Quick Remedies for a Bad Cold?

[1Parker1]

I have a really, really bad cold. Sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat...the whole 9 yards. I tried taking Tylenol cold, but it hasn't been helping. And I need to get better my Wednesday because I have 2 exams! What other OTC medications do you all recommend?

:depressed

[SpursWoman]

Nyquil! :drunk

[Spam]

Chicken soup

[SpursWoman]

The liquid Tylenol works really well, too...and it's quicker. :)

[1Parker1]

Nyquil! :drunk

:lol I know, I hear that works really well, but I can't afford to be all drowsy and stuff. Please, I won't be able to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep since I have to study.....

[spurs=bling]

lots of OJ ,water, and some tylenol. for some days and you will feel better. :D

[SpursWoman]

:lol I know, I hear that works really well, but I can't afford to be all drowsy and stuff. Please, I won't be able to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep since I have to study.....


The daytime version is pretty good, too. :)

[HB22inSA]

There is something that always seems to work for me really well.

You know when you first get that scratchy throat, it's not sore yet, but by tomorrow, it will be.

Well, when you first feel your throat getting scratchy like that, if you like tomatoes, eat a few of them throughout the day. They are highly acidic, and it seems to always get rid of my sore throat.

I can't do anything about the runny nose or other symptoms.

[spurs=bling]

well for a scratchy throat i eat a teaspoon of honey with some drops of lime juice. it soothes your throat for a while.

[Bandit2981]

In my experience, the cure-all for anything colds related is this:
-Brew a cup of green tea
-add a shot of whiskey and some honey
-drink before bedtime
the green tea provides antioxidants, the whiskey for some reason knocks out your cold, and the honey soothes your throat...i always wake up the next morning feeling a lot better!

[spurschick]

Chicken Soup
Green Tea
Hot Bath with Epsom Salts

[The sone]

im just getting over it, and zstomp had it a few days ago...whatever it is. i made a huge pot of chicken soup but it seems you just have to let it run its course. four days tops. nuthing seems to get it over any quicker.

[SequSpur]

Theraflu is da shit.

[The sone]

can you say hot totty?

[ShoogarBear]

Vicks Vapor Rub.

Rub it all over your chest and neck and wrap them in a towel. Then rub it all around your nose and sinuses and eyes, and stick it up your nostrils.

It's gross as hell, but it works. Mom was right. Just don't go try to pick up any men tonight.

Oh, yeah, for the throat: gargle with hot water saturated in salt.

[TOP-CHERRY]

and stick it up your nostrils.

It says in the label you're not supposed to do that... I've done it before though, and it feels uncomfortable.

[The sone]

Vicks Vapor Rub.

Rub it all over your chest and neck and wrap them in a towel. Then rub it all around your nose and sinuses and eyes, and stick it up your nostrils.

It's gross as hell, but it works. Mom was right. Just don't go try to pick up any men tonight.

Oh, yeah, for the throat: gargle with hot water saturated in salt.


that sounds rough...id rather just chief my brains out!! :smokin

[spurs=bling]

It says in the label you're not supposed to do that... I've done it before though, and it feels uncomfortable.

i just put it around my nose.

[TOP-CHERRY]

I've even put it just underneath my nose, and it irritates my skin.

[ShoogarBear]

It says in the label you're not supposed to do that... I've done it before though, and it feels uncomfortable.

Yeah, I've done it for years, though, and it really does help drain my sinuses, and I haven't had any ill effec . . .
LOOOOOOOOK, IT'S THE PSYCHEDELIC CAVEMAN COMING TO GET ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TOP-CHERRY]

:lol

[hussker]

1) Tons of water to flush stuff from the system...
2) Pile up in PJs and a blanket and sweat it out, after you drink the tons of water
3) Beware of Nyquil or anything with antihistamines. Might help you sleep, but dehydrate the heck out of you.
4) If you take Robitussin, drink at least 16 oz of water behind it. Need a vehicle to get into the system or it just goes through the GI tract
5) Chicken Soup rules!
6) For Sore Throats, Tsp of honey, tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a few ounces of water, to taste and strengths desired. Works great!
7) Avoid alcohol, even the small amount in the OTC preparations
8) Antihistamines also can promote Eustachian tube dysfunction and can lead to ear pain/ear infection, especially if dehydrated.
9) OJ is good
10) Though I am not an herbalist, Ecchinacea and zinc have been shown to help speed relief in a few studies, but most are from overseas, or studies which are actually anecdotal.

