Don't feel 'blue' about your winter cold

With the days getting ever shorter, the skies taking on a near enough permanent dull grey colour and the weather beginning to turn, it’s clear that winter is almost upon us.

An English winter can unfortunately mean the start of the sniffles season where we are plagued with common colds or flu, and with the reduced hours of daylight, some of us can experience low mood and energy, known as the ‘winter blues’.

Don’t be ‘blue’ this winter 

About 17% of Brits are affected by the winter bluesi, and as a result we often dread the arrival of the winter months and the clocks going back in October. Here are a few simple tips to keep that sunny feeling all year round: 

• Wrap up – Being cold can often make you unhappy. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half ii, so make sure you wrap up warm and have plenty of hot drinks this winter. 

• Lighten up - Go outdoors in natural daylight, especially on bright sunny days, as much as possible. One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to two hours a day. 

• Healthy Diet = Healthy Mind - A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you gaining weight during the colder months. Curb your cravings for starchy carbohydrates, such as pasta and fill up on plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

• Natural Lift – Sometimes we need a helping hand to naturally lift our mood, especially in winter. Duchy Herbals Hyperi-lift Tincture* is a traditional herbal medicinal product to relieve symptoms of slightly low mood and mild anxiety, exclusively based on long standing use as a traditional remedy. It is made from a herbaceous perennial plant commonly known as St John’s Wort.

Stay Fighting Fit this winter 

The peak season for common colds and flu is the colder winter months, not only because of the weather but because central heating dries out the normally moist nasal mucosa - an important defence against invading viruses. The key to combating colds and flu this winter is ensuring your immune system stays in tip top condition.

Duchy Herbals Echina-Relief Tincture*, a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections, exclusively based on long standing use as a traditional remedy. The remedy is made using Echinacea purpurea and comes in a traditional liquid format making it easy to take. The tincture is made to pharmaceutical quality and specific safety standards. The range is available exclusively from Boots and limited Waitrose branches from £9.99 each. To purchase the Duchy Herbals range visit nelsonshomeopathy.com.

* Always read the label