What I do when I have a cold …

DISCLAIMER: CHECK WITH A DOCTOR.  THESE ARE MOSTLY HOME REMEDIES.

  1. If your throat hurts, take 1/2 honey and 1/2 lemon juice, mix it up, gargle and spit it out.  Do this at least once in the morning and once at night.
  2. If you are congested, use a sinus rinse at least once in the morning and once at night.  Blow nose afterwards.
  3. If you are congested and don’t have to sing anytime soon, take Mucinex, especially Mucinex-D or Mucinex DM.
  4. Cough drops/throat drops (REEEEEEEECOLA).  Be aware of how often you can take them.
  5. Flonase or the equivalent, one spray in each nostril once or twice a day.
  6. Take echinacea hot tea at least once a day and consider adding honey.
  7. Take one packet of Emergen-C twice a day.
  8. CITRUS.  Especially oranges
  9. JUICE.  Drink liquids like a fish.
  10. Soup/ramen/chowder.
  11. If your stomach can stand it, eat something extremely spicy like hot sauce, wasabi (the peanuts are especially good for this), or spicy chili.
  12. ICE CREAM if your throat hurts, but make it worth the calories (i.e. add chocolate)
  13. Vitamin D.  Stand 15 minutes outside in the sun without sunscreen or take a supplement.
  14. Multivitamin - this should be taken with or without sickness.
  15. Humidifier.  Make sure it is cleaned or you might inhale weird germs.  Be careful as this will also make the room warmer.
  16. Heating pad - especially with wet-proof therapy where you can add a damp cloth on the inside.  Place on head.
  17. Smoke out your insides - meaning take a soup bowl, put water in it, bring to a boil, kneel on the floor over it while there is still steam with a towel over your head, and let the steam hit your sinuses for as long as you can stand it.
  18. Sleep like there’s no tomorrow.