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How to get over a Cold....?

Vitamin C, Echinacea, and Zinc supplements, lots of fluids, no alcohol, and lots of rest and sleep. Over-the counter multi-symptom remedies work very well -- they should ideally have nasal decongestant, antihistamine, cough suppressant, and pain killer/fever reducer. Those that have all of those usually make you feel quite a bit better.

I do feel that with all these remedies, as well as healthy foods and much rest, you can cut the time of a cold from 10+ days to about 5 days.
 
Yea. Vita C. Keep body temp up to help fight the virus. Warm liquids no dairy things that can clog your throat. i really hate that.

-JoE
 
EricNau said:
I really do hate to be a party-pooper, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest that any of the treatments mentioned above, or anything else for that matter, can shorten, reduce, or otherwise decrease the affects of a cold. They're nothing more than a scam.
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gee, thanks for being a party-pooper. but i doubt that will stop anyone from recommending vitamin C as a remedy.

while i wouldn't call it a scam, i agree that vitamin C will most likely have no benefits (especially when one has already caught a cold) at all unless that person is very active (i.e. athletes).
 
My current fix is Blackcurrant Lemsip. It's so incredibly nice, I was almost glad when my cold hit on Tuesday night!
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EricNau said:
I really do hate to be a party-pooper, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest that any of the treatments mentioned above, or anything else for that matter, can shorten, reduce, or otherwise decrease the affects of a cold. They're nothing more than a scam.

Colds are just like hangovers really, time is the only cure.
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The word in your quote that I bolded throws a monkey wrench into your post.

No... you can't cure a cold; but you can temporarily find relief from symptoms. What you're saying is that Acetaminophen doesn't relieve aches, or that Diphenhydramine doesn't function as an antihistamine (for instance)... and that's just plain incorrect.
 
Don't consume much sugar, if any. It temporarily weakens your immune system which you don't want.

Sleep and Fluids are also good tips.
 
TheraFlu. Works great.:)

Don't worry, bongoloser. I'm not trolling. I've actually taken Theraflu. So shut up and get back to third period English.
 
The moment I feel a cold coming on, I make a chili! Add as much Tabasco as you can handle, wrap your self up in a blanket and sweat it out.

Works every time ;)
 
EricNau said:
I really do hate to be a party-pooper, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest that any of the treatments mentioned above, or anything else for that matter, can shorten, reduce, or otherwise decrease the affects of a cold. They're nothing more than a scam.

Colds are just like hangovers really, time is the only cure.
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I agree with you on most things but I have to disagree with you on this one. I use Zicam whenever I feel a cold coming on and the cold never lasts more than 36 hours. I, and my entire family, swear by it. Zicam doesn't cure the common cold, it merely helps with the symptoms.
 
The best things to do to fight a cold are to drink plenty of water and to get lots of sleep. There are a million so-called 'remedies' out there to help cure or relieve the symptoms of colds, but as far as I can tell they're all a waste of money.

fab5freddy said:
I recently waited out in the cold weather for a few hours and this resulted in me getting a cold
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Also the idea that you can catch the virus by simply standing outside in the cold is a myth.
 
FWIW you DO NOT get a 'cold' from being cold. Colds are increasingly popular in the cold seasons because people spend more time indoors and in closer proximity to others.

Airborne works magic ONLY when you have the first inkling of a cold. Same goes for Vitamin C; increases the mucous to push out any germs but once the cold has come it actually just makes you more miserable (snot-runny nose-phlegm). Avoid dairy products as well.
 
It's a virus, nothing can be done but deal with the symptoms and wait it out.
But I still swear by hot drinks and hot sex. :D (no really, I think other than the power of distraction, maybe the sweating helps or something) better have a real loving partner though because sniffling while going at it (while funny) is just best left to the pros. :p

</little perv>
 
iBlue said:
But I still swear by hot drinks and hot sex. :D (no really, I think other than the power of distraction, maybe the sweating helps or something) better have a real loving partner though because sniffling while going at it (while funny) is just best left to the pros. :p
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Plus you get the added benefit of spreading your germs to someone else, so they can't keep telling you to 'pull yourself together' and 'stop being so lazy' :D
 
Stardotboy said:
Plus you get the added benefit of spreading your germs to someone else, so they can't keep telling you to 'pull yourself together' and 'stop being so lazy' :D
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oh it's hopeless anyway, when you live with someone in a small flat, they're definitely catching whatever you've got.
 
protozoa said:
The word in your quote that I bolded throws a monkey wrench into your post.