Last but not least...
HANDWASHING! Will not get rid of what you already have, but is your best defense.

[SequSpur]

Give Shooga your phone number to your local pharmacy and have him call something in.

How bout some Cialis or some Viagra?

That should clear some things up.

[ShoogarBear]

Give Shooga your phone number
and

some Cialis or some Viagra

That should some things up.

[Mark in Austin]

You're going to laugh, but this has worked since a good friend told me about it in college. Eat a can of chilled peaches about an hour before bedtime. I always wake up feeling at least a little better the next day.

As far as the over the counter stuff, day-quill and non-drowsy tylenol cold has always worked well for me when used in tandem with afrin or some other nose spray. (Puffs tissues with lotion kick ass, too btw - no more rudolph nose.)

Here's the thing though. If you are going to be getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep, your immune system will be weakened. It's better to get a good 6 hours or so of sleep a night, even if you don't get to study as much. For me, it would mean that I would be more alert the next day, and be much more together on Wed during the tests. The last thing you want to do is kill yourself studying and get to test day and be totally wiped out. You might think about working hard tonight, but making time for a full 8 hours of sleep tuesday night to get you a good start wed morning.

Things I try to eat when I'm sick:

vitamins
dark green veggies
limit dairy intake
limit saturated fat
limit refined sugar
drink teas, real juices, gatorade. All are better than plain water.

good luck!

[Shelly]

Nothing. Colds suck period.

[Sense]

Caldo de Pollo :D

[Kori Ellis]

The "daytime" version of TheraFlu.

[SequSpur]

The "daytime" version of TheraFlu.

:tu

[Jekka]

My favorite sore throat drink is a 20 oz bottle of water, the juice of a lemon, a couple tablespoons honey, about 6 drops of lemon essential oil, and some ground cloves. The cloves act as a natural painkiller, the lemon helps get the crap off your throat and the honey soothes it as does the oil, while the water obviously keeps you hydrated. I carry this stuff all over the place when I'm sick. Ginger is also really good for your throat if you like drinks with ginger in them.

For congestion, I'm a fan of eating something really spicy to make the nose run and clean out the sinuses - something like wasabi usually does it.

[TOP-CHERRY]

Caldo de Pollo :D
Yum!!!!!

I like Caldo de Res more, though...

[atlfan25]

It must be rough to get sick.

[Vashner]

Caldo de Pollo :D
Yea with a lot of hot stuff in it...

But not canned chicken soup the real kind with cabbage and veggies.

[TOP-CHERRY]

Oooooooh, I love it with lots of cabbage!!!!!

[1Parker1]

Wow, thanks for the remedies guys! I'd never even heard of some of them before!

Tomatoes? Who knew they'd treat a sore throat? I'll try that the next time BEFORE I start to get sick

I've never tried Theraflu....Maybe I'll get that today! Actually, I may try out a few of these (well, except that Vick's idea....that's nasty Shoogar!). I'll let you guys know which ones work best :)

[1Parker1]

Theraflu is da shit.



YES! I just found samples of the new Theraflu thin strips in my boss's drawer. I grabbed a handful! The perks of working at a pharmaceutical company..........



I'll let you guys know if it worked. Has anyone tried these new quick dissolving strips? It's weird....

[Summers]

Get a nasal pot. Fill it up with hot salty water, lean over the sink, tilt your head on one side and pour the water in the top nostril. It runs through your sinuses and cleans them out and comes out the bottom nostril and feels really good when you're stuffed up. People always look at me like I'm on crack when I tell them about it, but it's a good non-medicinal treatment.

[xrayzebra]

Zicam, it works really well, especially if you start it as soon as you feel something coming on. If it has already sit in, it will lessen the effects. I use the melts, but they have several different ways to administer it. It is a little on the pricy side, but sometimes you can catch it on sale.