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nolabear

(41,990 posts)
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 09:44 PM Feb 2013

Dang. That cold finally caught me. Home remedies anyone?

I'll probably go for the OTC meds tomorrow when I have to go to work, but for sitting around being scratchy, snotty and grumpy I could use some hot liquids toddyesque suggestions. Argh-choo!

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Dang. That cold finally caught me. Home remedies anyone? (Original Post) nolabear Feb 2013 OP
I use Black Elderberry extract, works very well. texanwitch Feb 2013 #1
Thanks! I'll look it up. nolabear Feb 2013 #8
this makes me feel better with a cold... Scruffy Rumbler Feb 2013 #2
I take mine in decaf tea, but I'm definitely going there! nolabear Feb 2013 #9
That's my recipe too HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 #25
If it's Captain Morgan's ... Scruffy Rumbler Feb 2013 #28
Home-made chicken soup? Brigid Feb 2013 #3
Pho. Tasty and I don't have to make it. nolabear Feb 2013 #11
Apple cider vinegar Tree-Hugger Feb 2013 #4
I've heard that's good but never tried it. I will. nolabear Feb 2013 #12
honey, lemons, ginger, cayenne pepper, tincture of echinacea *hot* In_The_Wind Feb 2013 #5
Poultice or in water or how? nolabear Feb 2013 #13
steep it, either pour off the liquid or strain to remove the pulp. In_The_Wind Feb 2013 #23
For a sore throat, gargle with warm, salted water= Miracle cure. For just cold achy stuff, ginger Flaxbee Feb 2013 #20
perfect In_The_Wind Feb 2013 #24
Hot herb tea with honey and lemon siligut Feb 2013 #6
Yes except for the zinc. I lost my sense of taste once nolabear Feb 2013 #14
echinacea, zinc, vitamin c mokawanis Feb 2013 #7
I drink lots of Emergen-C. Don't know if it helps nolabear Feb 2013 #15
Rub Vicks on the bottom of your feet... snacker Feb 2013 #10
Lol! One from my childhood. My mother thought Vicks cured everything. nolabear Feb 2013 #16
A Chinese co-worker tipped me off to this. It totally works Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #17
Whoa. Who can do that? nolabear Feb 2013 #18
That's a good way RudynJack Feb 2013 #19
Not a good idea. 840high Feb 2013 #27
Spicy food, especially the Vietnamese soup known as canh chua Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2013 #21
I love pho with a dose of spice so I'll look for canh chua. Thanks. nolabear Feb 2013 #31
I've noticed benefits from taking zinc supplements, wild oregano oil, and reishi medicinal mushroom aint_no_life_nowhere Feb 2013 #22
Yeah I know nothing cures it. But I might as well tackle symptoms. nolabear Feb 2013 #32
in all honesty, the best thing to do is just put up with it Godhumor Feb 2013 #26
Would that I could eschew cough suppressants. In my job I can't be hacking a lot though. nolabear Feb 2013 #33
Clove of garlic. Peel and chew before swallowing. LiberalEsto Feb 2013 #29
Honey and Cinnamon? Bryn Feb 2013 #30
Interesting. Does it work for you? Seems benign enough. nolabear Feb 2013 #34
Ginger soup geardaddy Feb 2013 #35

texanwitch

(18,705 posts)
1. I use Black Elderberry extract, works very well.
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 09:54 PM
Feb 2013

It won't cure the cold but it last as long, and you will feel better.

You can find the extract at a heath food store and the cough meds at any drug store now.

Scruffy Rumbler

(961 posts)
2. this makes me feel better with a cold...
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 09:57 PM
Feb 2013

1 shot whiskey
honey to taste
squeeze of lemon
hot water to fill

Sniff, sip and sleep....feel better!

 

HarveyDarkey

(9,077 posts)
25. That's my recipe too
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:30 AM
Feb 2013

Although I replace the whiskey with Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum. I drink my whiskey neat.

nolabear

(41,990 posts)
11. Pho. Tasty and I don't have to make it.
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 11:31 PM
Feb 2013

Mr. Bear isn't much of a soup maker but he'll go for pho any time. Thanks.

