Treating the "Common" Cold

[Mike]

I'm desperate, so in spite of my faith in the medical community, I'm now willing to consider any bizarre idea that comes my way.

Over New Years Eve, I developed congestion and a horrible cough. My cough was so bad, I sounded like a barking pit bull, and I all but completely lost my voice. I saw my doctor, and he was concerned about pneumonia (which I didn't have) so he gave me a shot of penicillin and a prescription for strong antibiotics. He also did some chest x-rays which is when pneumonia was ruled out. The shot helped a lot within a day, but it took a while to feel like myself again.

The office I work in is a cesspool for these things. My resistance was probably down, and I'm going through this all over again. I'm losing my voice. The hard thing is that my company has CTO time where vacation, sick, and personal days are all wrapped into 5 weeks off per year. My coworkers and I would rather go to work if we're sick and able rather than take a day that could be used for vacation. So, we all spread germs. I'm as guilty as the next guy.

All that to ask what you find works well for coughing, congestion and drainage. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks!

 

[Stone-yarder]

Is the mucous discharge colored(brown,yellow,green) or is it clear? Colored mucous indicates a bacterial infection and clear indicates a virus. Sometimes it will start out with a virus then the bacteria follow soon after. The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by a virus. Vitamins A,C,E and zinc are highly recomended. Also use a humidifier(cold spray as opposed to warm) at home. Beleive it or not it is actually good for us to get sick once in a great while so our immune system can flex its muscles. If you dont have a fever get out for a brisk walk before and after work, do some deep breathing while you are walking, it will loosen up the mucous and fluids in your chest. The fresh air will help alot also. Wash your hands at work as often as possible. We usually put the virus in our bodys unwittingly by touching our nose,mouth and eyes. When we get sick most people try to treat the symptoms which is an incorrect way to veiw it. We need to ask ourselves why didnt my immune system kill this? And the answer is because it was weakened. These virus's and bacteria get in our bodies all the time but we dont notice it because the IS(Immune system) seeks out and destroys them.
So to make a long story short...

Vitamins,A,C,E- Chewable vitamin C with accerola 4-6000mg a day
High Quality multi-vitamins
Garlic- Anti bacterial
Golden seal/alcohol free in liquid form- Anti bacterial (Do not use for more than 7 days, its some strong stuff)
zinc
Echinacea- http://www.swansonvitamins.com/natrabio-sore-throat-pain-relief-spray-4-fl-oz-liquid This is some good stuff it has the zinc and echinacea in it.

DMG- dimethylglycine Strengthens your immune system
Probiotics- full spectrum... To get the good bacteria back in you

1 Tsp. SEA SALT in a cup of water, stir briskly. Gargle several times a day

Humidifier
Deep breathing/ as much as possible

6 drops of Hydrogen peroxide in the ear, lay on your side for 5 minutes. If it foams or bubbles alot it means there is alot of bacteria in there. Repeat for other ear, once a day until you feel better. Then twice a week for maintinence.

Organic fruits and veges!! Eat healthy. If you have a juicer, juice daily when your sick.

Please,please,please, get your supplements, vitamins and minerals from an organic food store. The stuff they sell at Walgreens is absolutely useless.

The whole point here is flood your body with Nutrients because that is what it is craving right now.

 

[Stone-yarder]

I forgot to add this... Astragalus Root Powder
benefits of our raw organic Astragalus root powder may include:

● Adaptogen - protects the body from stress
● Fights Colds, Flus, & persistent infections
● Reduces Fevers
● Supports Adrenal function
● Multiple allergies
● Reduces Asthma
● Fights chronic fatigue
● Fatigue or lack of appetite associated with chemotherapy
● Fights Anemia
● Helps heal wounds
● Cardiovascular support
● Supports healthy Kidney function
● Lowers Blood Sugar
● Reduces stomach ulcers
● Reduces digestive problems such as diarrhea, gas & bloating

http://www.znaturalfoods.com/index....id=129&zenid=0c25d14e77dc7efb4c7c0ee0d7cd19e0

 

[Knotical]

I have a very simple approach to fighting a cold. Heavily dose myself with Vitamin C. You can't really od on it since if you take to much you just pee it out. If you have mucous, you can take CL-7, which is a natural kind of mucinex. You can find it in most health food stores. The only "unnatural" thing I take is acetaminophen if I have any kind of unbearable pain. Hate taking ibuprofen due to the way it makes me feel.

