Honey in your tea!

My mom used to make honey and lemon, warmed ever so slightly, that always worked on my colds. Suppose you could spike it with some alcohol to help "warm" you up!

Another thing you can try is inhaling some steam. Your lungs may be dried out from all the coughing and getting some moisture in there may help. Put a pot of water on to boil and sit nearby. Or a humidifier.....

Chicken soup. Homemade.

Ditto on the steam.

Counter intuitively, I find really cold (with ice) diet (no sugar) soda pop very soothing for a raw throat. The cold part reduces inflammation, like putting an icepack on a booboo. I was also wondering if the apple cider vinegar that people use for stomach acid issues might work. It's very soothing, and pop is acidic, lemon is acidic, so the vinegar might work too. That's a couple of large spoonfuls in a tall glass of water.

Hot packs or heating pad around the sore areas. If you're willing to go through it, an onion poultice on the chest (cloth between it and your skin!) should help break up the cough. The heat on the chest is part, and breathing the fumes is part.

Very hot in temperature and pepperiness pasta, eaten slowly so the heat hits the sinuses through the roof of your mouth can help with the head part, and the pasta part is easy on the sore throat.

Elderberry extract is good for combating viruses, but, like the prescription anti-viral medicines, really works best when you take it as soon as you think you've been exposed, rather than after the symptoms are acute.

For cough the Robitussin gel cough pills are very good. No prescription. Walmart has their own generic brand of them. We have always used from childhood some Dr. Tichenors in a little warm salt water to gargle with. You can find it with the mouthwash usually. I also like to use a netti pot with the salt solution packets. I got mine at Walmart it came with the pot and several packets. The best over the counter cough syrup I have used is Delsym and it tastes good not nasty.

Robitussin cough gels

Dr. Tichenors

delsym

JoAnn,

lots of good suggestions and I want to add my "EASY COLD" regimen. I absolutely hate getting colds because, at least in the past, I have been miserable with endlessly hacking coughs, sore throats (i.e. record breaking post nasal drip raw throat), sinuses that fr blow-torched, and raw reddened skin from nose drips.

Here is my sure bet ameliorative head cold fix that I take daily when I come down with a cold:

1 generic Loratidine ( an antihistamine that does not make me drowsy. Take only one per day). The antihistamine will help dry up or easy the runny nose. It is the sinus drainage and dripping from inflamed sinuses) that contribute to sore throat (assuming no strep or bacterial infection). Dripping sinus discharge is usually what causes that hacking cough and tickle in the throat.

1 naproxyn sodium (generic Aleve), twice daily for aches, pains, chills, sinus pain. I do not want to take Tylenol/acetominofen, so I find "Aleve" to have the best profile. It can ease inflamed sinuses and thus help diminish the swelling.

Generic Sudafed (original formulation; you will need to sign for it.) This works as a decongestant and does not make me drowsy. Read instructions and caveats before buying and taking. NOTE: Some people should not take this (IIRC I think high blood pressure is one contra-indication). There may be alternative decongestants better suited for some individuals. They help reduce sinus swelling, congestion and tightness from inflammation. I believe you can take this twice daily.

I prefer to make my own "cold tablet/compound" because most of the capsules/pills with the combined antihistamine/analgesic/decongestant use Tylenol/acetominofen which doesn't appear to be beneficial to the liver. Also, the ready-made compounds probably cost more and you have less control.

You probably want to check with your Primary Care Physician before taking the above or any other medication.

Sure, as others offered, stay well hydrated and get enough rest. Let doc know if something gets worse -- like a high fever, prolonged cough or pain.

If you drink sugary drinks or cough drops or Benedectine <smile>, remember that sugar can help cause dental caries.

Feel better!

Oh, one more thing. Before I began taking my Easy Cold fix, I'd usually have to buy and consume a bottle of cough syrup like Robe****** DM. Nowadays, with my cold short-cut compound, I don't get the hacking cough. I save on tissues too.

Vernors warmed up with just a touch of lemon.

Raven Cajon - I too use the gel cough pills. Doesn't make sense how it works, but it does and am able to get a good night's rest...

Many home remedies can be safely combined with OTC stuff. That's what I do.

