Cold and Flu medication/remedies

[Leigh]

What do you fine works best when you have a cold or flu?

Usually we use the Codral cold and flu day/night tablets. As we had used them for so long I thought we would try something else. I bought some dimetap liquid tablets, and they are useless :( They give very little relief, and you only notice they have done something when it's time for another dose, and your head, nose and throat start feeling a bit worse.

I have never tried any natural remedies, and never remember to take any type of preventative on a regular basis. Do they actually help?

[Monty]

I have had so many colds over the years of my life that everything I take seems to become useless after a while. I find at the moment that the Nurofen Cold and Flu has worked best. It depends what you are finding the worst to deal with. I usually can cope okay with a sore throat but the sinus/runny nose really irritates me. This time around I used the Sudafed for Sinuses its for decongesting and u are only supposed to use it over a 7 day period.

This time around I also bought some Horesradish and Garlic tablets and they have really cleared up all the mucus and congestion (sorry to be gross). Again it depends on your body and if you are getting the right nutrients too.

Hope you feel better soon! I know how horrible you are feeling right now :hug: (won't hug you too closely tho :P )

[floria]

Last year I got the flu real bad and for the first time went to the pharmacy to buy some cold and flu tablets.

Some were Codral to stop the day time sniffles.

Then I had some day and night stuff, they helped. This is the thing that sucks about winter, all the colds and flu

[ritzmoon]

Im not a great one for too many tablets. I use vicks on my chest and asprin and take Echinacea. which builds up your immune system.

[Ptolly-Totts]

Like Monty, my sister uses Horseradish & Garlic with Vit C (in tablet form), I think it is Blackmores brand , she highly recommends it for colds & flu, cleared her recent flu bug up in no time.

I find Sinutab with antihistamine helps clear up the runny nose, helps you get a decent night's sleep too, it can make you drowsy, so it is not good to use if you are going to drive a car after taking it. I find if I take it at night, it works for me throughout the night and all the next day too, just with the ONE dose, that is just me though, I very rarely suffer from colds/flu, so I don't need to take this drug too often, often only need to use it once a year! I wouldn't use this medication over a long period of time though, it can raise your blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure you should use this medication with caution.

Hope you are feeling better soon Leigh, my advice is take four cats and go to bed!! LOL

[MissieK]

I'm breastfeeding, so lots of vitamin C, honey & lemon, etc.

Melissa

[cfswombat]

Hi there,

My sister was told by a Dr in Melbourne to use chewable Vita C's, and has found them to really work. My pharmartist says to have a bottle out and eat them like lollies.But make sure they are the chewable ones. My kids and hubby are using that now, as well as vicks and Peter always usesDemazin 12 hr relief tablets, the blue ones for runny noses and allergies, etc.
Hope this helps
Fran

[Monty]

I second everyone with the Vicks too! You may stink a little and people may be offended but you will be able to breathe at least ;)

I also found another product (I have too many drugs I know) calles FESS which really helps for allergies! Its a nasal spray with a eucalyptus smell. Thought I would add that one in to the list.

[Tora]

I second everyone with the Vicks too! You may stink a little and people may be offended but you will be able to breathe at least ;)

I also found another product (I have too many drugs I know) calles FESS which really helps for allergies! Its a nasal spray with a eucalyptus smell. Thought I would add that one in to the list.

Yes, I use FESS too, thanks to a friend. ;) I use Eucalyptus in hot water on the stove. I use vicks, and lots of lemon and honey. My mother swears by garlic tablets! I intend to get some the next time I go to town, and see how they work.

Anne (Tora)

[debambam]

:eww: I eat a bunch of food with garlic and take some herbal supplements. Seems to help! I find that cold and flu tabs are only good for when my head is all gunked up...

[Patricia]

Warm bed, hot lemon drink (home-made), fresh air and loads of rest!

[sarz]

My mother swears by taking vit c and panadol at the same time when you start to feel a cold coming on. Can't say I'm as convinced as she is! But lemon and honey is fantastic for a sore throat, and dimetapp is great for blocked noses (but it makes you sleepy).

[mel35]

A friend of ours always eats a whole orange- skin and all whenever he feels a cold coming on I have known him for 10 years and he has never had a cold.

A housemate years ago used to swallow 2 whole garlic cloves whenever she felt a cold coming and she never had one either.

I just can't bring myself to follow either of these. :eww:

My natural remedy for a sore throat is my jar of honey with lots of diced ginger. Just get a spoonful and suck on it. Tastes yummier than honey and lemon ( as long as you like ginger lol.)

[Pam]

Codral works for us :)

[Tora]

My Sister-In-Law gave me this recipe, both her and my Brother have this, and swear by it!

Clove of crushed garlic
Pinch of cayenne
Juice of 1 lemon
½ tsp grated ginger
Dash of manuka honey

-Mix all ingredients together with warm water and take 3 times daily.
-Mix a fresh batch daily.
-Take as soon as the symptoms begin.

:IE: Sounds like it would do the trick! :P


Anne (Tora)