 

[WIP]

I spent nearly 5 consecutive years (10 years off and on) in the logging business. The work was hard and the pay was not very good but I loved that job. I was strong as a bull ox and never sick. I never had so much as a sniffle to deal with during that time. I honestly believe it was due to the amount of fresh air and water I poured through my body. I believe the amount of water I consumed kept flushing my system clean. Ever since that time whenever I feel the slightest indication of cold symptoms I make it a point to increase my water consumption by a considerable amount. I rarely deal with anything more serious than a little sniffle or slight cough. Maybe it works or maybe I just have a strong defense system but it seems to work.

 

[RachelKeeth]

I find Cold Eeze greatly helps as long as you can start it before the cold gets bad. I try to start taking it as soon as I start feeling the symptoms of a cold and throughout the cold, it helps shorten the cold to only a few days and it helps it from getting too bad as well. I have found if you start it once your cold is already at it's height it does not help though. I started to get a cold last week but I was already feeling really sick so I did not notice the common indicators that I was getting a cold until it reached it's height where I was told I sounded like I had cotton up my nose, my throat was raw, and I had a cough and kept sneezing, so it was too late for the Cold Eeze. I have found that a honey and lemon juice mixture really helps a raw throat if you can't get to the Cold Eeze in time.

 

[tim-from-pa]

You did not get one of those flu shots, did you Mike?

On the radio the other day I heard of the top 7 treatments doctors themselves avoid but push on everyone else. The number one? The flu shot! I heard more than enough of my days of horror stories like yours coming from people who got their flu shot, they ended up sick with one thing after another with everything else except the flu.

Some of the advice above is good. Basically, flood your body with vitamins, eat right, hot beverages (e.g. lemon tea) to help with the congestion, etc. but I'm going to add one more. Onions. Take a salad to work everyday and put onions on it. There's something anti-viral and antibacterial about them. heck, even the bugs don't like them as I sometimes find leftover onions in the garden a year later in perfectly good condition. That tells you something right there.

 

[Mike]

Stone-Yarder, it sounds like you are more than casually involved in health care. I've never been much into vitamins or organic therapies, and that seems more like a full lifestyle change for the long run. I'll definitely start loading up on vitamins, water, and Tim, I'll start eating onions like apples, and I'm serious! Anything to nail this disease! I think it's too late for Cold-eeze.

I have never been one to get sick. I'm being honest. Some people just say that, but I've gone season after season with nothing more than dust allergy sensitivity. What is different about this year? I TOOK THE FLU SHOT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! I work for a hospital health care system that required every employee get one, and as much as some employees fought it, none were given exemptions. So, Tim, you are on to something here, but there's nothing I can do about that now except take advice from anyone with success stories. :gah

 

[Claudya]

Honestly, you need to stay home a few days and give your body a chance to recover. Rest and sleep are very important!
You bosses are playing with their employees' health if their off-time regulation encourages coming to work sick.

 

[Mike]

Honestly, you need to stay home a few days and give your body a chance to recover. Rest and sleep are very important!
You bosses are playing with their employees' health if their off-time regulation encourages coming to work sick.

It's not the management. They get upset with us for coming in sick. It's the policy of the company that promotes working sick. And this is a hospital system! I don't work around patients, but obviously a lot of employees do, and this policy encourages them to work sick around patients, some with very compromised immune systems. I'll never understand that.

 

[Claudya]

It's not the management. They get upset with us for coming in sick. It's the policy of the company that promotes working sick. And this is a hospital system! I don't work around patients, but obviously a lot of employees do, and this policy encourages them to work sick around patients, some with very compromised immune systems. I'll never understand that.

