginger, multinutrient, nausea, peppermint, sickness, tummy