Quick cold remedy?

So I'm pretty certain I have a cold.... any advice to make it go away by Saturday???? I plan on starting Zicam tonight when I get home and possibly getting some chicken soup.... any other suggestions???????

I use a tea from Traditional Medicinals called Cold Stop.
I also drink Herba Tussin tea (same company) and down two fingers (approx 2 ounces) of peppermint schnapps just before bed.
I can usually kick a cold in 2-3 days this way.

Zicam. It works.

personally I like golden seal and ....oh boy now I have to remember how to spell it....echnsia? (the are sold together) Basicly it kicks the cold into overtime, it is icky for the first two days, but it does make it go away sooner, kind of like dealing with all the cold in 5 days instead of over 2 weeks

Nyquil is what works best for me. I take it at night, get a good sleep and usually feel a lot better in the morning.

Originally Posted by laureen227

echinacea is an immune system booster. can't hurt, & might help. also, increase [or add] vitamin C.

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thank you lol its been a long day, what can I say?

Will try, thanks everyone!!

One wise man said that if you treat a cold, it will last a week and half. If you don't, it will last 10 days.

Another wise man suggested getting a bottle of bourbon, take your hat off and put it on the bedpost, get in bed, and drink the bourbon until you see two hats.

Everyone's mother had a folk remedy, and they all work just about as well.

I have trouble with OTC meds, so I do it naturally:

1. Eat lots of raw garlic--use it tossed in fresh pasta--you don*t have to eat it by itself! My fave meal: fresh fettucine, cooked, tossed with diced raw garlic (1-2 small cloves), olive oil, diced black olives, sprinled with Parmesan (canned is ok), and crumbled bacon (I usually use Bacos). Toss in any diced tomatoes, green peas, and especially roasted red peppers you may have. (The peppers are full of Vit. C.)

2. Eat chili or tomato soup.

3. Twice a day, drink 2 TBL of vinegar (any kind) in an 8 oz glass of cold water. You can, in addition, gargle with diluted vinegar. I think drinking it cuts the congestion; at any rate, I feel a LOT better afterwards, even though it tastes kinda nasty.

4. Put a few drops of peppermint oil in your bath water; breathe it in.

5. I swear by Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea. Hot is best, but iced is nice, too. Probably works due to the rose hips, peppermint, etc. in it. Tastes GREAT! (Float a slice of lemon in it, too--more Vit. C.) ginger tea is good, too, though I think the Zinger is better.

6. Drink tons of water each day. Yep, you*ll be in the bathroom a lot, but I think this helps excrete the infection. At any rate, though I feel a bit weak after a few hours of this, the cold seems quite a bit better.

Hope you feel better, fast! I think I will be the next victim--MIL is visiting, and has a terrible cold (she*s in the guest room now, tucked up in bed, watching Dancing with the Stars, and hacking.)

^None of those make any sense, to be honest. As for water - the "how much do you drink" thread already proved some of us are drinking quite a bit of water and can probably verify that it's not helped any of us get over or prevent getting viruses or bacterial infections.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

One wise man said that if you treat a cold, it will last a week and half. If you don't, it will last 10 days.

Another wise man suggested getting a bottle of bourbon, take your hat off and put it on the bedpost, get in bed, and drink the bourbon until you see two hats.

Everyone's mother had a folk remedy, and they all work just about as well.

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Exactly! The virus has to run it's course. Some people get over viruses quicker and easier than others. About the only thing you can get is anti-virals to help treat it, but these are expensive (if I remember correctly) and some viruses are already becoming resistant.

I rarely ever get any relivef from the OTC stuff....I've found usually the junk just has to run it's course, like Bryan said.

I have found a few things that help ease the symptoms up a bit when I get a cold.

Vick's Vapor Inhaler (this thing is AWESOME!!! it always helps me breathe better when i'm congested! The Walgreens store brand works just as good!) http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...&id=prod352073
A Humidifier
A nice cup of hot tea with lemon and honey always seems to soothe my throat a bit as does a warm salt water gargle when my throat is sore.
Shower Soothers (these are great if you're stuffy, these in combination with the humidity from a nice shower will help open up your chest a bit) http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...id=prod1559858

The last time I was really sick I tried the Zicam, and it did nothing for me, so in my mind it's kind of a waste of money. I wouldn't bother with it. I did have some luck with Mucinex DM last time I was sick (at my doctors recommendation, but I was also given some prescription stuff in addition to that too.) If you're feeling that bad though, you might should just see your doctor.

I hope you get over this cold quickly so you can feel great for your wedding day! (Congratulations by the way!!!)

Originally Posted by strange_wings

^None of those make any sense, to be honest. As for water - the "how much do you drink" thread already proved some of us are drinking quite a bit of water and can probably verify that it's not helped any of us get over or prevent getting viruses or bacterial infections.


Exactly! The virus has to run it's course. Some people get over viruses quicker and easier than others. About the only thing you can get is anti-virals to help treat it, but these are expensive (if I remember correctly) and some viruses are already becoming resistant.

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I never said what I proposed would CURE a cold--there is no cure for one--but I think what people here are advising helps to lessen the severity of a cold.