What are your best sore throat & cold remedies?

**The Muse** · 12-20-2010, 03:25 AM

I've had a stuffy noise, cough and sore throat for a week. I've gone through the Dayquil and Nyquil stash that I brought when I moved from the US. In Denmark, there's not a whole lot of over the counter stuff available.

I had double pink eye over the weekend, which seems to have cleared up with heat and chamomile compresses.

I wanted to try ACV for my sore throat, but I can't seem to find any that has "the mother".

Going to the Dr. will be useless because even if you're reporting neon green snot (sorry) they'll send you home and tell you to wait it out. In the US, that would've been an automatic Z Pack.

Please help, I do not want to be sick for Xmas

**pollypurebred39** · 12-20-2010, 03:39 AM

Warm salt water for the sore throat. Gargle several times a day.

Can you get Vicks Vapor rub? It will help with the cough & sinuses. If not, tea tree oil, peppermint oil are both good to open up sinuses. Can be put in vaseline to be rubbed on chest, and under your nose.

A humidifier should help, I much prefer a warm steam one. One with a cup for vicks or tea tree or peppermint oil would be ideal.

Rinse sinuses with a netti pot.

Are you able to get natural medications? Like silver? a astralagus? Both natural antibiotics.

Garlic during the war was considered Russian Penicillin. It may still be for a lot of the poor in that country. I'd start eating so much garlic they'd think I had a vampire fear. Make a chicken broth and load it with garlic. Make a salad and dressing HEAVY on the garlic. Roast garlic and spread over toasted bread, over pasta, over grilled chicken breast, mixed in with roasted eggplant & olive oil, in short in everything.

Increase your vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc intake. And drink lots of hot tea with raw honey & lemon.

**imagine** · 12-20-2010, 08:26 AM

I agree with Polly on the garlic

Spicy ( hot spicy like pepper hot) will get the nose running so you can clean it out with blowing.

I like hot tea with honey and lemon. Lots of steam and warm showers.

My Mother and MIL say hot toddys by adding brandy or whiskey.

Hubby thinks a shot of tequila for bed helps.. My dad thought a shot of whiskey. LOL

Hope you feel better for Christmas

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-20-2010, 08:46 AM

We gargle w/ listerine to kill bacteria. Lately I like Mucinex DM and cough drops. Make sure you use plenty of water. I drink a lot of orange juice or eat oranges too. Good Luck.

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-20-2010, 09:04 AM

Even if you cannot get ACV with the mother, a good brand can still do better than nothing.

We make a hot drink with ACV and honey (raw if you can find it, at least local). I use about 1T of ACV and enough honey to make it taste good.

**Trishagirl** · 12-20-2010, 09:17 AM

Gargle w/green tea it's very good and lemon and honey. Also get some Olive oil tabs great for what ails you!!!! Oil of Oregano also a great antiviral & antimicrobial but it's very strong get the liquid & you only need 2-3 drops under the tongue it's very strong but you get used to it. I love that stuff! but it's expensive but very worth it! Also take Vit C 1000 mg every 2-4 hrs if you get diarheea cut the dose back. Hope this helps you. I haven't been sick this yr yet!

**MRAHoffman** · 12-20-2010, 10:13 AM

my mom and I have BOTH been sick (trying to keep my 9yo son healthy). We have been living on Hot Toddy's, soup, oatmeal, gargling w/ warm salt water, using the Neti Pot etc. Stay warm and rest. Take care.

**valerian** · 12-20-2010, 01:01 PM

All of these are good ideas...but what I want to know is what is ACV with the mother? HUH? Did I miss something somewhere?

**Contrary Housewife** · 12-20-2010, 01:25 PM

Sounds like a sinus infection. You have to wait it out like a cold. However, salt water gargle will help with the raw throat. Having a humidifier and warmer air will help with the symptoms, too.

For a stuffed up nose that is not dripping I like to get a sinus saline spray. They are about $1 at the drugstore. You squirt/inhale it and it moisturizes your sinuses and can give you some relief. I also like to get a hot face cloth and hold it over my face and breathe through it. It's the cheap version of a personal inhaler: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-V1200-Personal-Steam-Inhaler/dp/B0000TN7MY"]Amazon.com: Vicks Personal Steam Inhaler: Health & Personal Care@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313SNBDHTDL.@@AMEPARAM@@313SNBDHTDL[/ame]

Puffs Plus, or other lotion tissues if you have to blow a lot.

**joyofsix** · 12-20-2010, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by valerian

All of these are good ideas...but what I want to know is what is ACV with the mother? HUH? Did I miss something somewhere?

Apple Cider Vinegar (mother is that slimy stuff in vinegar).

I and my kids have had colds and strep this week.
Green tea (or black if you really prefer) with honey.
Vitamin C~ I had some emergenC hanging around but lemon juice(with honey), OJ or grapefruit will do
Lots of moisture~saline nose drops/spray, hot showers, vaporizer
Chicken soup w/garlic
Rest! Sleep!
None of it will cure you but will help you feel better and let your natural healing take over.

**LuLuBleen** · 12-20-2010, 03:40 PM

All of these are good ideas...but what I want to know is what is ACV with the mother? HUH? Did I miss something somewhere?

The mother in ACV is the enzymes that give the ACV its healing properties. It's that slimy, stringy stuff in organic ACV. It's sold at the health food store, not in the supermarket (usually).

I've been taking the organic ACV twice a day for almost three years. I no longer get yeast infections (which I used to get all the time) and I retain less water. Oh, and I can eat bell peppers again.

I have to chime in about Vitamin C, too. I used to get sinus infections a lot and would get put on antibiotics. When I ramped up the Vit C, the infections stopped. I haven't had antibiotics in nearly ten years.

It does annoy me that not one doctor suggested buying a ten-dollar bottle of Vitamin C. They would rather put me on antibiotics all the time.

**Grayce** · 12-20-2010, 05:46 PM

Lukewarm saltwater gargling several times a day always works for my sore throats. I also use a nettie pot when I am congested. It seems to make a huge difference.

**lisaflex** · 12-20-2010, 06:15 PM

yep. as the above posters say.

warm water and salt gargle...helps quite a bit!

i just use saline - netipot havent tried. i put the saline in and then do a great big blow. gross i know, but, well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

afrin for 3 days then 7 days off of it. clears quite well. i like the moisturizing one.

a tsp of honey soothes and coats the throat.

advil or motrin. lots of water. lots of hot tea. steam showers help. i do find that those sudafed shower thingies help (not for long though, but, enough that you feel human for a short while)

feel better.

chix soup is good for you and the soul!

**frugalfranny** · 12-20-2010, 07:58 PM

If past a week and still have it.........it is not a cold.

I swear by the neti-pot............good moisture and helps clear out the bugs.

If still feeling cruddy........then salt gargle and chicken soup........along with the neti-pot.

**renmerc446** · 01-03-2011, 03:24 PM

Ever try Elderberry Tea? There's a website/store called The Vermont Country Store that sells elderberry tea. It tastes a little odd but you get used to it. They also sell an elderberry cold/flu syrup that also has propellus honey and echenchia (sp?). If you can find other sources of elderberry tea, I'd like to know.