# Non Woo Cold Treatment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584 "2015-01-12T01:15:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/1 "2015-01-12T01:15:21Z")
Is there anything non-woo to treat a sore throat? A hacking cough? Excess tiredness? My daughters and I are kind of miserable despite multiple infusions of homemade soup and endless lozenges. My eldest has a swollen sore lip that we’re treating with neosporin. I’m hacking up a lung. Have I ever shared how much I hate winter? Once December leaves all you have left are days that end at 5:30 and snow that looks pretty for about half an hour until people and cars turn it to grey, wet mush. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/2 "2015-01-12T01:22:07Z")
Keep drinking water, and try swishing salt water in your mouth/doing nasal lavage to heal mouth an nose tissues. Inhale steam, perhaps with a couple of drops of mint or eucalyptus oil. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/3 "2015-01-12T01:44:07Z")
[Honey](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031)for that sore throat. Really. It may help with the cough too. And a decent OTC cough medication with medications tailored to your symptoms can relieve that hacking cough. I like the Dextromethorphan in timed released formulation sold as Delsym. Walmart sells their version unde the Equate brand at a third the price. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/4 "2015-01-12T02:00:03Z")
stay warm ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/5 "2015-01-12T04:01:46Z")
Abreva for the lip sore. Guaifenesin with copious amounts of iced water, hot tea [herbal or not, I like ginger peppermint with honey] hot lemonaide and chicken soup [or veggie version if you are noncarnivore.] Neti pot with neutral saline for the sinuses. Put a huge pot of water on the stove to get some moisture in the air. Helps the sinuses and lungs. Abreva because the cold sore on the lip is a herpeform virus. Guaifenesin and copious liquids to thin out the mucous so it sorts itself out the way it is supposed to. Neti pot to sooth the sinus membranes, same for the moisture in the air. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/6 "2015-01-12T04:29:47Z")
Hot baths (elevated temperature has been said to disrupt virus reproduction). Lots of fluids (dilutes and washes out all sorts of stuff). Cleanse skin of nose and upper lip with plain warm water to rinse away mucus (less chapping). Progressive relaxation exercises (you tend to tense up unconciously when uncomfortable, which makes you more so). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/7 "2015-01-12T04:42:16Z")
Salt water nasal rinse with a neti pot or equivalent (I use a kit from NeilMed with pre measured salt packets). This will clean out the sinus and help lessen the the dip down your throat which work on the sore throat. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/8 "2015-01-12T05:52:14Z")
Another vote for neti pot/nasal washing (I most recently bought a kit from Walgreens for $10.00 - squeeze bottle, 100 packets of salt, do it in your daily shower for maximum efficiency and least grossness.) I don’t get colds but am bothered by seasonal allergies and swear by regular nasal rinsing. Drastically reduces both congestion and the resulting cough and sore throat from post-nasal drip. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/9 "2015-01-12T06:35:31Z")
My dad used to make me tea with amarhetto. It has the added advantage of helping you sleep. Hot showers help too. Also, remember to keep WASHING YOUR HANDS. I can’t stress that enough. It may sound paranoid, but I also keep hand sanitizer with me, so I don’t have to run to the bathroom every time I blow my nose. Ibuprofen can help the headaches as well. My sympathies. I have a cold right now too and it sucks donkey balls. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/10 "2015-01-12T07:23:46Z")
Chocolate (specifically, theobromine) is the only cough suppressant that I’ve found on the Wikpedia listed as being able to perform better than a placebo: > **[Theobromine | Humans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine#Humans)** > > Theobromine has no significant stimulant effect on the human central nervous system. It is a bronchodilator and causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. It is not currently used as a prescription drug. The amount of theobromine found in chocolate is small enough that chocolate can, in general, be safely consumed by humans. > Compared with caffeine, theobromine is weaker in both its inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and its antagonism of adenosine receptors. The potential phosp... Odd, yet seemingly true. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/11 "2015-01-12T11:16:36Z")
