COUGH

Bronchostop Thyme Cough Pastilles, £7, pack of 40 CLAIM: Traditional herbal medicinal product [made with thyme] used for the relief of chesty coughs and dry, tickly, irritating coughs and catarrh. Non-drowsy. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘Sucking a lozenge is like taking a linctus cough syrup — it helps to suppress the cough reflex by coating the throat,’ says Alyn Morice, a professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Hull.

‘There’s quite good research to support use of thyme — studies have shown it dampens down one of the main cough receptors [nerves that trigger coughing] inthe throat. ‘In fact, the herb is already a widely used treatment in Germany for coughs and upper respiratory infections. Some people make thyme tea using fresh herbs and hot water — but I think taking it as a lozenge like this is better as you’ll get a set amount of thyme.

‘However, loose herbs can vary widely in preparation and strength, so the benefits you get from the remedy may vary.’