Best cold remedies

[thebigcheese]

Since I've been sick so much this winter, I've been reading up on different kinds of cold remedies. My most recent favorite is the neti pot, which basically irrigates your sinuses and flushes out all of your congestion. I also enjoy drinking apple cider like it's going out of style, and I'm a huge fan of Puffs Plus. What are your favorite cold remedies?

[krebscout]

Afrin nasal spray (or its generic equivalent) is a miracle of modern medicine.

We also use a lot of 12-hour Sudafed, and we let the shower steam up the bathroom and sit in there to breath the steam. That's what I do when my kids get stuffy noses or bad coughs. We've played Scrabble in a steamy bathroom multiple times. We have a lot of sinus issues in our house.

[Unit of Energy]

I don't usually do a whole lot, although currently I have a medicine cabinet of borrowed nyquil, vaporub and sore throat spray. I was going to purchase a couple of those items when a member of my shopping trip insisted that I use his leftovers from when he wasn't feeling well last semester.

[Katya]

Lemon juice and honey in warm water.

[Marduk]

Lots of orange juice, a lot of sleep. Oh, and if you can get your hands on some menthol crystals, those will work wonders. I don't think it is legal to sell it in the states though.

[NerdGirl]

Neocitran and Nyquil.

[TheBlackSheep]

Eucalyptus oil! Do it!

[Sky Bones]

For any/all symptoms, Theraflu in hot liquid form. For just a sore throat, tomato soup with plenty of black pepper. For a stuffy nose, a hot shower with a shower soother. And along with all of this make sure you get plenty of sleep and fresh air. Frequently using hand sanitizer, even when not sick, might be a good idea during these winter months when everyone stays inside.

[Whistler]

um. Vitamin D supplements? They help with immune system stuff, and most people don't get enough.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind/

[Emiliana]

I second Katya's remedy of hot lemonade. With cinnamon and cloves, it's actually tasty, too.

[bobtheenchantedone]

Ooo, I've quaffed quite a bit of hot lemonade in my time. Good stuff.

[thebigcheese]

I just thought of another one... CEPACOL!

It's not just another cough drop. It actually numbs your throat because it has an anesthetic in it. It's AMAZING. Unfortunately, I can't find mine right now. It's buried somewhere in the house... Dang it.

[Craig Jessop]

I second Katya's remedy of hot lemonade. With cinnamon and cloves, it's actually tasty, too.

On my eighth birthday (in the middle of an Arizona May), we went to Arby's for dinner. After getting home I left my lemonade in the car, so it heated up to almost nuclear levels. Later that night we went to Giovanni's tee-ball game as a family, and I drank the rest of my hot lemonade (I was eight, give me a break). It made me so sick that I threw up during the entire game and all night, too.

Worst. Birthday. Ever.