Theobromine helps, but chocolate slimes up the throat. Cutting out (non-frozen) dairy in general [may help some people to lessen that mucus feeling in the throat.](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/phlegm/faq-20058015) [Zinc lozenges and tablets help shorten colds by about a day.](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/zinc-for-colds/faq-20057769) And I’m thirding (fourthing?) nasal lavage/neti-pot. Takes some getting used to but really good. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/12 "2015-01-12T12:10:05Z")
> [@FeAudrey](#): > > Hot baths (elevated temperature has been said to disrupt virus reproduction). > > ). Even cancer can be cured by hot baths, saunas. Diseases cannot tolerate high temperature, that is why you get a fever when you are sick, your body is elevating temperature to kill the disease. Diseases love sugar, so, I’d recommend eliminating sugar first… that includes wheat flour, gluten and starch too. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/13 "2015-01-12T12:21:56Z")
ARGHHH!! Hair pulling! Head banging! Screaming, cursing! (Calm, **Jim** , calm. Something soothing …) _Good morning, starshine. The Earth says hello. You twinkle up above, we twinkle below._ (Ahhh. That’s better, much better.) \<_Looks at previous post again._\> **ARGHHHH!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/14 "2015-01-12T12:38:48Z")
And here comes the woo… > [@vomit\_comet](#): > > Even cancer can be cured by hot baths, saunas. Diseases cannot tolerate high temperature, that is why you get a fever when you are sick, your body is elevating temperature to kill the disease. > > Diseases love sugar, so, I’d recommend eliminating sugar first… that includes wheat flour, gluten and starch too. If just elevating temperature cured everything we wouldn’t die of disease anymore. And get off the “wheat/gluten is poison” bandwagon already. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/15 "2015-01-12T12:46:07Z")
Thanks, **Broomstick**. I had a really bad reaction to that post. Must have had some cold, sugared gluten. \<_My hair hurts._\> ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/16 "2015-01-12T14:12:19Z")
Gargling salt water helps a sort throat. Helps it feel better and also helps it get better. The Neti pot only seems to work for me if the congestion is on its way to loosening up. If I’m really blocked up the water can’t get through at all, and does nothing. But when its doing its thing it’s an amazing, disgusting process. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/17 "2015-01-12T14:17:25Z")
In case it needs to be said, a sore throat _can_ be bacterial (eg. strep), in which case antibiotics would certainly help, but not if all you have is a genuine cold or flu. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/18 "2015-01-12T14:20:35Z")
The [Panacea cocktail](http://www.wsj.com/articles/cold-comfort-the-panacea-cocktail-recipe-1420744822) is said to work wonders. ---
**Author:** ![JoshuaSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/19 "2015-01-13T13:54:52Z")
> [@vomit\_comet](#): > > Even cancer can be cured by hot baths, saunas. Diseases cannot tolerate high temperature, that is why you get a fever when you are sick, your body is elevating temperature to kill the disease. > > Diseases love sugar, so, I’d recommend eliminating sugar first… that includes wheat flour, gluten and starch too. I get a fever when I’m sick with CANCER?!? Cancer is NOT a virus or bacteria, heat will not kill cancer! AAARRRGGG! :smack: (OK I admit that if enough heat is applied maybe… but then immolation is probably not a reasonable cure for cancer. ) But please keep the gluten free fad going. My wife has a real, **doctor diagnosed** allergy to wheat that has been so difficult for her all her life. Due to the recent gluten free fads she now has a huge number of new food options popping up. Thanks for expanding her food options so much! ---
**Author:** ![JoshuaSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584/20 "2015-01-13T14:29:07Z")
> [@JoshuaSD](#): > > heat will not kill cancer! I stand partially but not significantly corrected. The Master has spoken on this very question. [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1251/can-heat-cure-cancer](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1251/can-heat-cure-cancer) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-woo-cold-treatment/709584.md?page=2)