With all due respect to our doctor friends, everyone knows that the usual chemical based treatments are little or no cure for 'flu, colds or a host of other everyday ailments. So, sneezing and sniffling at our desks, we've asked ourselves if less orthodox methods might be more successful in clearing up our throats and poses. In the course of our research, we discovered that a French physician, Doctor Maury ( a graduate of the Paris School of Medicine, now practising at the Royal Homeopathic Hospital in London) has made a detailed study* of the therapeutic properties of a medicament that France possesses in abundance, namely, wine..

First and foremost, wines from Burgundy and the Côtes du Rhône can have a devastating effect on our little companion, the 'flu virus. Here's the recipe. Heat to 60° C one bottle of wine with fifteen grams of cinnamon and five lumps of sugar. Add a squeeze of lemon and drink one eighth of a bottle three to four times a day. To bring temperatures down, Dr Maury advises patients to down one bottle of champagne a day (independently of any other remedies prescribed by the doctor!).

Wine against cholesterol

Fruit Wine can also perform miracles if you are suffering from fatigue. A good Bordeaux from the Saint-Emilion region or a Burgundy from the Côte-de-Beaune are excellent pick-me-ups. Both of these tonic wines supply the body with substances that were perhaps lacking, such as tannin, phosphorous and iron. Doctor Maury also recommends Muscadet wine, because the vines grow in soil with a low calcium content, as well as rosés from Provence for their diuretic and detoxifying properties. These wines can also be recommended in the fight against one of the great enemies of the late 20 th century - cholesterol.

When Dr Maury examines the amber-green color of a glass of Sancerre, he observes more than the delicate tones that please the eye. He also sees the beneficial effects of minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, calcium, sodium and potassium. As much as 6 mg of iron can be found in just one liter of Bordeaux. Wine also contains significant quantities of vitamins C and D, not forgetting other health-giving substances such as phenol, glucosides and proteinates.

Rather then gulping down tranquillizers, pour yourself a glass or two of Blanquette de Limoux which, with its high phosphate content, will 'feed' your nervous system, brain cells and your bone marrow.

Products meant to ease constipation are being constantly promoted by pharmaceutical laboratories. But, for the same price, why not try a better-tasting sweet white wine from Anjou or Vouvray? They have a low alcohol-content and are rich in tartrates and glycerine which facilitate bowel movements.

Slim wine drinkers

And weight-watchers, have you ever wondered why the French, who are big eaters, are often slimmer than other people? The chemical make-up of wines from the Côte d'Or favors the metabolism of fats while maintaining their nutritive qualities. If you have a serious weight problem, though, you should try some Provençal rosé which, on account of its diuretic properties, helps to eliminate organic waste, including uric acid. The wine also stimulates the interna! secretion glands whose action is often slowed down among the overweight.

Those who suffer from stomach ulcers often do so because they are in perpetual state of anxiety and their digestive organs are prone to hyper secretion. Dr Maury therefore advises them only to drink wine that will have a neutralizing effect, especially a red Bordeaux. If it is not too old, then the wine should contain calcium and tannin in the right amounts to combat hypersecretion. Ulcer-patients should stay away from white wines as they tend to overenergize the organism.

Dr Maury asserts that "Wine is to senior citizens what milk is to babies" He advises elderly people to alternate between Burgundies and white wines Muscadets and Sauvignons are tailor made to eliminate harmful substances in old folk. Rich in sulphur, they contain an adjuvant that is necessary for a correct metabolism. Consequently, the help to reestablish and conserve the suppleness of body tissues. Aloxe-Corton is also very rich in minerals which old people are often lacking.

To sum up, Bordeaux wines are good for people with allergies, anaemia and angina. They also reduce anxiety. Burgundies are recommended for sufferers of bronchitis and heart complaints as well as for those who age too rapidly. Muscadet attacks cholesterol, Vouvray dyspepsia, and Saumur decalcification and excess urates. Sancerre wines help prevent the formation of gallstones are also recommended for people with gout or high blond pressure. Wines from the sunny south can perform a Iot useful services, such as stir up the appetite (sweet wines from Roussillon), raise blood pressure (Banyuls) or pep up the nervous system (Blanquette de Limoux). As regards one's sexual appetite, red wines tend to be wet blankets whereas whites are a widely attested stimulant!

Recommended daily doses vary from two glasses to one bottle. Dr. Maury warns against following several different wine-based cures at the same time as another complaint will then be added to all the others - a ghastly hang-over!

Soignez-vous par le vin by Dr Maury - Edition du Jour