More than any sickness in the world, I hate colds. I am actually pretty fortunate, because I usually do not get them.

But to make up for it, when I do get colds, they come strong! This last one has really got me, and I have actually looked through many opinion sites, but then I realized, "Hey! Why not try Americas Debate!" So here is my question: What medicine, formula, ritual, "magic spell", etc. works best for you in getting over your sickness?

Hey Dawg, I feel your pain. I've got one now. I find that regular dosing of DayQuil & NyQuil, as well as self administration of Jack Daniels & Ginger Ale (I personally prefer Ginger Beer, Jamaican and a bit more spicy). Plenty of water, rest, liquid foods, and the occasional popsicle (just don't let your freinds see you downing a popsicle). Hot showers are nice for clearing the sinuses. I think Zinc & Vitamin C help as well.

What works best for me is some cambells chicken noodle sup, not a hot showe but a hot bath with bubbles. Then i down a glass of orange juice

Some mulled wine would do well to clear your sinuses. I'm not exactly sure how it's made, but it involves wine, lemon rind, cloves and spices, which is then heated but not boiled. It's sometimes available already bottled, so look in liquor stores.

Egg nogg with marsala is a good winter drink, but I'm not sure it does anything for colds.

Oh, wait... you can't legally drink yet. Sorry.

Ginseng, perhaps?

Drape a towel over your head so it catches the vapor of warmed home made potpourri , and start chanting “it was only a fluke that we beat UK two weeks ago”. Rids it every time!

Bummer. Same here, don't get them that often but it's usually bad when it's been caught.

I start taking Zinc when it starts and until it ends, then NyQuil to ensure a good nights sleep. And maybe a little Makers Mark and honey if the NyQuil isn’t quite working. Make sure you eat normally and get plenty of sleep.

Peppered chicken Soup.
Any chicken soup you want. But add black pepper and some cayenne.
Drink gatorade.

You could hit the health food stores and see if you can pick up some colostrum.
Its basically mothers milk. I have used it on some serious ills and its works wonders.

Do what I do. Let it run its course and enjoy the days off and attention from loved ones. I'm the same way about colds to, few but fierce. If you want to try some medicine go for Buckleys. It's kinda harsh but it get the flem out.

Dont bother clogging youslef up with medicenes. Heres what do, and I have tried this and it works really well. My Father is a herbalist.

Take Echinea Three Times Daily. It Gives the system a huge immuno response.

Inhale Eucaluptus and Tea Tree Oil over steaming water wih a twoel over your head. Eucal acts as a decongestant, and the tea tree is a powerful anti-baterial and imuno stimulant.

When you eat, do not consume any sugar, it will only dehydrate you and robb you of further vitamins. Instead, eat natural foods, but try to eat as much ginger and garlic as possible. My favorite is just to knock up some egg fried rice with about an inch of ginger root and three gloves of garlic. You can also take a garlic supplement too. It has been proven to lower the hoorible cold feeling, as does garlic.

Get loads of sleep.

Drink loads of water.

Take 500mg of Vit C twice daily, and a zinc supplement too.

Also, try to take some live bacteria, such a L Casei, acidophilus, or any, plus some bifobacterium.

The main thing, is Echinea and inhalation though - They make you feel so much better! Loads of showers to...

Pretty funny. THere is a Valentine's Day rematch right here at UGA.



Yeah, that pretty much takes off the wine, beer, and Jack Daniels. I don't think they would believe me if I said it was for medicinal purposes.

All in all, I really appreciate all the feedback. Seeing how much I hate these things, I will probably go through and try everything this weekend.

I have definitely had the water bottle by my side, but I think that all that has done is contaminate the water bottle!

Dont drink any booze - that is the worst thing you can do for a cold!

Where do you get Echinea from? Is it part of other vitamins?

It is Echinacea, and you can get it in health food stores or in regular drug stores where they sell organic vitamins and such. But echinacea may not be as good as it was previously thought. There was some study the FDA held...

Garlic is very good for you when you're ill. Germs don't like it.

If you use some Mentholatum or Vick's Vaporub on your chest and under your nose (if it isn't too red and raw from blowing it), that does help open sinus passages and help you rest. But you have to make sure that you cover your chest, or you could actually get sicker from the loss of body heat from your exposed skin.

Soft tissues like Puffs (preferably without lotion, though) are good on your nose. Cheap tissue is nothing more than wood fibers in comparison. The part of me that hurts the most when I have a cold is always my nose--I am a nose breather and detest breathing through my mouth, so I'm constantly blowing it.

Breathe Right strips help keep your nasal passages open without discomfort.

I love NyQuil--it's the best stuff to help you sleep. And warm chicken broth tastes so good going down and is easy on your stomach.

For those of legal drinking age, this one works rather well. However, it will only help when you first feel you might be coming down with something, a great way to end it before it starts.

Get yourself a bottle of vodka. Get the hottest pepper you can find, cut it in half, put it into the bottle. Let it sit there indefinitely.

When you feel yourself coming down with something, drink a shot or two. Then, drink a cup of hot tea, with LOTS of lemon, and some honey. Lay in bed under a warm blanket for as long as your employer will tolerate.

Don't Russians come up with the best medication?

Or you can always let your immune system fight it, thus strengthening it.

Didn't get a cold/flu in 4 years. Caught the flu about a month ago: Had a runny nose for a day...

Same with headaches, the body releases endorphins(pain relievers), taking medication just makes the body weaker.

Then again that's just an opinion, but it works for me

A friend of mine in Amsterdam makes this concoction which she claims works wonders. Dice about three cloves of garlic and boil them in two cups of water with a sliced lemon and a bit of ginger root. Strain and drink. It tastes ghastly, but seems to do the trick. If nothing else, the taste makes you forget about having a cold for a while...

The only reason that that concoction work's is the garlic, Because Garlic is very good for the heart and many other thing's.