Share your home cold/flu remedies

[67fastback]

Yeah I got a nasty one, that has been running rampant on our construction site. It's been d@mn cold lately too, so that doesn't help.

While making myself a bowl of chicken soup, I wondered if any of you guys/gals have some interesting or different home remedies or things that you do, when you have a cold or flu?

[DanVanVliet]

Hot toddy Its wiskey a little water lemon and honey heated. get it hot and drink it down you will sweat out your cold while you sleep. It works for me.

[rpaul11]

lots of hot tea

eccinacea/goldenseal

and this http://www.zucol.com/why.aspx

[Bando]

Not really an "at home recipe" but I swear by hot & sour soup from the Chinese restaurant - extra hot.

[maryinmesquite]

Not really an "at home recipe" but I swear by hot & sour soup from the Chinese restaurant - extra hot.

my daughter swears by pho. vietnamese soup

[rpaul11]

Not really an "at home recipe" but I swear by hot & sour soup from the Chinese restaurant - extra hot.

oh yeah...thats great

[eomrat]

FTW

http://www.makersmark.com/Lpa.aspx

[bebeklein]

my daughter swears by pho. vietnamese soup

OMG so do I!

[Tyrbolift]

Cream of tomato soup

Grilled cheese sandwich with garlic sprinkled on it

Chili

Aspirin--not tylenol or ibuprofen

a steam vaporizer, a shower, or sit in the bathroom for 5 or 10 minutes while the shower is turned on to total full hot

[gbg]

Yeah I got a nasty one, that has been running rampant on our construction site. It's been d@mn cold lately too, so that doesn't help.

While making myself a bowl of chicken soup, I wondered if any of you guys/gals have some interesting or different home remedies or things that you do, when you have a cold or flu?

Zinc.
Just got over the flue, took a zinc tab everyday for the first couple of days and it killed my sore throat.

When I was a kid and had a fever my mother would take socks and soak them in cold water and put them on my feet, in 5 min. they were almost dry.
Guess it helped to suck the fever out. :D

[sluge]

honey and whiskey, heated in the microwave , sip slowly.

[_VL]

(I copied this response I gave in other threads on this topic)...

For ANY type of cough: Tessalon perles (benzonatate)!!!!!! (An old homeopathic trick that even many many mainstream docs still swear by... you can pick them up at any pharmacy.) For all other symptoms:
IMO... Zinc has questionable efficacy but if you use it should be started within 24 hrs of onset of symptoms. You can't beat good ole' saline nasal drops, salt water gargle, hot tea w/honey and lemon, chicken soup, lots and lots of fluids, and plenty of rest if possible.

[Skidmarx]

When I get sick I consume lots of apples and oranges, natural Vit C . Seems to help.

Also Zicam tabs really do work if you catch a cold early. I was skeptical but have seen results with the last few nasty ones that went around this year.

[Deborah_Lyn]

humidifier - I love that thing. Knocks it out in about 24 hours and clears up my head in about 12. Just be sure to change the water everyday/use. Ick.

vick's vapor rub - awesome stuff

I usually get really congested, so those plus Tylenol cold kicks it right out! they sell a split pack - 4 doses day and 4 doses for night. good stuff. oh, stya hydrated too. Hot tea with honey or ginger ale. I avoid sodas now, but when your sick, ginger ale is the bestest!

[Tyrbolift]

They gave free flu shots where I work about a month ago, and everyone I work with got one except me. Now half of them have gotten sick so far but i haven't. :D

[Tyrbolift]

humidifier - I love that thing. Knocks it out in about 24 hours and clears up my head in about 12. Just be sure to change the water everyday/use. Ick.

vick's vapor rub - awesome stuff

I usually get really congested, so those plus Tylenol cold kicks it right out! they sell a split pack - 4 doses day and 4 doses for night. good stuff. oh, stya hydrated too. Hot tea with honey or ginger ale. I avoid sodas now, but when your sick, ginger ale is the bestest!I'm more an aspirin + 7up guy myself.

[bird72]

honey, lemon and aloe. grapefruit juice and acerola juice.

[jtroster]

How come nobody answered "Chicken Soup"?

[Tyrbolift]

How come nobody answered "Chicken Soup"?Because everybody knows that's good for a cold.

[maryinmesquite]

OMG so do I!

it is good , i have been craving some , may get some this weekend

[_VL]

How come nobody answered "Chicken Soup"?

I did, silly. (It's part of my answer.) Although I don't blame you if you ignore my posts... that might be a smart tactic most of the time (LOL?).

[dbx]

.... chicken soup, lots and lots of fluids, and plenty of rest if possible.

^^^

I also use Alka Seltzer Plus (or store brand of it) and it helps greatly.

