It’s cold season again, and I’m pissed. I’ve already got a wicked head cold right now.
My dad told me of a “potion” he heard that involves hot water, whiskey, and honey. He said it cleared my mom’s cold up in one day back in the 80s. I decided to test his potion tonite. I feel no effects yet.
Then I started wondering if anyone else has some top secret family recipes for some cold relief.
so, do you?
I don’t really ever get sick. I believe in the old saying…an ounce of prevention…
How you say? Well, I have a few old well known citrus tonics that will keep a cold away or kill it if it tries to stay.
Lime juice mixed with several ounces of tequila OR
Orange juice mixed with several ounces of vodka OR
Pineapple juice mixed with several ounces of rum
There are several more but these three work pretty good.
Remember…always take plenty of fluids, especially juices.
I could give ya some recipes for chickensoup. But that’ll keep for later.
BTW I really don’t ever get sick. Last time was 25 years ago. I’m not so sure that I was joking earlier.
Eat well, hard work or exercise, get plenty of rest, fresh air and sunshine. Staying away from sick people helps too. 
If it’s already gotcha…three Exedrin will probably make you feel a little better and a Benadryl should help clear up the sinuses.
Get well soon.
I was given the scotch in hot tea with honey treatment once. Then (in the dead of summer) the covers were piled on and I was made to sweat the fever out. I rebelled and snarled a lot, but I felt better when the fever was gone and the Scotch was kinda nice.
So when I came down with all of the symptoms a month or so ago, I gleefully sent hubby to the liquor store for the scotch. After he got back home we realized that I couldn’t use this remedy with the medicine I was taking.
One other suggestion makes most people gag, but I’ve liked it since childhood. It doesn’t cure anything but it feels good to the throat and kids especially will take it: hot jello in a mug.
Finally, take a hot shower and then go stand out in the rain and wind and, if possible, snow. Maybe you will get pneumonia and for that, there is a cure.
The original and best: 1) drink a lot of milk (to prevent vomiting) 2) eat a lot of garlic (to kill cold).
I find 2 cloves usually does the trick, and if ya can’t stomach it theres always the powder.
Take it easy though 
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study showing that chicken soup really does help sinus trouble. That’s what my doctor told me. He recommends steam, too.
A hot bath with a few drops of Olbas Oil, lots of coffee, and grapefruit juice.
Oh, and a lot of sympathy helps, too.
Drink plenty of fluids.
OK, everyone, back to Biology 101:
A cold is a viral infection, usually of the mucus membranes of the nose and throat, though some strains can infect lungs and eyes (pink eye!).
The only way to kill the virus is with your body’s own immune system. If there truly is a viral cold infection, it will take your body, on average, a week to eradicate it.
No food, drink, or supplements, whether it’s zinc, vitamin C, honey and tea, or chicken soup will ‘kill’ the virus. Only the body’s own natural immune system does the killing of the virus.
What about the cold that went away after only a day after I did ‘X’?
Two possibilities: 1. A reinfection of the same strain of the virus can be quickly fought off becuase one has already created the antibodies to kill that particular strain.
That’s because of two things: 1. You can releive the symptoms of a cold. Not only does the virus causes damage to the body, but the body’s own defenses cause a lot of collateral damage. You can soothe the pain and swelling in many ways.
Peace.
As moriah said, nothing you eat or drink really changes the course of a cold. That said there is plenty of relief to be found for easing the symptoms.
I find spicy and garlicy foods can help loosen the mucus, allowing easier sneezing, coughing and blowing. Also with the reduced sense of taste common with a cold, it is nice to eat/drink something which you can taste. Hot ans Sour soup is a favorite for these conditions.
Extra vitimin C seems good, not only might it actually help a bit, you can also take advantage of the placebo effect by taking vitamin C tablets with lots of water and believing it will help.
Keep yourself well hydrated, lots of bottled water seems best, as this is gentlest on your stomach. Sucking sweets can help reduce coughing, and the extra energy from sugar in them helps if eating is a problem.
Alcohol is bad for a cold, as it dehydrates you. SO F"ING WHAT !!! drink lots of water and eat soup to make up the water, if the alcohol helps you feel better it’s worth it. Hot whiskey toddies (hot water, whiskey, sugar or honey, and a little lemon juice) are a good way to go, hot drinks help clear cattargh, and spirits can help your spirit no end.
Keep water by your bed to help rehydrate if you wake up with a dry mouth, use any otc medication you find helps (beware of overdosing if taking more than one type of medication at the same time for the cold), and get as much tlc as you can.
Two words: Neti pot .
Neti pot looks like a pretty fucked up invention.