For a sore throat you can gargle with warm salt water. It's very soothing. Chicken soup, plenty of liquids. I think lying in bed for long periods does not help with congestion.

Starsplitter, we have used Robitussin DM for years, and it really helps.

ginger root tea with a bit of honey ( slice ginger root into coins, add to hot water, steep 5 minutes). Cold eze lozenges. Hope you feel better real soon.

If the sore throat is caused by sinus drainage, try using a Nettypot.

The one thing that has always gotten rid of a sore throat for me, and for everyone else I know that does this, is Tea Tree Oil.

You can find it in any drug store or grocery store. Be sure to get the 100% pure tea tree oil. (It will be about $10 for a one-ounce bottle.) Into a mug or coffee cup of hot water, put three drops of the oil. Stir it to mix it (oil and water don't mix, but you want to distribute the oil as much as you can). Now, gargle with the oil/water mixture. Don't swallow it -- just gargle. Do this a few times during the day and before you go to bed. Your sore throat should be gone by the next day.

We gave this tip to a radio announcer for a professional baseball team. He tried it one night and was able to broadcast the following day. He now carries a bottle of tea tree oil with him during baseball season because it has "saved" him on more than one occasion.

A comment on tea tree oil. Many people are very allergic to it so keep that in mind. I am one of those people. I found out when tea tree oil shampoo was used on me in a salon. It felt like someone poured acid on my scalp, it got flame red and blistered up. Imagine if I had put it in my mouth - throat!

Zycam, available at Walmart.

Zinc and vitamin c for supplements, chicken vegetable soup and teaspoons of honey with a shredded garlic clove in it, taken throughout the day. If you do get an earache 1 ml in the ear, lie down and let fizz for 10 minutes, put kleenex over ear before getting up.

I am also allergic to tea tree oil. My DS mother-in-law told her to take an onion and chop it up fine and then to put sugar over it for cough syrup. It really helped.

another thing to do is to raise your head when you go to bed at night if you are having trouble sleeping because of coughing. I just add an extra pillow.

Blackberry brandy. A sip or two when those coughing fits start. Get the naturally flavored kind (DeKuypers I think) but don't take it if you're taking any meds - over the counter or otherwise.

for cough suppression: OTC dextromethorphan, Rx codeine.

for sore throat:

- systemic analgesia NSAIDS, acetaminophen

- local/topical anesthetic throat spray/lozenges w/ benzocaine.

No advice, but hoping you are feeling better.

I just went thru a 5 day horrible sore throat and cough and I started taking plain Robittusin which helped a little but I ended up on antibiotics and cough meds with codeine. I was feeling better by the next day but was still really sick. I hope you feel better soon. None of the many home remedies helped at all. Swallowing anything was torture.

Lozenges with honey, lemon, ginger, Echinacea, and goldenseal. If they have some with zinc too, all the better! Hot chicken broth with red pepper flakes or chili garlic sauce. Clears the nasal passages and helps hydrate.

Dances.

I have the hardest time staying hydrated when I'm sick so lots of liquids and chicken noodle soup. If it is really bad, I surround myself with pillows and sleep in my reclining chair. The pillows keep me comfortable. A warm bath or shower helps too.

My husband swears by hot tea and honey, my daughter uses a netty pot, me I like Advil Cold and Sinus. I go for the strong stuff, the one from behind the pharmacy counter with the real medicine in it. That stuff is the bomb and it doesn't make me sleepy.

Must be cold season. Use steam! Drink gallons of water! Buy stock in Kleenex!

I'm finally improving. It's been ten days, but I think the ordinary cold virus can last two weeks. I've been reduced to using Afrin some nights so I could breathe through my nose and get some sleep. I hate to 'dry up' the mucus as it then settles into my sinuses, resulting in headaches, but I have taken half an Actifed sometimes during the day. (Sudafed makes me sleepy.)

If I start to cough a lot, I will call my MD. I was in hospital with pneumonia last spring. No OTC or prescription cough syrup stopped my cough until I was given Benzonatate 100 MG 3X a day. (Prescription med. Looks like a Vit. E capsule.) I was also doing inhalation therapy in hospital and for a month at home.