What if some employee has to stay away from work for more than 5 weeks? For example for a hospital stay, stuff like that happens unplanned. Would you get fired in that case?
That policy of your company sounds rather unethical and hazardous. They're risiking the lives of those immune deficient patients.

 

[tim-from-pa]

It's not the management. They get upset with us for coming in sick. It's the policy of the company that promotes working sick. And this is a hospital system! I don't work around patients, but obviously a lot of employees do, and this policy encourages them to work sick around patients, some with very compromised immune systems. I'll never understand that.

Claudya is right --- stay home a few days. If they insist on forcing a flu shot on you, then say right back to them I was NEVER this sick before a flu shot. Now you insist I get one, and now I'm sick. Now I did not want it, did I? So that's your problem giving me the shot and I end up this way with my sick time. If they say it's ridiculous and the shot did not make you sick, then just reply, Are you saying I'm a liar? (i.e. claiming not being sick beforehand)

Maybe a tad confrontational, but they have to hear it right in their faces that you know what it's all about.

Man, if I was in such a position, I'd make sure that went public somehow until they felt 2 inches tall from the publicity.

 

[Stone-yarder]

So what would happen if you refused the flu shot Mike?

 

[Mike]

The company I work for employs over 20,000 employees. One guy (or more) coming in and throwing his predicament in their lap is not going to be a catalyst for a change to this company-wide policy. I hope I'm not being vindictive when I choose to go to work sick. If I can't, I won't, but if I can, I will. Perhaps my management will get frustrated enough to express to upper management the inherent flaw in forcing employees to come to work sick rather than burn days that could be used for vacation. There are many levels of management before it gets to the person with the ability to make global change. The flu shot has been given this year, but I'm keeping my doctor and pharmacy statements. Next year, and every year after that, I will take them into Human Resources and tell them THIS is why I'm NOT getting your "harmless" flu shot!

We're off topic as we talk about my company policies, but I don't mind. People are still welcome to offer suggestions for Cold symptoms.

 

[P31Woman]

:dunnoMix wiskey and peppermint until the candy melts. Drink it down. Continue until you feel better. This is medical advise so you won't be considered to be a "low life" by some who think drinking is a sin.

BTW, the flu shot worked right? You don't have the flu do you.

 

[Claudya]

BTW, the flu shot worked right? You don't have the flu do you.

That assertion would be true even if the flu shot had killed him....

 

[tim-from-pa]

:dunnoMix wiskey and peppermint until the candy melts. Drink it down. Continue until you feel better. This is medical advise so you won't be considered to be a "low life" by some who think drinking is a sin.

BTW, the flu shot worked right? You don't have the flu do you.

I agree, except try Admiral Nelson's instead. Ah, yes, those British. The drunkards of Ephraim that Isaiah warned about. Well, in this case it's medicinal. :toofunny

 

[AirDancer]

Simplest & quickest way to get rid of congestion & heavy coughing:

Before going to bed at night, acquaint your feet with Vicks Vapor Rub.... put on a pair of socks ... then climb under the covers to sleep. It won't take long for the coughing to ease into silence ... and you'll be feeling much better the following morning.

Even babies can receive this 'old fashioned' treatment.

 

[RachelKeeth]

Simplest & quickest way to get rid of congestion & heavy coughing:

Before going to bed at night, acquaint your feet with Vicks Vapor Rub.... put on a pair of socks ... then climb under the covers to sleep. It won't take long for the coughing to ease into silence ... and you'll be feeling much better the following morning.

Even babies can receive this 'old fashioned' treatment.

I can see how that would help; because if you put essential oils on your feel it absorbs into your body better and has better effect and I have seen some stuff for Chronic Lyme Disease that you put vasoline and garlic on your feet to draw out toxins and it helped my sister.

 

[AirDancer]

I'm happy to learn that the vasoline & garlic helped your sister. Chronic Lyme Disease isn't something that's pleasant to have, that's for certain!