What's your go-to remedy for a cold/flu?

starrynitecudsstarrynitecuds
in General

It seems like everyone has a family recipe or sure cure for conquering colds. What's yours?

Infected with a nasty cold by a cute toddler recently and had cayenne pepper suggested by a friend. Mixed 1/4 tsp in my tea, and it was a game changer! Worked quickly and easily and was already in my cupboard. (Rarely take OTC meds, they leave me feeling worse or turn into a sinus infection.)

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Comments

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited January 2025

    I like Theraflu and Mucinex has a good one for chest congestion. Sudafed is of course great for head colds. If doing over the counter cough syrup I recommend doubling the dosage. That way its as strong as the prescription stuff (a Dr told me that )

  • SoosonSooson

    Dayquil, Nyquil, hot tea with lemon, oranges , Tylenol if the temp gets realy high. Oh and steamy hot showers.
    Just recovered from a week long one.

    Tip:

    Once you male nipples start sweating, you know youre recovering.

  • SoosonSooson

    @starrynitecuds oh its you. Welcome back.

  • [Deleted User]CharlesGrove (deleted user)

    @starrynitecuds High calories, plenty of fluids and rest.

    I tend to garlic, onions, and peppers.

    But, it’s been decades since I’ve had a cold or flu, so… I stopped getting ill once I got more Silk Road in my eating habits.

    Spices are great things.

  • Vintage_EmbraceVintage_Embrace
    edited January 2025

    2 organic lemons ( yes the whole 🍋) 6 cups of ph balanced filtered water, 7 tablespoons of organic olive oil and two tablespoons of honey.
    Blend.
    *forgot straining. I use my pour over coffee set up to strain it and it works great. 😊)
    Refrigerate
    Drink in the am on an empty stomach about 3 -4 ounces and you can add cayenne.

    There are the Wellness formula pills too and they work wonders.

  • SuzyqcuddleSuzyqcuddle

    @SunshineHug lol my sister is obsessed with those wellness formula pills and she is so healthy and never gets sick

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    Just rest.

  • Vintage_EmbraceVintage_Embrace

    @Suzyq12345 that’s so cool. 😎 they smell 👃 so bad but kick it out and fast.

    I prefer eastern philosophy natural sciences versus big pharma.

  • cuudledragoncuudledragon

    Don't judge me, but garlic, raw garlic and honey, and lots of lemon water and orange juice.

  • SoosonSooson

    Try squeezing lemon into your orange juice, it's really good. I add lemon to my tea and to my orange juice when I'm sick.

  • rxpectingrxpecting

    A steady stream of Studio Ghibli movies while tucked into at least three fluffy blankets

  • lovingspoonfulllovingspoonfull

    Sleep is my primary go to. Hibernate it away.

    After that, it’s a strong herbal tea with honey. Lemon as needed.

    And if needed (occasionally) grandma’s old fashioned cough syrup. She’d mix a tbsp of brandy or whiskey, a tbsp of fresh lemon juice, and enough honey to choke it down. It would sear the throat and knock me out.

    Still works to this day.

  • MeltMyWayMeltMyWay
    edited January 2025

    Olive leaf tincture and thuja tincture 2 droppers full morning and night

    Mullein leaf tincture if it’s reached the lungs

    Penicillin Soup: made with chicken bone broth, shredded or diced chicken, celery, carrots, an onion, potatoes, parsnips, large handful of parsley chopped, 4 - 5 Bulbs (not cloves) of garlic peeled , a finger of turmeric root and ginger root diced, salt n pepper.

  • CentralFLCuddleCentralFLCuddle

    Honey lemon tea is my go-to when I’m sick. Equal parts honey and lemon/lime juice and 2 parts water (eg. 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup hot water). I like to freshly grate ginger into it. Same for turmeric, too, but powdered also works. The turmeric gives it a nice bite. I don’t know if it helps, but it definitely keeps the coughing down and helps with calories if/when I don’t want to eat. I make a big jug of it and drink it throughout the day.

  • pmvinespmvines

    Man this threads making me hungry

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
    edited January 2025

    There are few things more casually frightening than the conflation of cold and flu.

    Colds are a frequently mild but potentially dangerous illness. In our, modern society, with modern comforts and modern medicine, they are dangerous only to the very old, very young, and very sick. Colds can be quite problematic and and easily put a healthy adult in bed for a week. On the other hand they can be almost trivial.

    Influenza is a very serious disease and potentially fatal in all cases. Again, because of the benefits modern society, it is not usually too dangerous to a healthy adult. But remember that flu and it's relations and consequences are one of the top three or four most dangerous illnesses in the Western world. As a public health measure, here in the UK flu vaccinations are offered free every autumn to all those over 65 and a number of other groups.

    Flu symptoms can overlap somewhat with colds, but frequently are completely different. However, if you are at work or undergoing similar levels of effort, you do not have flu.

    There is no cure for either.

    This thread is purely about colds - nobody who has flu is posting on a forum about it at the time. Symptomatic relief can be provided in all kinds of ways and what works best obviously varies widely from person to person. No medicine is 100% effective in 100% of the patients, and so over the counter medicines are also very individual in their outcomes.

    I am aware of only four things that genuinely help:

    1) Rest. Sleep, dozing, bedrest, confinement to home or light duties as appropriate.

    2) Water. Water, water, water, Your body is losing fluid at a tremedous rate through the mouth nose and thoat. Coughing a lot? You are dehydrated, get a couple of pints of water down your neck.

    3) Vitamin C, in modest quantities, preferably accompanied by zinc which seems to improve absorbtion. Large quantities just get flushed through the system and are not helpful.

