What I’ve Learned about Remedies for the Common Cold

/ Jodi

common cold remedies

I have been hanging out night and day on the couch for the past few days.  Hit hard with what I’m guessing is the “common cold.”

I don’t get this down and out very often thank goodness, but I have been so grateful for all the well wishes and suggestions and advice on how to feel better.

Since it is that time of year and many of you might be experiencing the same, I thought I’d share some of the advice I’ve received.  See what you think of some of these tips, and let me know if you have others!  I think there is at least one that might surprise you.

Here are my TOP TEN TIPS to Remedy the Common Cold:

  • Stay warm and rested  √
    • Warm fire, soft couch, lots of blankies
  • Drink plenty of fluids √
    • Coffee √
    • Hot Earl Grey Tea with Honey √
    • Water √
    • Hot Chicken Broth (with leftover Chinese take-out rice) in same mug as coffee and tea √
    • Fresca (in same mug as soup) √
    • Apple Crown Royal Night Cap 🙂  (got out a new glass for this) √
  • Steam/Vaporizer √
    • I don’t have a humidifier/vaporizer, but was told about a great way to create a steamer  (note bowl of hot water and blanket on coffee table in photo).  Yep – I’ve been boiling that bowl of water in the microwave and burying my face under that blanket to steam the congestion out of my head, ears, throat, nose.
  • Gargle with Warm Salt Water √
    • Miraculously helps sore throat feel better
  • Cough Drops √
    • Honey Lemon Halls – 2 bags down
    • Cherry Halls – next best thing
  • Mucinex √
    • Gave in and took one since Marty kept saying “Take a Pill!”
  • Hot Toddy √
    • See “Drink plenty of fluids” above
  • Vitamin C √
    • So happy Clementines are in season!
  • Steam Shower/Warm Bath √√
    • Tried both!
  • Lime Jello √
    • Yep – This was something I was really told is a tried and true remedy…  and I’m desperate enough to try it and suprisingly had a box of sugar-free lime jello in the cupboard (from God knows when!!) – so it is chilling and “setting” now.  I’ll have to let you know on this one!

BONUS TIP:  Couch foot rest serves as a great computer “table” (see photo above) so you can lay on couch and read email, blogs, watch Amazon Prime (i.e. “Transparent”) and snooze in between. 🙂

Hot Toddy Cheers & Virtual Hugs Only,
Jodi

33 thoughts on “What I’ve Learned about Remedies for the Common Cold”

  1. Aww Jodi, you can make others smile even when you are feeling low! Sure hope this nasty cold passes you by quickly!! Glad you are able to rest! The picture looks so cozy! OH yes I love my blankies when I am not feeling well 🙂 even when I do feel good! LOL! Have to say that yes the lime jello surprised me! Had heard of all the others, but eager to hear if lime jello made a difference. I love drinking my lemon herbal teas when I have a sore throat and cold, does seem to really help. Virtual hugs back 🙂

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    • LOL! When life gives you lemons…. 🙂 So the lime jello was very soothing on the sore throat. I know – I can’t believe I had it in my pantry! My family commented it has been YEARS since we’ve had jello, and everyone at it! I’ve never seen a whole lot of purpose in it – reminds me of those days of overcooked squash and canned beans – remember the JOYS of Jello cookbooks our mom’s had and all the “fancy” jello creations that were made?

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  5. I feel so bad for you. Colds are the worst! There isn’t a whole lot to get rid of it except for R&R and time. I hope all these suggestions are making you feel better! Hopefully you have been able to keep it from settling in your chest (hard to do). I gargle with warm salt water and that helps. If I have a bad sore throat I gargle with warm hydrogen perioxide water (don’t swallow, tastes awful!) Another way you can get steam into your sinuses is to boil water on the stove and hoover over it and breathe it in. Looks to me you have been given a lot of good advice. I hope they kick that cold in the butt and you are back to feeling like your happy healthy self! ((hugs!)) xo

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  6. Jodi,
    So sorry to hear that you’re sick. Now here are my suggestions to add to your list!!!!!
    -Per pharmacist & family Dr. you can take regular sudafed with the mucinex.
    -AYR saline nasal gel to moisten mucous membranes.
    -NETI pot with warm filtered or distilled water with 1/4 teas. kosher salt.
    -after inhaling hot steam, make a warm compress with a damp wash cloth, folded into 4ths, heat in microwave for about 20 seconds, don’t make it to hot. place over the area of you face that covers your nose, cheek bones, and boney area over your eyes (sinus areas). Do this twice a day, it feels so good i do more often.
    -Now for the “Love Rub” as our 40 year old son called it when he was a little boy…Vicks vapor rub…my Mom always would rub our chest with Vicks and then heat a piece of flannel and place on our chest…I used a hand towel…the “love rub”!!!!
    Hope you feel better soon my friend!
    Char
    ❤

