The best way to avoid the common cold over winter is with common sense according to a campaign launched this week by the National Prescribing Service (NPS).

The Executive Manager of the NPS’s Quality Use of Medicines Programs, Karen Kaye said there is little evidence that vitamins, mineral supplements and other herbal remedies prevent colds.

“In the case of echinacea particularly, the quality of these medicines can differ greatly and most have not been tested in good quality clinical trials,” she said.

“A consistent problem is the quality of the clinical trials used to test these medicines.”

Instead, Ms Kaye said basic hygiene practices, like frequent hand washing with soap and keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth, are the best way to keep colds at bay.

If a person does catch a cold, the smartest thing to do is rest and treat the symptoms, she said.

Ms Kaye recommends drinking a soothing liquid, gargling warm salty water or sucking on ice or a lozenge to relieve from a sore throat.

Saline sprays or drops and inhaling steam from the shower will help clear mucus.

“Antibiotics won’t help your cold get better faster and won’t stop a cold from spreading to others because they simply don’t work on the viruses which cause common colds,” said Ms Kaye.

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