Doctors reveal how to manage winter colds without antibiotics

Winter brings the inevitable: sore throats, coughs, congestion. Most of us will catch at least one cold before spring arrives, and the instinct is often to do something about it—call the doctor, get antibiotics, take action. But the doctors themselves say that impulse, while understandable, is usually wrong.

Dr. Hilary Jones, a GP who appears regularly on Good Morning Britain, frames the problem plainly: we cannot avoid viral exposure when people cluster indoors for warmth, and when symptoms are mild, there is little reason to intervene at all. The immune system, he argues, exists precisely for this purpose. Letting it work—letting it encounter and overcome a cold virus—actually strengthens it. In his view, mild illness is not a failure of health; it is health doing its job.

The temptation to reach for antibiotics is real, especially when a cold drags on or symptoms feel unbearable. But antibiotics work only against bacteria, not viruses. A cold is viral. Taking antibiotics for a viral infection does not cure it and does not prevent it from worsening—it simply does not work. What it does do is damage the body's own bacterial ecosystem. Dr. Tom Jenkins, another GP, explains that the human body contains more bacterial cells than human cells, and most of those bacteria are beneficial and necessary for normal functioning. Antibiotics are not selective; they kill helpful bacteria along with harmful ones. The consequence is disruption to the microbiome, with effects that are only now becoming clear and that can sometimes persist. Beyond individual harm, there is the larger threat: bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics when they are used unnecessarily, a problem the World Health Organisation identifies as one of the greatest threats to global health today.

If symptoms demand relief, Jones advocates for comfort measures that actually work. He is a strong proponent of genuine manuka honey from New Zealand—specifically the kind labeled with an MGO number indicating antibacterial activity. Honey soothes the throat, provides an energy boost, and carries antimicrobial properties. He suggests dissolving it in hot water with lemon and cinnamon, a remedy his grandmother used and his 97-year-old mother still swears by, even applying it to skin lesions with the approval of her district nurse.

Diet and lifestyle matter more than most people realize. Jones emphasizes that a healthy balanced diet protects the immune system and helps it function well. Vitamin D is particularly important, especially in winter when sunlight is scarce and the body cannot manufacture enough on its own; many people are deficient and should supplement as the WHO recommends. Vitamin C, zinc, garlic, and echinacea can all support immune health. Beyond supplements, the fundamentals are straightforward: plenty of fruit and vegetables, adequate protein, moderate exercise, and avoidance of smoking and excess alcohol. A multivitamin may be worth considering if diet is restricted or selective, but it is not a substitute for eating well.

There is a point at which a persistent cold or recurrent infections warrant a doctor's attention. Jenkins notes that while repeated infections can sometimes signal an underlying condition, they can also simply mean the body is run down. A GP has access to medical history and can investigate more thoroughly than a patient can self-diagnose. If you are constantly feeling unwell, or if a cold does not improve, that is the time to make an appointment. But for the ordinary winter cold—the one that comes, causes discomfort for a few days, and passes—the advice from the doctors is the same: rest, comfort, let your immune system work, and trust that your body knows what to do.