Cold Remedies: Helpful tips

[kadi]

Hi all,
I can't be the only one with the world's ickiest head cold right now, so I'm posting all the stuff that works in case someone else needs it:)

Here are a few of my favorite (for me, IC friendly) cold remedies...
1. Hot showers with a "Sudacare Shower Soother" on the floor (fizzy tablet that releases Vicks type vapors when the hot water hits it)
2. Rinsing nose out with "Simply Saline"-reduces congestion
3. Vicks "Baby Rub"- milder than regular Vicks & more soothing
4. BreatheRight nasal strips (stick on to outside of your nose to open it up more)
5. Hot pear juice with a little honey
6. For sore throat & to soothe dry cough, Werthers Original hard candy
7. Gargle with salt water
8. Homemade chicken soup
9. Mucinex for chest coughs
10. Ludens Licorice Throat Drops or Ricola original (not citrus!) drops.
11. Vaporizer next to bed, mine has a place to put menthol liquid in it.
12. Theraflu vapor patch: Like a sticker with Vicks vapors in it that you stick to your pj top. No gooey Vicks all over your chest!

Now, for a moment of whining....
Aaaaghh! I FEEL LOUSY!! And I wish I could kick the butt of whoever gave me this....:evilsmile:

Thanks, I feel better now...

[ICNDonna]

I'll start whining right now. I have a horrible time when I catch a cold --- I'm allergic to the vapors of menthol and eucalyptus --- so cold remedies are very limited for me.

I just got my flu shot so I hope it helps me avoid a few bugs.

Donna

[Briza]

Probably from one of your students, Kadi, as I'm sure you know!!....I'm sorry...we're not alllowed to kick their butts:) Hope you feel better soon....thanks for the chxn soup recipe, though....sounds very good and I hope it made you feel better.:grouphug: We'd come over for dinner but we don't want to catch this vicious cold of yours!:smile tee
PS...Mucinex...a miracle med...I take it along with Claritin allergy and is what helps me the most w/ colds and sinusitis, as far as meds go...and the Werthers candy...good anytime, cold or no cold! Yum

[amaranthe]

Sorry you're feeling so icky! Thanks for typing up such a great list! I swear by steamy showers, Mucinex, vaporizer, and the chicken soup too! I have also tried several of the other things on your list, but not all of them. I am saving your list to my "favorites" though, so I can have it on hand next time anyone around here comes down with a cold.

The only thing I would add to your list is to have a few good DVDs and magazines or books on hand while you are resting to help distract you while you are laying around and resting.

Colds are so miserable! I hope you get over it very soon and are feeling much better!

Many hugs,
Amaranthe

P.S. Thanks for posting the chix soup recipe in the other thread. It sounds great!

[purpleviolet]

If I even think I am getting a cold I start on these herbs:
Yin Ciao Chinese formula(to avoid contamination - Planetary Formulas is very high quality or Plum Flower brand or other herbal brands made in America are preferred to Chinese pills except possibly Plum Flower brand or thru an acupuncture/herbalist who gets high quality supplements), American Ginseng (NOT Panax/Asian ginseng or eleuthro), Andrographis Paniculata. Very important I think - lemongrass tea (loose herb from herb store) and my own marshmallow root tea (I grow).
Sometimes I add goldenseal, elderberry or another Chinese formula (Bi Yan Pian). I've avoided 90% of the symptoms this way several times. It might be coincidental, but American ginseng has gone thru some trials and the Chinese formulas are ions old. Andrew Weil likes Andrographis and it is the "echinacea" of Sweden. Lemongrass tea and marshmallow are considered cooling to tissues and immune boosting. All together they seem to me to be very powerful. By the way, Airborne is based on Chinese patent formulas but the amount of herbs in it is miniscule so no wonder it is being sued for not working. Anyway these herbs do not hurt my bladder (may even help) but I do not have severe IC and how you would react may be very different so Caution and going slow and testing is advised. PV