I’m getting a cold. And it feels like it’s going to be bad one. This is like the worst possible time for me to get sick.
This morning, on my way to work, I stopped at the grocery store and bought a gallon of orange juice, with the intent of drinking the whole thing today. I’ve been here about an hour and twenty minutes, and it’s two-thirds gone. Will it help? I dunno, but damn I love orange juice.
Anyone got any surefire cold remedies? My worst symptom is a very sore throat…
001 // Wilson // 12.16.2004 // 10:26 AM
Every time I get sick I seriously consider dumping an entire bottle of vitamin C in a blender with some OJ and chugging it. But, you know, I might, die, or whatever.
002 // Randy Peterman // 12.16.2004 // 10:31 AM
I definitely recommend getting Ester-C (sometimes called buffered C). It’s ph neutral and so it allows you to take more of it without getting sick to your stomach (and hopefully not give you the runs :) - sorry). Vitamin C helps with the immune system and that’s going to have to be the thing that kicks this. Of course doing things to help minimize the impact of the symptoms is the way to go. Get in the habit of taking C regularly and drink Green Tea instead of coffee in the morning, it has cafein, but it also is better for your body.
003 // Zelnox // 12.16.2004 // 10:34 AM
Fore sore throat, you need honey. I guess this is from Asian culture, but we use lemonade with honey (served warm I think to help honey dissolve). The honey helps soothe the soreness. I guess you can try to substitute the lemonade with your orange juice.
004 // Jeff Croft // 12.16.2004 // 10:36 AM
Thanks for the tips, guys. Where can I buy the Ester-C?
005 // Trigger // 12.16.2004 // 11:06 AM
booze, yes booze. Whenever I’ve started to feel sick, I get smashed, and wake up fine (except for a hanover once in a while). This has worked for over 4 years of not getting sick. During that time I’ve dated two girls that got sick all the time, including a schoolteacher, and never caught anything from them except for a scratchy sore throat, which the sauce always took away.
006 // Eric Benson // 12.16.2004 // 11:40 AM
You can get some Ester-C at the GNC in Westloop or at Hansen Nutrition Center. Or, concordantly you could go and cough on them and ask what they would use. :)
007 // John B // 12.16.2004 // 11:50 AM
Uh-oh. Sounds like what I’ve got. It started with a sore throat. The good news is that the sore throat, followed by nasal congestion, followed by chest congestion, will only last for a few days. The bad news is the cough may last for weeks. I’ve had it since Thanksgiving. A couple weeks ago my doctor gave me prescription cough syrup with codeine. At least I can sleep.
008 // Jeff Smith // 12.16.2004 // 12:23 PM
I second that suggestion for green tea. I don’t drink it all the time, but whenever I feel a cold coming on I pump the stuff into me like there’s no tomorrow. It’s a great detoxifier. Make sure to chase each cup of tea with a couple of glasses of water though, even though tea is a bit better for you than coffee, it still strips a lot of moisture out of your system. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a little something to eat with your tea, some people find that green tea will give them a bit of an upset stomach if it is drank on an empty stomach.
Oh, and as I write this, I’m driving another cup of tea into me. I’ve felt a cold coming on for the last couple of days, and it really took hold of me today. So, I feel your pain buddy. Get well soon.
009 // Roger Johansson // 12.16.2004 // 1:42 PM
Repeat #3 until you feel better ;)
010 // Jeff Croft // 12.16.2004 // 2:48 PM
Thy Vitamin C hath been slammed.
(or, the gallon of OJ is gone).
011 // Nate // 12.16.2004 // 2:55 PM
Cold-eeze seems to slow them down the best. If you can’t cure a cold, you might as well slow it down. Usually reduces a cold by 3 or 4 days… no joke. They are zinc lozengez, so don’t take them on an empty stomach. Hope u feel better.
012 // Justin Perkins // 12.16.2004 // 3:02 PM
I always go off on this stuff called “Emergen-C”. It comes in a powder form and has like 1000% of the daily recommended dose of Vitamin C (as well as lots of other good minerals).
Taking some Echinacea (by pill or in tea) is always a good immune system builder.
Lastly, load up on the Zinc. Forget those weak throat lozenges that don’t have Zinc. It may leave a bizarre aftertaste, but the power of Zinc over the common cold is amazing.
Good luck, get better before x-mas.
013 // Jeff Croft // 12.16.2004 // 3:06 PM
Wow, this is turning out to be a great thread. How long before jeffcroft.com is the top hit on Google when searching for common cold remidies? :)
014 // Sean Sperte // 12.16.2004 // 6:06 PM
Tastes like watered down Gatorade, but AirBorne will smash whatever virus you’ve got. I was diagnosed with mono about a month ago and quickly picked up some of this stuff. I haven’t had another symptom since. I swear by it.
015 // Derek Collins // 12.16.2004 // 7:04 PM
I second the suggestion of “Emergen-C.” Whenever I feel a cold coming on, or have a cold, I start drinking “Emergen-C” every morning. I also combine that with a lot of Echinacea & Goldenseal in tincture form. I usually take more than the recommended dose each day, but I usually don’t take it for any more than 3 or 4 days.
I also second honey for the your sore throat. Honey in a warm cup of tea is really soothing. I usually go for a tea called “Throat Coat” by Traditional Medicinals or I just add some honey to green tea.
Also, don’t take zinc on an empty stomach as it can make you nauseous (at least that has happened to me on a number of occasions).