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    • Thanks Sylvia – I am so humbled by all the sweet comments and feel like a bit of a whiner! EEKS! I think I am making the turn this afternoon – suddenly feeling a spurt of energy – and may get out of my jammies! LOL!

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  8. So sorry to hear about your cold misery – no fun at all! I do know that germs thrive on sugar, so cough drops are not always the best thing to take. For a stubborn cough, take a spoonful of molasses and cover it completely with black pepper. Swallow slowly. Repeat if necessary. It sounds awful but it really works. The molasses are sticky enough to coat the throat and the pepper kills the tickle. I knew a man who was going to sing “Silent Night” at church one year but couldn’t stop coughing. My mother gave him a dose of this, followed by a second dose a couple of minutes later, and he sang beautifully at Midnight Mass. I’ve been using this remedy for about 40 years and can vouch for it. The molasses are also full of iron and boost your immune system. Take good care of yourself!

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    • Thanks Marguerite! I have never heard of this, but may just try! I happen to have molasses in my pantry, and it seems worth a try. I am overwhelmed with all the great suggestions and support!!! THANK YOU!

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  9. MARK TWAIN….COLD REMEDY…..HE .ARRIVED AT CARSON CITY NEVADA WITH A VERY BAD COLD…A FRIEND RECCOMENDED A QUART OF WHISKY EVERY 24 HRS……THE LADY AT THE HOTEL RECCOMENDED EXACTLY THE SAME THING…..THAT MADE A HALF A GALLON

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  10. I think I will be able to use the list you shared very soon as I’m getting a cold as we speak :(. One thing I always drink when I’m sick is an Irish Coffee my husband makes me. He puts so much love into it it really has to work 😉 Hope you feel better soon, Stefanie.

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  11. Feel better soon, Jodi! Cannot add any new remedies to the list. I’m in the throws of the same thing and Motrin & Mucinex- Fast Max is helping! Lysol spray and wipes are helping too…trying to keep the “germs” under control. Christine

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  13. Hope you are feeling better hun. Another tip grab some old socks, put Vicks Vapour Rub (if you have over there) on your feet before bed, then put socks on and into bed, sounds yucky but it helps..believe me 😊 x

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  14. Pingback: Do More of What Makes You Happy | life in between

  16. So once again, I am trying to catch up on posts…. I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short! I hope you’re feeling better now Jodi! I got a visit from a charming cold virus on Thursday, the day after we got home from from our trip. So now I’m jet lagged AND sick. Great. But I hit it with everything I’ve got because I had to run 23 miles today. Here is AGMA’s solution to the common cold:
    1. Rest and stay warm (I think that was on your list!)
    2. Lots and lots and lots of fluids, preferably water! I saw you had coffee on your list. Don’t drink too much – it’s actually dehydrating.
    3. 5 drops of Oil of Oregano under the tongue 4 times a day.
    4. A teaspoon of Elderberry syrup daily
    5. Umcka Cold drops 4 to 5 times a day
    6. Neti Pot 3 times a day (use only distilled water in it and to wash it out afterwards)
    7. No OTC cold remedies that dry you up – it actually makes recovery time longer because your body needs to stay hydrated to get rid of all of those nasty cold bugs. Mucus is actually a good thing… Yuck.

    Am I all better two days later? No… But I was well enough to do my 23 miles this morning! And now I’m pooped so I’m going to bed! Feel better!

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    • What a sweetheart you are to share all this – being jet lagged, sick, and after running 23 miles! You are my hero! I will keep this all in mind for next time, as I am well on the road to recovery now. If only I could just run 23 miles! WOWsers AGMA! You are AG!! I’m excited my Fitbit reads 15,000 steps…

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      • Don’t be too impressed. I’m pretty sure there’s a diagnosis for somebody like me – it’s really just not normal to want to run 23 miles when you feel like crap. Now that I think about it, it’s not normal to want to run 23 miles period. But I AM a sweetheart! 🙂

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