The modern medicine cabinet

What should you keep in your medicine cabinet? Sarah Hall asked a doctor and a homeopath for advice on what to have at home

Colds
A doctor says: for a head cold, take paracetamol to get your temperature down and vitamin C-boosted Lemsip to aid recovery. If you've got a cough, Sudafed Linctus will soothe the coughing reflex and ease congestion in nose and sinuses. But read the label, as pregnant women and people with respiratory problems should consult their doctor before using this medicine. Remember that most cold and cough preparations contain paracetamol, which in large quantities can cause liver damage, so make sure you don't overdo it.

A homeopath says: at the first sign of a cold, start taking the herb echinacea - this will help boost your immune system and speed up your recovery. A few drops of eucalyptus makes a wonderful DIY decongestant. Put it in a small bowl of hot (not boiling) water and inhale, keeping in the steam by placing a towel over your head. You could add a few drops of oil to a bath to ease muscle ache or put a few drops on your pillow at night. Remember that the pure form of the oil should never be applied neat to skin.

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Yeast infection (thrush)
A doctor says: you can choose from a pessary (a method that allows medication to be taken vaginally), a cream or an oral tablet. Canestan Combi contains both a cream and a pessary that is usually inserted into the vagina at night. Diflucan One is a single dose tablet treatment but it takes time to work, so it is not good if you need immediate relief for an itchy or inflamed area.

A homeopath says: live yoghurt is a tried and trusted remedy because it contains the probiotics acidophilus and bifidus. If you don't like eating yoghurt you can apply it to the inflamed area.

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Yeast infection