Echinacea. I swear by it. Even if I start taking it too late to stop the cold getting off to a proper start, it definitely reduces the duration by several days.
Paracetamol brings down your temperature and eases pain, decongestants clear a blocked nose, and have a stimulant effect that perks you up, caffeine (which I don't do any more!) is another common ingredient to some painkillers/cold remedies, honey and lemon (and sugar) soothe a sore throat. Other than that, make sure you eat enough.
Since the demise of old formula Contac, which got me through my teenage years, I take a multi-pronged approach:
- anti-histamine tablets (generic hay fever 24 hour ones) - decongestant tablets (generic Sudafed). NOT the non-drowsy ones, after an unfortunate experience the night before a job interview, during which I discovered that I could not take new formula Contac and expect to sleep - paracetamol if needed - nose strips to sleep in (those things you see rugby players in) - Vic/smelling salts when I want to smell something - sofa to lie on - several days off work
Though otherwise generally pretty healthy, I am absolutely pole-axed by colds.
I know that anti-histamines are not recommended in some quarters because they dry the mucus membranes, but when your nose is scabbed through being blown every five minutes, that is exactly what you want. My personal experience is that they work for me.
If breathing becomes very difficult, that I'll take Comtrex (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/otcdrugprofiles/drugs/fgotc318.shtml) (which appears to contain paracetamol, along with a decongestant and an antihistamine). But drugs are a last resort for me; I have to have reached the point where I feel suffocated when lying down.
Wrap up warm, then either play on the computer if possible so as not to notice that I'm ill (something absorbing but not twitchy: a strategy game, probably), or sleep if too woppit for games. Occasional Mucron if nose is a problem.
1) Gargle with diluted TCP twice a day, if you do this at the first sign of the scratchy throat sometimes the cold never develops. 2)If I really can't afford to be ill I'll use Vicks First Defense too, though I hate the nasty trickly feeling down the back of my throat abotu half an hour after using it. 3)Start taking extra vitamin C and Echinacea, also elderberry cordial if I have any in. 4)Drop some of my special anti-viral anti-bacterial essential oil mix on a tissue to inhale at night. 5)If the cold develops, continue on with all of the above and additionally steam my sinuses with the essential oil mix and add eucalyptus and thyme to my bath water. 6)Avoid all dairy products and sugar where possible. 7)Slice fresh ginger, in a mug, add several cloves, a crumbled cinnamon stick, freshly grated nutmeg, the juice of half a lemon and some honey to taste,. Pour on hot, but not boiling water and leave to steep for a few minutes, add a tot of whiskey (preferably a smoky single malt – the smokiness indicates a high amount of the anti-viral phenols) and drink. You can strain it before drinking if you want, but the ginger is nice to eat and good for you. 8)Rub marigold cream under my nose to stop it getting sore from all the tissues. 9)If I absolutely have to work (which I usually do - and no I don't advocate this as it does spread germs), take Day Nurse.
Paracetamol and plenty of fluids. Decongestant such as Vick or Olbas oil.
Try to get your hands on some decongestant bath- there are some available for babies as bubble bath, and I think that Vick have started making one for adults. The steam from the bath really helps. I tend to bring Erkaeltungsbad over from Germany (Pfarrer Kneip is best) but failing that try to get your mits on some of the UK stuff.
When it's a minor illness, I don't like drugs. So I treat the symptoms rather than the cause with honeyed water for a sore throat. Other than that, playing computer games really does take your mind off illness!
When I start to feel grotty, I take a couple of vitamins tablets, anything else herbally like echinacea, garlic, ginseng that I have in the house, drink a litre of orange juice and have 12+ hours sleep. That usually stops anything nasty in its tracks.
I sit and sniffle, usually. Which I am doing now. I either have a cold, or galloping hay fever; I hope it's a cold, because that means it will go away! (But I do advocate alcohol. Which reminds me - nice coffee liqueur in cupboard, which will soon be in me :) )
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(GWS, if appropriate!)
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- anti-histamine tablets (generic hay fever 24 hour ones)
- decongestant tablets (generic Sudafed). NOT the non-drowsy ones, after an unfortunate experience the night before a job interview, during which I discovered that I could not take new formula Contac and expect to sleep
- paracetamol if needed
- nose strips to sleep in (those things you see rugby players in)
- Vic/smelling salts when I want to smell something
- sofa to lie on
- several days off work
Though otherwise generally pretty healthy, I am absolutely pole-axed by colds.
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Don't bother with the witch doctor stuff.
Mind you, I haven't had a bad cold in at least two years.
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I know that anti-histamines are not recommended in some quarters because they dry the mucus membranes, but when your nose is scabbed through being blown every five minutes, that is exactly what you want. My personal experience is that they work for me.
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If breathing becomes very difficult, that I'll take Comtrex (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/otcdrugprofiles/drugs/fgotc318.shtml) (which appears to contain paracetamol, along with a decongestant and an antihistamine). But drugs are a last resort for me; I have to have reached the point where I feel suffocated when lying down.
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2)If I really can't afford to be ill I'll use Vicks First Defense too, though I hate the nasty trickly feeling down the back of my throat abotu half an hour after using it.
3)Start taking extra vitamin C and Echinacea, also elderberry cordial if I have any in.
4)Drop some of my special anti-viral anti-bacterial essential oil mix on a tissue to inhale at night.
5)If the cold develops, continue on with all of the above and additionally steam my sinuses with the essential oil mix and add eucalyptus and thyme to my bath water.
6)Avoid all dairy products and sugar where possible.
7)Slice fresh ginger, in a mug, add several cloves, a crumbled cinnamon stick, freshly grated nutmeg, the juice of half a lemon and some honey to taste,. Pour on hot, but not boiling water and leave to steep for a few minutes, add a tot of whiskey (preferably a smoky single malt – the smokiness indicates a high amount of the anti-viral phenols) and drink. You can strain it before drinking if you want, but the ginger is nice to eat and good for you.
8)Rub marigold cream under my nose to stop it getting sore from all the tissues.
9)If I absolutely have to work (which I usually do - and no I don't advocate this as it does spread germs), take Day Nurse.
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Try to get your hands on some decongestant bath- there are some available for babies as bubble bath, and I think that Vick have started making one for adults. The steam from the bath really helps. I tend to bring Erkaeltungsbad over from Germany (Pfarrer Kneip is best) but failing that try to get your mits on some of the UK stuff.
Other than that, get plenty of rest.
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(But I do advocate alcohol. Which reminds me - nice coffee liqueur in cupboard, which will soon be in me :) )