A lot of kitchen cabinet “cures” parents and grandparents recommend are nothing more than old wives’ tales. no, urinating on a jellyfish sting doesn’t really take the pain away. no, taking vitamin B1 supplements won’t keep mosquitoes at bay. no, putting butter on a burn does not speed healing.

If you’re laid up with a cold or flu, well-meaning relatives often admonish you to gargle with salt water to ease the pain of a sore throat. is that home remedy really worth the effort, or should it be taken with a grain of the white stuff itself?

The Straight Talk It really works. If you have a sore, irritated throat and congestion, gargling with salt water can indeed help ease the pain temporarily. It’s not just the placebo effect at work, either. a sore throat is caused by swollen, inflamed mucous membranes and excess mucus, and gargling can help alleviate both of these symptoms. its primary purpose is to help decrease swelling; among its many other uses, salt is known for drawing out moisture. Gargling with salt water absorbs excess fluid from swollen tissues, which temporarily reduces their size and makes them less painful. It also dries out any lingering bacteria in the throat.

Salt water’s other pain-fighting action is to loosen up the excess mucus that coats the throat during times of sickness. the salt and the gargling action encourage the mucus—along with the bacteria, fungi, allergens, dust, and other particles that could be causing pain and irritation—to break up and flush away.

This simple solution is so powerful, studies suggest that during cold and flu season, prophylactic gargling can even help prevent illness. a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2005 followed test subjects during the winter. Those who were instructed to gargle three times per day, even while healthy, had a nearly 40 percent reduction in upper respiratory tract infections over the control group, who didn’t gargle at all. the gargling may have helped fend off viruses and bacteria by preventing the buildup of mucus for the microbes to take up residence in.

A British doctor received a £35000 grant in order to establish whether Nintendo‘s darling Wii is an effective retardant of Parkinson’s disease symptoms, instead of just a retardant to alien invasions and lack of Mario games, according to Eurogamer. They also quote a lady suffering from Parkinson’s disease and who appears in TV adverts for the Wii as saying that the Wii helps in relieving muscular spasms and discomfort. for anyone wishing to know whether this is merely a placebo effect or any actual information on whether the Wii actually does help more than regular exercise or other similar devices, no luck. They do quote a doctor after all though.

“if the project is successful the benefits could be twofold. it could allow us to develop a simple way to assess Parkinson’s symptoms yet provide a safe and effective way for people with the condition to be more active and keep fit.” Dr. Cathy Craig said. oh, so they want to use it to assess symptoms and they only chose the Wii to allow people an easier form of exercise. a far cry from the miracle cure it’s made out as in the article, but all to the good we suppose.

Night sweats, mood swings and sleepless nights are experienced by 45 per cent of women going through the ?menopause.

They are caused by falling levels of oestrogen and can last up to six years. Taking HRT can remedy them, but increasingly women ?prefer self-help. ?

Consultant gynaecologist Jasmin Sajjad, of Spire ?Liverpool Hospital, reveals which products really work…

Beat hot flushes: We get expert opinion on treatments for menopause symptoms

?23, 0117 9710710, ladycare-uk.com

A small magnet to attach to the front of the underwear. it is ideally worn for 24 hours a day and is thought to help rebalance the ?hormones. in a study of 500 women who used it for three months, 70 per cent said it helped reduce their symptoms.

EXPERT VIEW: This may have a placebo effect, but otherwise I do not see how a magnet can restore a drop in oestrogen.

?24.95, personalcooling.co.uk

A 2cm-thick cooling pad, which fits inside a pillow for night-time hot flushes. it should be filled with tap water. The ?internal foam core keeps it cool.

EXPERT VIEW: This might help cool you down during a flush, but so would a fan. again, it might bring a slight placebo effect, so if it works for some, fine.

?19.99 for 30 tablets, Boots; promensil.co.uk

A one-a-day tablet that contains isoflavones — an extract derived from red clover that mimics the effect of oestrogen. A study found that Promensil reduced hot flushes by 44 per cent, compared to only 16 per cent in a placebo group. it has also been found to reduce cholesterol, depression and ?anxiety in post-menopausal women.

EXPERT VIEW: There is scientific evidence that isoflavones are safe and help with menopausal ?symptoms, especially hot flushes. During the menopause, the way the body metabolises fats changes. This causes a rise in the bad type of cholesterol, which is why postmenopausal women become more prone to heart attacks and strokes. Isoflavones can help regulate cholesterol production.

?9.99 for six applicators, pharmacies and replensmd.co.uk

A drug-free moisturising gel for vaginal dryness that contains mainly ?purified water (78.8 per cent). it is modified to release slowly and lasts for up to three days per application. This is available over the counter and by prescription on the NHS.

EXPERT VIEW: Dryness is one of the most common problems among my menopausal patients. Falling oestrogen reduces the ?elasticity, blood flow and ?secretions. I normally prescribe an oestrogen tablet or vaginal cream.

This gel should provide some relief. It’s a good option for women who want to avoid medication.

?9.99 for 30 tablets, Boots; menoherb.co.uk

A daily tablet containing extract of black cohosh root, a member of the buttercup family said to help with hot flushes, night sweats and temporary changes in mood.

EXPERT VIEW: Black cohosh is one of the most commonly used herbal treatments for the ?menopause — one study found it reduced symptoms by 26 per cent. however, some experts say more information is needed to clarify its safety. There are? ?concerns it may affect the liver.

?9.99 for 30 tablets

A one-a-day supplement containing ?calcium to help maintain bone ?density, flaxseed lignans and soy ?isoflavones, to ?stabilise oestrogen levels.

EXPERT VIEW: The plant oestrogens in this will improve menopausal symptoms, while the calcium will strengthen bones. This is a good budget buy.

?24.95 for a month’s supply, pharmacies and femarelle.co.uk

A capsule containing a c?ombination of plant oestrogens, such as isoflavones, derived from fermented soya. These are said to stimulate ?oestrogen receptors in the body, helping to boost the effect of the ?oestrogen still being produced. The supplement is also said to increase bone mineral density, which often suffers as a result of low levels of oestrogen. A study found it can help with hot flushes, headaches and joint and muscle pain, too.

EXPERT VIEW: This product does help with bone-building — and brittle bones are a common ?problem for menopausal women. it has a protective effect against breast and uterine cancer. More studies are needed into how much it helps with other ?menopausal symptoms, because the ?trials so far have been small.

RATING: 8/10

SURESIGN MENOPAUSE TEST

?6.98 for a pack of two, supermarkets and pharmacies

This detects levels of ?follicle- stimulating ?hormone (FSH) — these levels rise during the ?run-up to the menopause. The test works like a pregnancy test, checking your urine for ?levels of FSH. The manufacturers claim that it can determine in just three ?minutes whether you are ?perimenopausal (ie, ?approaching menopause), have reached the menopause or gone through it.

EXPERT VIEW: This won’t give an accurate result.

It is not just levels of FSH that ?determines whether or not ?someone is ?menopausal — other hormones such as ?luteinising ?hormone and estradiol are ?relevant, too.

The only true way to ?determine if you are peri-menopausal or have had the menopause is a blood test ?performed by your GP.

RATING: 3/10