I hate that sharp tingly feeling in the back of my throat; that feeling that tells me I'm going to be miserable with a cold tomorrow morning. I was one time able to fall asleep under a mound of blankets, and sweat it out overnight. Every time I've gotten sick since then, I keep hoping to repeat the miracle, but it hasn't worked again.
Anyone have a similar experience? Anyone know what the magic condition is, besides lots of blankets?
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I know that. Switching from office work to construction sites and then back again works wonders (irony alert), thanks to air conditioning and/or heating.
My personal recipe is one heavy-duty aspirin followed by a teaspoon of honey with three drops of propolis; use propolis to have a gargle if the throat is really sore, up to five drops in half a glass of water. Go to bed and sleep soundly.
Lots and lots of raw garlic and vitamin C.
I usually just [bubble bubble bubble] my way through it and then I don't mind so much.
I hate that sharp tingly feeling in the back of my throat; that feeling that tells me I'm going to be miserable with a cold tomorrow morning. I was one time able to fall asleep under a mound of blankets, and sweat it out overnight. Every time I've gotten sick since then, I keep hoping to repeat the miracle, but it hasn't worked again.
Anyone have a similar experience? Anyone know what the magic condition is, besides lots of blankets?
The usual wisdom helps a lot -- this doesn't always work for me (especially if the cold is sinus-induced) but this has helped me stave off the cold when you get that uh-oh itchy feeling
-- Drink lots and lots of fluids (especially if you are planning to "sweat it out" -- your body needs water both to drain out the invading germs via your phlegm as well as to keep your body functioning as you warm yourself up)
- Go to bed as early as possible, within reason. Your getting ample sleep may have been more of the trick that did it than the blanket mound.
-- Vitamin C and Zinc. I forget about the garlic often but I know that is also supposed to work wonders (it's got vitamin C and some anti-infective qualities)
If you are any degree of almost sick to sick with an upper respiratory thing, this is my favorite toddy:
Put into a mug the following:
- Juice of 1 whole lemon
- A generous amount of ginger--to taste, but as much as you can take. Powdered ginger is easier to do this with, but fresh is great if you've got it.
- A generous amount of honey -- again to taste
- Top off with recently boiled water and stir
Sip this slowly, breathing it in as you drink it.
This does a number of things at once: the lemon gives you a major dose of vitamin C. The ginger both counteracts the acidity of the lemon and also helps clear nasal passages (it's also nice on the tummy if that's bothering you). The honey is an anti-infective and helps soothe the throat, especially mixed with the lemon--and of course it sweetens the drink which will otherwise be quite sour. And then of course the hot water provides steam to help loosen up stuff and help you breathe, and you're getting a dose of fluid intake.
If your throat is hideously sore, toss in a very small amount of whiskey to numb the throat. Too much alcohol lowers your immune system and dehydrates you, so be careful.
Another mixture is simply honey mixed with lemon juice. Optionally can be mixed with crushed garlic.
Also: my parents chopped onion and added sugar to make onion juice/syrup. I hated that as a child, honestly, but until late teens I could barely stomach onion at all.
I still hold to garlic all the way. A few times I ate a clove a gralic at a atime for a total head in less than hour. Makes wonders but don't attempt this if you have low blood pressure...
Another mixture is simply honey mixed with lemon juice. Optionally can be mixed with crushed garlic.
This. Whenever I'm feeling sort of sick, I go get some tea and pour generous amounts of honey and lemon juice.
Sure, I end up speaking like Gollum for a bit, but then again I've managed to fend off colds flawlessly for the past 3 years. No medications involved, save for Vitamin C pills.
Wow, lots of people eating garlic. Will try that.
My largest obstacle to the one-night sweat cure is that I can't sleep when I'm hot. (Don't know how I managed it the one time.) I need something like ambien to knock me out cold.
Put into a mug the following:
- Juice of 1 whole lemon
- A generous amount of ginger--to taste, but as much as you can take. Powdered ginger is easier to do this with, but fresh is great if you've got it.
- A generous amount of honey -- again to taste
- Top off with recently boiled water and stir
The problem with this is that it's so tasty, I end up chugging it. :)
The problem with this is that it's so tasty, I end up chugging it. :)
Well, that's the point.
My largest obstacle to the one-night sweat cure is that I can't sleep when I'm hot. (Don't know how I managed it the one time.) I need something like ambien to knock me out cold.
Try benadryl, as long as you're not already on an antihistamine. Over the counter and safe (unless you have issues with antihistamines) and it is very good at making folks very groggy.
The problem with this is that it's so tasty, I end up chugging it. :)
Put into a mug the following:
- Juice of 1 whole lemon
- A generous amount of ginger--to taste, but as much as you can take. Powdered ginger is easier to do this with, but fresh is great if you've got it.
- A generous amount of honey -- again to taste
- Top off with recently boiled water and stir
There are worse problems. :) You could always chug the toddy and then just pour some more hot water into a mug afterward for the steam therapy.
Hot water over lavender is also good for steam therapy.