WHEN you're feeling ill there is no need to automatically go for over the counter medicines when you might just have the ingredients to help you on the road to recovery in your kitchen cupboard.

Hampshire herbalist Penelope Ody runs courses on herbal remedies and homemade medicines from her Swanmore home. She said there are plenty of ways to save money by looking to common cooking ingredients instead of going straight for the big brand cold remedies - saving yourself pounds. "With our cold wet summer bringing a spate of chills and unseasonal catarrh you can make some simple home remedies to bring relief - and cut the cost of those trips to the pharmacy," she said. "Combat minor coughs with onion syrup (which actually tastes better than it sounds!). Slice an onion and layer the slices alternatively with sugar or honey in a ramekin or similar small dish. Leave overnight and in the morning remove the onion slices, stir the syrup and take in teaspoon doses as required.

"Ward off chills with ginger and cinnamon tea: put two slices of fresh, peeled ginger root - roughly chopped - and a pinch of ground cinnamon or a small piece (about 1inch/2cm long) cinnamon stick into a saucepan. Add a mug of cold water; bring to the boil and simmer gently for ten minutes, strain and drink the tea - repeat during the day as needed."

9:23am Sunday 13th July 2008

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