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Flu blues: Can you kick a cold Kiwi-made?

Home » Blog » Sarah Marquet » Flu blues: Can you kick a cold Kiwi-made?

By Sarah Marquet

Trying to find Kiwi-made flu treatments is giving Sarah a headache!

Photo above by mstea via Flickr 

So, I've had this awful flu for a few days but can't buy Panadol or other medicine to help get rid of it! Luckily I had a wee stash of Panadol but now I'm down to four, maybe six, which won't last long. I've been making lemon drinks with honey, which are good for the throat, but do nothing for the head. So what should I do ... buy the Panadol anyway?

Last time I was at the docs I asked him to look up which medicines are made in New Zealand. There were only about six, one of which is ibuprofen, or some form of. I can't find it anywhere though, so I assume it's a prescription only deal, but I can't afford to go to the doc! So, I either have to suck it up and try the mind-over-matter thing, or go ahead and buy Panadol.

I can't even put ginger in my drinks, as most of our whole ginger is imported. Wild ginger grows in New Zealand but I've never heard of any outside Waikato and it's the wrong time of year to stick some in the garden ... but it's so delicious!

Greggs, a brand I'm sure you'll find in any New Zealander’s pantry, sells ginger. It's not made here, but it is packaged here. I'm assuming this is okay, as most things made here contain imported ingredients, and Greggs is a New Zealand company.

Handmade Goods Online

Felt badgeI’ve also found this amazing website Felt. It’s a site where anyone can sell their handmade goods. The only requirement for selling through the site is that the product is handmade. The seller’s hometown is displayed so you can make sure it’s made here (there are also sellers from Australia).

It has some really funky stuff at awesome prices, well within my budget and browsing the site is proving a good distraction from feeling sick!

Sarah has challenged herself to buy only New Zealand-made products for one year. She also blogs at livenzmade.blogspot.com

Comments

Jo Donnelly
www.beesblessing.co.nz
 
Mon July 05, 2010 @ 07:32 PM
For a great homegrown remedy for your cold, you might like to try Bees Blessing Lemon Honey and Ginger which is made from organic NZ honey, organic NZ lemons (from Hawkes Bay) and root ginger (imported at this stage because as you rightly discovered you can't get ginger from NZ!) Made right here in Wellington, NZ! www.beesblessing.co.nz
Maddie - Li'l Magoolie
www.lilmagoolie.com
 
Mon July 05, 2010 @ 10:15 PM
Felt is one of my favourite handmade sites. Such amazingly talented crafters in NZ!
Janine Lattimore
 
Thu July 08, 2010 @ 09:17 AM
Rosemary is strongly anti-bacterial and anti-viral.  You can make a tea with dried or fresh sprigs/leaves.  It is also known to clear headaches, migraines and pain.  I make a tea by putting about 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary and a whole non-waxed lemon (include the skin its where all the anti-bacterial oil is) in a teapot, cover with hot water and infuse for about 10 minutes.  Add some manuka honey if you like.  You can also add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to a carrier oil (or moisturiser) and rub it on sore muscles to relieve aches.

Tea tree oil is also highly anti-bacterial and anti-viral and easy to get NZ made.

By the way, hope you are feeling better.
Iona
 
Thu July 08, 2010 @ 10:45 AM

Kia ora Sarah,
We use Rosemary and Kawakawa as a steam inhalation for headcolds/flu.  Great for clearing the head, nose and throat. 
A tea made from fresh sage, rosemary, mint and or lemon balm with a good dollop of Manuka honey is fantastic for the throat too.  If you add a gargle from a cup of fresh rosemary tea it'll clear your throat and mouth. 
Tui Balm make a fantastic Chest Rub which also helps at night.  All made in Aotearoa, all can be grown at home and help you to get over colds/flu quicker.  Failing that, plenty of rest and lots of fluids will help you too!
Noho ora mai ra,
Iona

Sarah Marquet
 
Sat July 10, 2010 @ 02:23 PM
Thanks guys. I tried a concoction of lemon, rosemary and honey...it was really good! I guess I have just put too much faith in synthesised drugs for so long.

Bad news is my cold is still here, almost 4 weeks on and has turned into an ear and throat infection which doesn't seem to want to go anytime soon so I may have to go get some antibiotics which aren't made here but may be necessary to help me get back on top!

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