One thing I'll mention that works for me too; with the exception of my worst day (cold, not flu), if I have a workout day scheduled I'll usually keep to it. I take extra caffeine than normal. I swear by caffeine having an analgesic effect, and I've had great workouts while sick as a dog. Again, for a cold. The flu is down time for me.

[maryinmesquite]

^^^

I also use Alka Seltzer Plus (or store brand of it) and it helps greatly.

One thing I'll mention that works for me too; with the exception of my worst day (cold, not flu), if I have a workout day scheduled I'll usually keep to it. I take extra caffeine than normal. I swear by caffeine having an analgesic effect, and I've had great workouts while sick as a dog. Again, for a cold. The flu is down time for me.

i have always said that , get up , get in the shower and you will feeel better , i try to keep going , and since im a caffeine junkie , dont know , i drink coffee and monsters (no carb) like crazy ,

[jtroster]

I did, silly. (It's part of my answer.) Although I don't blame you if you ignore my posts... that might be a smart tactic most of the time (LOL?).
Sorry, I missed it. For me Chicken Soup would come first

[snoack]

^^^

I also use Alka Seltzer Plus (or store brand of it) and it helps greatly.

One thing I'll mention that works for me too; with the exception of my worst day (cold, not flu), if I have a workout day scheduled I'll usually keep to it. I take extra caffeine than normal. I swear by caffeine having an analgesic effect, and I've had great workouts while sick as a dog. Again, for a cold. The flu is down time for me.

X2! Nothing like a good hard sweat to make you feel better. I swear by it. As long as I can focus and concentrate I'm hitting it.

[rpaul11]

dammit...Bando has me craving hot n sour soup :mad:

[dogguy]

While making myself a bowl of chicken soup, I wondered if any of you guys/gals have some interesting or different home remedies or things that you do, when you have a cold or flu?
--Drink plenty of fluids; for example, a good quality "OJ". Gargle with Listerine several times a day. You'll be back in shape in no time. :)

[notgumbel]

A quart of prune juice ...


... you'll be terrified of sneezing :D

[Guff]

my daughter swears by pho. vietnamese soup

I love pho...don't see what it would do for a cold though.

[maryinmesquite]

I love pho...don't see what it would do for a cold though.

my daughter thinks it helps ,maybe the steam off the broth

[Minotaur]

Hot toddy Its wiskey a little water lemon and honey heated. get it hot and drink it down you will sweat out your cold while you sleep. It works for me.

Haha, similar to my late father's remedy... hot tea, a generous shot of whiskey in it, a hot water bottle in bed (he'd fill an Italian wine gallon jug and wrap it in towels), then pile on the blankets and sweat that mofo'ing infection out.

[spiirit]

For immediate relief from all symptom's... a sudden application of a cold hammer to thumb or big toe works every time!

If you can tell one is coming... try wearing a knit "Watch Cap" to bed. It's very likely it won't get worse and may even pass. This works for me every year.

(No charge)!

[Keltron]

chopped garlic
chopped ginger
a green tea bag
honey
lemon

ad a cup of water and the garlic and ginger into a small pot and bring to a boil

Let it simmer for about 10/15 minutes.

Add the green tea bag and turn the heat off.

Let it stand for about 5 minutes to brew the tea.

Pour into a mug and add honey and lemon to taste.

You can strain out the garlic and ginger chunks but you're better off knuckling up and taking it. Of course, the finer you chop it, the easier it'll be to gulp it down.

[67fastback]

Wow.

A lot of great suggestions, and tips.

Fortunately I don't have a sore throat yet. W is part Dutch. We goto a Dutch confection shop sometimes, and get double salted or triple salted licorice. Those work just like a salt water gargle. Most people cannot stand the taste. I love them.

Great work guys/gals keep them coming

[Old-Time-Lifter]

For a cold, Zicam does work well if you get on top of it quick enough.

I haven't had a flu for years, but when I do, I just go to bed and sleep it off.

Often sleep works best for alot of ailments.

[bebeklein]

For a cold, Zicam does work well if you get on top of it quick enough.

I haven't had a flu for years, but when I do, I just go to bed and sleep it off.

Often sleep works best for alot of ailments.

I read something within the last year or so where people lost their sense of smell from taking Zicam. I think there was some kind of lawsuit.

[bebeklein]

Haha, similar to my late father's remedy... hot tea, a generous shot of whiskey in it, a hot water bottle in bed (he'd fill an Italian wine gallon jug and wrap it in towels), then pile on the blankets and sweat that mofo'ing infection out.

this works for me 2

[bebeklein]

my daughter thinks it helps ,maybe the steam off the broth

I think it's the broth and also the spicy hot.