016 // Ryan // 12.16.2004 // 9:30 PM
Emergen-C and Zicam you can can them both at your local grocery store. they won’t prevent it all the way but you won’t get as sick if you catch it early.
017 // Chris // 12.17.2004 // 2:11 AM
SLEEP. Drink lots of OJ or CranJuice. Take some Zinc pills. But the biggest thing is make sure you get lots of sleep so your body can fight any viruses/whatever. If don’t sleep well you will get much sicker, fast. Hope you feel better.
018 // Michelle // 12.17.2004 // 7:16 AM
I know I’m like a day late in responding to your post but, Vitamin C definately helps, and it never hurts to get a little TLC…from me of course ;) Feel better!
019 // Jennifer // 12.17.2004 // 7:29 AM
I think I have the same thing- so I’ve been searching for a good treatment as well. I agree with the recommendations made above, however, use caution with the zinc. It is not water soluble- therefore you can overdose on it. Greater than 50mg doses could interfere with iron and copper absorption, which could lead to cardiac malfunction, so try to follow the instructions on the package. Hope you feel better!
020 // Simon // 12.17.2004 // 7:56 AM
I don’t believe in cold remedies - I simply buy a bottle of scotch and a mixer (usually canada dry ginger) - combine both and enjoy.
The only problem with my personal choice is you cannot get this on prescription.
Best of luck shifting it Jeff!
021 // Jeff Croft // 12.17.2004 // 9:40 AM
Well, I feel a touch better today, but about the same. I picked up some Vitamin C, some Coldeeze, and some Zicam. I looked for Emergen-C, but didn’t have any luck at my local grocery store. Thanks again for all the suggestions!
022 // Kris Khaira // 12.17.2004 // 3:51 PM
Damn I know how you feel. I’ve had some pretty nasty colds myself. One lasted 3 weeks - that was about 2 years ago.
From experience, my advice: 1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP! 2. Take the kind of medication that makes you sleepy 3. Take lots of Vitamin C - vegetables, fruits, pills 4. Not too much orange juice as it’s acidic and can make your throat sting. Try diluting half a glass of OJ in water. 5. Eat enough healthy food. There’s a reason you feel hungry when you’ve got a cold - your body needs more nutrition to fight the cold. 6. Stay hydrated. Water’s good but isotonic drinks are better. The last time I had a cold, I lived on 100 Plus, my country’s answer to Gatorade. Get the non-carbonated kind unless you want to feel like a blimp.
I can’t emphasize enough about getting enough sleep. If I could pick only 1 remedy, I’d pick sleep. Doing everything about your cold is pointless if you don’t eat enough sleep. Sacrifice a day of work just staying at home sleeping. It’s worth it! Your body recuperates and fights illnesses much more efficiently when you sleep. There’s a reason most medication make you drowsy. Get well soon.
Kris Khaira, MD, signing out.
023 // Jeff // 12.18.2004 // 7:09 AM
DEFINITELY Zicam. It works best when taken at the very beginning of a cold so during the winter I carry some in my backpack. It definitely cuts the severity and duration of the virus. I’ve found it to be much better than Cold-eese. I think it has to do with the way the Zinc’s administered (through the nose, rather than as a lozenge).
Be careful not to snort the stuff too much. It’s meant to go just inside the nostril.
024 // Laura // 12.18.2004 // 9:56 AM
Hello Jeff. I just started reading your site because WIlson told me about the holiday card contest. I wanted to say that I really like the interactive way you approach it. (setting up questions for your readers, etc.)
Also- echinacea cold care tea by celestial seasonings is amazing… Any kind of hot tea will help to break up the congestion but caffeine tends to wash some of your vitamins out with it. Garlic pills are also effective taken daily to build your immune system, come in odorless formulas, and make you less attractive to mosquitos in the summer. (excellent side benefit)
025 // paul haine // 12.19.2004 // 10:11 AM
Curry. Hot. In large quantities.
I can’t believe I’m the first to suggest this. Are there no other English people here?
026 // Dara // 12.19.2004 // 10:30 AM
For the throat and cough — hot lemon and honey water. Add some Grande Marnier to help with sleep (after all most cold remedies contain alcohol — you might as well enjoy it) :)
027 // Robert // 12.20.2004 // 12 PM
Drown it.
028 // Meg // 01.20.2005 // 10:20 PM
I heard that there might be a reaction between vitamin C and zinc so I got online to find out what it was- and to answer your google question- you are the first thing that came up when I googled it- congratulations. I feel ya-I’m taking emergen-C, zicam, and cold eeze right now. (I can only find emergen-C at Wal-Mart) Get well!
029 // Carla // 05.02.2005 // 6:01 AM
Ha, I actually did Google cold cures and the link I found brought me here. I have a scratchy throat and a cold coming on and I’m trying to bust it in its tracks. I believe in the green tea, echinacea and oj route as well- and plenty of rest. I enjoyed reading everyone’s posts and I may be back on this site later to check out what the rest of it is!
030 // Hot ginger tea // 06.02.2006 // 7:56 PM
Peel a ginger root and dice, add water and boil in sauce pan for about 5 minutes. Add honey to taste. It works awsome!
Paul
031 // Immy // 06.25.2007 // 6:46 AM
I took 2 vitamin C tablets today (each 500mg) about 5 hours between each. I have an upset stomach which I think may be the cause of taking the second tablet on an empty stomach and also because their pH is not neutral. I hope this won’t have any long term effect on my body!