I wonder if the 'allergy' med Flonase would help?

Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of my feet before bed help with coughing at night.

I finally dragged myself to the Dr. this morning. Its bad when your too sick to see the Dr. Well, no strep throat, no great advice but she gave me some Benzonatate pearles for the cough...... still coughing. Hopefully it will just run its course and be done. I did the vicks on my feet 2 nights, no change. Also running a vaporizer, still no change. She said to take ibuprofen.

When I get to feeling rotten with a cold, including runny nose, sore throat, etc. ...

... I try to spend as man hours per day as possible in bed.

I've developed the feeling that following that procedure is about as helpful as anything.

ole joyful

Hope you're feeling better real soon. I swear by Vitamin C. Been taking one in the morning and one at night and have avoided colds, etc. for years.

if you can get 2100mg of Echinacea,try that-take 2x3/day-guaranteed to help...

Oscillococcinum. Reduces duration/severity of a cold in progress, heads off an approaching cold. After growing weary of my husband, kids, and I suffering 2-3 colds per winter each, we started using it. Haven't had a full-duration cold since, and usually get through the winters without any cold, because we start taking it as soon as sore throat, coughing, runny nose, or congestion begins.

When I am sick I like to run a bathtub full of as hot of water as I can stand. then I take JOHNSON'S BABY SOOTHING VAPOR BATH and pour some of it in the water. Then I sit in the bathtub with the shower curtain closed and it feels just like a sauna. I don't know if it helps but it sure makes me feel good. I buy it at Walmart and the only place it is in the baby section. It is in a blue bottle. I have some of it on hand all the time.

If what your doc prescribed is not working, call her back.

Seriously, unless I hear back from a patient I assume what I prescribed is working.

You paid for the visit.

At the start of a cold or to help shorten one, take one teaspoon of honey with a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 3 times a day. I have fought off several colds this season already with this. Both items boost immunity and contain antibiotic properies in a natural form. I even used it on the 8 week old pup when she came down with kennel cough. She stopped hacking in minutes and no harsh drugs were needed.

Warm water and Cayenne will help... it does burn somewhat, but will take away the pain after a day or so. See http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/cayenne-pepper-for-sore-throat-treatment.html for details. I also use it mixed with apple cider vinegar and honey.

lisaw2015 You use Vicks on the bottom of your feet? I was wondering if anyone used that anymore. How do you suppose that helps? I have had a small jar for awhile now. People used to put it on their chest to get rid of congestion was it?

joann-fla I know you are suffering horribly from the coughing. I remember those times. I got a prescription cough medication after that and it helped. I felt like I was going to crack my ribs. I coughed so hard while trying sit myself up when it came on. Now I take zinc religiously and am around fewer people. I hope you come up on the tail end of this soon.

Is Loratidin (or the generic) an over-the-counter med? Does that do anything differently than the Sudafed? The sore throat irritation is starting for me, so what attacks the nose congestion drip? In 2 weeks, I have to take a flight, so I really need to get this out of my system. Not sure just my Dayquil and my nightime Theraflu Max are gonna do it. Will try the tea/honey/ginger tea/chicken soup options, too. Not coughing, at this point, tho I frequently get a hacking cough after the drip/sniffles/congestion end...

Its been a full week now and I am still sick. I just talked to my Aunt and she is on week 3 ! It's a hard one to get rid of. Nothing has helped and I tried them all and so has she.

Loratdine can be bought over the counter, in fact I found some at Dollar tree, 20 to the box! Its called Clear quil. They are mostly for allergies, the sneezing and watery eyes. I've been taking them also. It just has to run its course.

Yes, Loratidine is OTC. It is an antihistamine and works to dry up the runny nose and dripping down the back of the throat ("post nasal drip"). The post nasal dripping can give one a very raw throat and contributes to the tickle and cough.

The Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hydrochoride) is also OTC. It a decongestant (non-drowsy) that relieves sinus congestion and pressure. See package, online info for contraindications -- there are several. You can speak with your doctor or registered pharmacist.

JoAnn -- I'm sorry to hear that you're still feeling ill. Sometimes these viruses can linger. I hope you and your aunt feel better soon.