No... you can't cure a cold; but you can temporarily find relief from symptoms. What you're saying is that Acetaminophen doesn't relieve aches, or that Diphenhydramine doesn't function as an antihistamine (for instance)... and that's just plain incorrect.
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Yes, looking back I'll admit it was poor wording. You're very correct in that one can take medicines that temporarily relieve some symptoms; however, no product has been proven to shorten or reduce the severity of a cold. (That better?) :)
 
EricNau said:
Yes, looking back I'll admit it was poor wording. You're very correct in that one can take medicines that temporarily relieve some symptoms; however, no product has been proven to shorten or reduce the severity of a cold. (That better?) :)
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Yes, thanks. :D

I didn't mean to nit pick, but it was just incorrect info. Most people do believe the myth that you can cure a cold; so I understand the point you were trying to make.

Unfortunately, there aren't any cold symptom meds that really make you feel normal. They might clear up congestion, but you have to put up with feeling exhausted or dizzy.

Also, I suppose someone could argue that while it may not be possible to shorten a cold, it may very well be possible to extend a cold. I don't know if any studies have been done, but I would think that failure to get enough rest, food, and liquids could hamper a normal immune system to the point that it would take longer to defeat the pathogen. I don't know enough about immunological memory to debate the factors that impact on the efficiency of T cells and such. Is there a doctor in the house?
 
Gelfin said:
Take echinacea and wait seven to ten days.
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I took echinacea and my all around my eyes swelled up and my eyes went red. That was about three or four weeks ago and they're still not right. Wish I'd just had one tablet and waited to see if anything would happen.
 
There is no cure. A cold is a virus and the likely cause is being passed on. Just get plenty of rest, take some vitamin C and some paracetamol (and/or ibuprofen, you can take both together if really bad or feverish) and possibly some decongestant if you have a blocked nose. Most other things on the market are gimmicks.

Prevention is better than cure. The cold virus is mainly passed around by hands and then subconsciously touching your mouth, nose, eyes etc. So wash your hands very often. i.e. pens being passed around etc. I invest in gel hand wash. The type that doesn't need water.
 
I take Oil of Oregano for colds and flu. You'll find it in a health food store. The one I have is made by a company called Source Naturals. You just take a few drops a couple of times a day. It'll either kill you or cure you. You will want to have a mirror handy the first time you take it. The look on your face when that first drop hits your tongue will be . . . well . . . interesting!

I also use Moducare, made by a company in Ontario, Canada. It's an immune booster. Not inexpensive, but quite effective.
 
I am on the road a lot, in a van of with about 6 or so other people, often during the winter aka "cold season"; and I very rarely get colds.

My advice is to take vitamins. I take a daily Multi-Vitamin, Vitamin C, and Zinc. And keep clean!
 
Gelfin said:
Take echinacea and wait seven to ten days.
Or take vitamin C and wait seven to ten days.
Or drink a lot of water and wait seven to ten days.
Or have chicken soup and wait seven to ten days.
Or hop around on one foot and wait seven to ten days.
...you get the idea.
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I think this pretty much sums it up.

I've tried it all. My girlfriend is sold on the Zicam and the Airborn, and none of it ever seems to work for me. A couple weeks ago, the guy I share an office with was getting a cold, so I figured I'd be proactive. I went right out to Walgreens, bought some Airborne and some hand sanitizer, started using it al immediately before I started getting any symptoms. Then, of course, when I did start getting symptoms, I continued taking the Airborne along with Zicam. My cold still took a week to go away, and today is the first day that I haven't been clearing my throat, and the drip in the back of my throat is finally gone.
 
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