Tree-Hugger

(3,370 posts)
4. Apple cider vinegar
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 10:02 PM
Feb 2013

A tablespoon mixed in water. You can use hot water or cold water, whatever your preference. I like to add a spoonful of honey to it as well. Drink it down. Doesn't taste too terrible.

Elderberry syrup works well, too, if you have it.

Feel better!

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
23. steep it, either pour off the liquid or strain to remove the pulp.
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:24 AM
Feb 2013

I usually keep it in a thermal carafe to enjoy through out the day.

Oh and, about the ginger . . . grade just a bit of the fresh root into the blend.


Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)
20. For a sore throat, gargle with warm, salted water= Miracle cure. For just cold achy stuff, ginger
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:08 AM
Feb 2013

tea.

Get ginger root, peel it and cut it into chunks (maybe a 1-2 inch knob of root would be fine), put it in water and microwave (or pour hot water over the ginger).

Let "steep". Add some lemon, honey to taste. Some people also add cayenne pepper ...

nolabear

(41,990 posts)
14. Yes except for the zinc. I lost my sense of taste once
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 11:36 PM
Feb 2013

By using Zycam. It was gone for a couple of months. It came back but I understand I am not the only one who reacts that way.

snacker

(3,619 posts)
10. Rub Vicks on the bottom of your feet...
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 11:29 PM
Feb 2013

and put on a pair of socks. Here's hoping you get a good night's rest and feel better in the morning.

nolabear

(41,990 posts)
16. Lol! One from my childhood. My mother thought Vicks cured everything.
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 11:39 PM
Feb 2013

Lol! I'll bet the vapors alone chase cold bugs away.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
17. A Chinese co-worker tipped me off to this. It totally works
Sun Feb 10, 2013, 11:42 PM
Feb 2013

if you can get it down. drink 3 gallons of water to flush out your system


sorry you feel bad NB....had mine at Christmas.

relax and let someone wait on you !

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)
21. Spicy food, especially the Vietnamese soup known as canh chua
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:12 AM
Feb 2013

When I was sick, one of my Facebook friends suggested honey with cinnamon. I think it was effective.

aint_no_life_nowhere

(21,925 posts)
22. I've noticed benefits from taking zinc supplements, wild oregano oil, and reishi medicinal mushroom
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 12:14 AM
Feb 2013

powder. The oregano oil needs to be medicinal grade available in health food stores. Oregano oil and reishi are said to have powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties. They seem to shorten the worst of the symptoms for me. But nothing cures a cold that I know of.

Godhumor

(6,437 posts)
26. in all honesty, the best thing to do is just put up with it
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 01:02 AM
Feb 2013

Your body is fighting the invader, let it. And never take cough suppressants, even if your throat hurts, as your body needs to get rid of all that mucus. Cough suppressants just make that process take a lot longer.

nolabear

(41,990 posts)
33. Would that I could eschew cough suppressants. In my job I can't be hacking a lot though.
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 05:34 PM
Feb 2013

How would you feel if your therapist had coughing fits? LOL! I do just use the honey/lemon/Echinacea ones though. And shut up.

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
29. Clove of garlic. Peel and chew before swallowing.
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 03:14 PM
Feb 2013

Repeat as needed.

Lemon-ginger tea is also good for colds.

Hope you feel better!

nolabear

(41,990 posts)
34. Interesting. Does it work for you? Seems benign enough.
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 05:36 PM
Feb 2013

Honey seems to be the overall favorite. It's in everything!

geardaddy

(24,931 posts)
35. Ginger soup
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 05:38 PM
Feb 2013
http://dryangacupuncture.com/self-care/ginger-soup/

Fresh ginger 5-7g
Water 1 cup
Sugar1 tbsp
Method:

Mince the fresh ginger into thin small pieces.
Combine ginger pieces and water in a pot and bring to a boil, add sugar after one minute, let dissolve.
Remove soup from the heat, let soup cool to comfortable temperature, still warm.
Drink soup, can also eat the ginger pieces.
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