How to stave off a cold

[XmisterIS]

Aside from the usual common-sense approach to keeping one's immune system nice and healthy by avoiding stress, getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food, I have discovered the magic formula for keeping colds at bay!

As soon as I feel one coming on, I do the following:

1) three squirts of vicks first defence up each nostril (stings like buggery, but it works wonders).
2) a double dose of zinc (apparently you can do that for one dose - but if you carry on taking a double dose, you'll get zinc poisoning).
3) tons (and I mean absolutely tons) of vitamin C - forget those effervescent 500mg tablets ... I buy pure vit C crystals and take 7000mg all in one go. It tastes like battery acid, but my God it does the job!

 

[Headgardener]

Lemon juice and honey in a glass of hot water with a drop (or so) of whisky to flavour, but that bit is opotional .

 

[ohnovino]

I read an academic paper on Vitamin C use and colds a while ago. They found it might have an effect on preventing a cold, but can certainly shorten the period you're ill for. However, you have to take massive doses (like you said), and you have to keep taking it because the body can't store it.

Other than that, general fitness is the best thing. I work with kids so I come into contact with every bug that's going around, but I rarely get ill, unlike some of the sedentary motorists I work with

 

[rich p]

http://ezinearticles.com/?Vitamin-C-Overdose&id=144404

this would suggest that 7000mg of Vitamin C is not a great idea

Higher levels of Vitamin C are needed when under environmental stress such as trauma, fever or infection. Full saturation is reached with daily intakes of 200-500 mg per day (in 2-3 divided doses). This is a water-soluble protein, and anything in excess is excreted by the body. Vitamin C Overdose can cause diarrhea, gas, or stomach upset. Other side effects could be stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea, and an increased risk of developing kidney stones

 

[XmisterIS]

Ah! I never get a stomach ache anyway! I haven't had one for years.

 

[Paulus]

Lemon juice and honey in a glass of hot water with a drop (or so) of whisky to flavour, but that bit is opotional .

This my remedy as well.

 

[theclaud]

Raw garlic.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Raw garlic.

Is garlic bread ok?

Actually my old quack used to recommend chewing a garlic clove as a bit of a cure-all.

 

[theclaud]

Strong fresh ginger tea is good as well.

That's a bit wussy, if you ask me. I just eat large chunks of raw ginger.

 

[theclaud]

Is garlic bread ok?

Actually my old quack used to recommend chewing a garlic clove as a bit of a cure-all.

Can't do any harm . But in my (admittedly unscientific) opinion I reckon the straight raw garlic thing is the most effective. Cut into whatever size bits you are happy to swallow, as soon as you feel a cold or any other sinister thing approaching.

 

[Globalti]

Just avoid infection in the first place with three simple precautions:

1 - Wash your hands on coming in to your house of workplace so as to reduce the numbers of viruses lurking on contact surfaces.

2 - Don't rub your eyes.

3 - Don't pick your nose.

Worst cold I've had in recent years was two days after a contact lens practitioner stuck his dirty fingers in my eyes having just swished them under the cold tap.

If you feel the sore throat coming on, gargling three times a day with Corsodyl usually sees it off or reduces the symptoms. Once the cold has reached the runny eyes/nose stage, take antihistamine tabs to dry it up.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It would probably work for my brother-in-law - thanks for the tip!

Are you thinking of pelting him with whole bulbs?

 

[Zoiders]

No known cure.

Just eat more and rest.

 

[totallyfixed]

Become a hermit

 

[rich p]

Claudine eating raw garlic is a self-defence mechanism against the Mumbles vampires.