    4) Spirits. Whisky, gin, rum, brandy, vodka, calvados, whatever you like. They kill germs in the throat on the way down. Sip gently. A little is all you need.

    Many of the concoctions mentioned in previous posts are combinations of some or all of these four. In themselves they give rise to the basic hot toddy recipe:

    • Hot water ...... for hydration
    • Lemon juice ...... for vitamin C
    • Honey or sugar ...... for energy if required due to loss of appetite, and for taste
    • Spirit of choice ...... actually kills germs

    Obviously you can add and tweak to your heart's content, but do not take away any of the principles. For a quick and dirty - which I've only just thought of - water, orange juice and gin in a mug, bang it in the microwave. Job done. Remember that the most important part is the water.

    There is a small amount of evidence that garlic may be helpful in preventing or alleviating colds, but it is far from conclusive.

    Onions offer nothing beyond a possible placebo effect.

    Olive oil contains vitamins A and E, which are needed by the immune system.

    Capsaicin can help break up mucus. Sources include any chilli pepper including cayenne. Bell peppers don't have any but do have vitamin C.

    If you're feeling up to it, combine all the above in the right ratios and you'll invent the world's most revolting drink. Although .... thinking about what we have .... get it right and you could have a fabulous salad dressing.

    Water & Rest

    Everything else is just glorified entertainment

  • starrynitecudsstarrynitecuds

    Great suggestions, keep them coming!
    @pmvines I avoid the OTC stuff because I usually end up with a sinus infection.
    @Sooson thanks! I like your tea suggestions. Let me know if you try the cayenne.
    @CharlesGrove I've had green peppers and onions several times already. Great antioxidants! (Low cal here.)
    @SunshineHug I heard that one, was advised to have before bed adding a shot of good whiskey. @lovingspoonfull
    @WriterGF yes, of course.
    @theCuddleDrgn I cooked fresh garlic with my onions and peppers. YUM!
    @rxpecting fuzzy blankets reported for duty!
    @sage91436 Yes! chicken soup is my #1!

  • newcuddles20newcuddles20

    Zinc pills and emergenc

  • Vintage_EmbraceVintage_Embrace

    @starrynitecuds Bourbon 🥃 and whiskey are must haves here and digest better than NyQuil or other cold pills. 💊 I preferred to be knocked out at nite.
    Taking the lemon drink in the morning worked better for me.

    A NorEaster is excellent at nite easy cocktail and includes ginger beer (the Organics line has cayenne in it too 🤗) or you can drink it sans 🥃.

    McKenna, Abomination Sayers of the Law and
    The Crying of the Puma are amazingly smoky and strong 💪.
    Got me over the initial round of the “vid”. Plus I made pho 🍲 and drank my way to health. 😂

    Rivals Bowmore or Ardbeg and more affordable.
    And it will have you rest so well!

    Get better ❤️‍🩹 soon.

    Hugs 🤗 & this thread is super interesting.

    Love hearing home remedies.

  • starrynitecudsstarrynitecuds

    @CentralFLCuddle it sounds like a good recipe and smart with the jug.
    @CuddleDuncan yes, of course
    @newcuddles20 I usually keep a jar of the Kroger brand Emergency in my desk. Gave it to my boss last week. Good reminder on the zync!

  • BR123BR123

    This is what I do because I’m a health freak, and personally do not trust most pharmaceutical grade drugs.

    Stop eating, even if you haven’t already lost your appetite. Get a jug of prune juice and drink it until it induces a bowel movement, which normally lasts for several hours (incrementally of course). Given that the gut is a large portion of our immune system, this frees up enough resources to begin the fight. Then, once that has run its course, boil some lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, ginger root, star anise (potent in breaking up mucus), and drink the concoction. (Echinacea and black walnut are some honorable mentions to add as well) Lastly, as bowel movements normalize, introduce some pro-biotics; these can be in the form of supplement(s), kefir, or both. This will help reintroduce some healthy bacteria, which may have been compromised during the illness, and or flushed out during the - for lack of euphemisms - brute force gut cleansing.

    This routine has caused me to not experience any illness for more than a day for several years. Not glamorous, but beneficial nonetheless.. at least for me.

  • MrPaulMrPaul

    Zinc acetate at the first sign of symptoms, such as throat irritation. It’s the only product that has a US patent as a cure for the common cold, and it was shown to reduce the duration of a cold. I use it whenever I think I might need it and I have avoided colds for years since I found out about it.

  • MistyCloudMistyCloud

    Saturated salt water gargle. Proven method.

  • [Deleted User]Zentelechy (deleted user)
    edited January 2025

    Sambucol (and cuddling ;))

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited January 2025

    Go out and get something worse, like colitis or an STD. The cold isn’t that big of a deal then.

  • JustOnceJustOnce

    For a cold I fast the first 24 hrs, I don't eat anything at all and if I can I also don't drink liquids. I've been doing it for years and it works for me

  • Softy1Softy1

    Medicine Ball from Starbucks.

  • roni56roni56

    Good cuddles helps, pass it on to the cuddler.

  • CuddleWithMe247CuddleWithMe247

    Honey, Ginger, Lemon tea. Boil sliced lemon and sliced ginger in water for about 10 mins. Add water to cup add 2 tablespoon of honey.

  • [Deleted User]HhmmMia (deleted user)

    Pineapple juice for the cough
    Vicks vapor rub!!! Helps with the breathing if put on the chest then place a warm towel or blanket across. Placed on the soles of the feet and covered with socks it can help with a cough. Rest and hydration!! Rotate ibuprofen with Acetaminophen for a temp over 101.

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