What remedies work for you when you have a head cold?
Ungh! Blechgh! Snarht!
Those are the sounds I’m making this morning.
I am treating myself with tea and some Chinese herbs called Yin Chiao. I cannot take antihistamines due to a thyroid issue.
What works for you? Is it chicken soup? Maybe you take vitamin C? Please, share your remedies.
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18 Answers
Aspirin (for aches and pains), decongestants (to stop the constant sneezing and sniffling), and lots of self-pity.
Bragg’s Apple cider vinegar about a tablespoon in hot water with a teaspoon of honey.
Ginger honey lemon tea has a synergy.
They both taste great too.
Spicy food is pretty good for clearing and releasing capasins.
But I usually rely on the first one or two.
Tom Yum, or alternatively, Hot and Sour Soup. It is chicken soup with spices to give your nose some breathing room.
Zicam is a must, plus vitamin C and also zinc. And ibuprofen for headache and general aches and pains.
I’ve found a good Whiskey works wonders
Fortunately, antihistamines work for me. Also, sometimes I use those nose decongestants—the ones you spray up your nose. I forget the name. There’s a major brand one which smells bad to me, and another one my doctor prescribed which I like a lot better. Flonase and Rhinocort. I guess they are steroids. You can read more about there here. Perhaps it would be possible for you to take them.
The only thing that truly works for me is Afrin nasal spray, but I suspect you cannot use that. I’m not sure if your antihistamine issues are confined to pills or cover all forms. Vicks Vapo Rub on the chest covered with hot towel helps a lot (and feels so nice). It gives you the nice warmth and the breathing the fumes opens things up. I also like drinking Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea. It’s very spicy and so it clears things up. A hot shower is also good.
I am hypothyroid and I still pop the drugs the days it is the worst as long as my numbers are nornal, most importantly my blood pressure, which goes up when I am undermedicated for my thyroid.
I am not a doctor, so don’t take that as advice, but I would ask a physicial or pharmacist before you rule them out altogether. There are different types of antihistamines and decongestants. I know Cloricidin decongestant is for people with high blood pressure, I have no idea if it is considered ok for thyroid disease. I am have never taken it, but I have family members who do, on of which does have hashimotos, but also high blood pressure that she treats with medication.
I also recommend going to your smallest bathroom, closing the door and running the shower hot so it fills the room with steam, sit for a few minutes, and then take your daily shower while still in the steam (obviously turn the water down to a comfortable temp).
Drink lots of clear fluids, get plenty of rest and let time heal you. Nothing will speed your recovery, @Hawaii_Jake, but sometimes warm moist air might loosen the congestion. This too shall pass. I hope you feel better soon.
I found this about Cloricidin and it warned specifically if you are overactive thyroid not to take it, so it looks like as long as you are stable on meds it should be ok. Maybe that is true for all of them. Remember your diagnosis is not the only thing that matters, you can be medically induced to the other thyroid problems by beng overmedicated. Overmedicated hypothyroid means you are currently in a state of hyperthyroid, and will have symptoms of hyper.
I obviously don’t know what exactly is wring with your thyroid, but just thought I would give you the info I found.
I am a firm believer in Ginger tea and lemon. I make my own. Drink loads, and keep your nasal passages moist with a steam bowl.
I use echinaccea (has wonderful properties of drying up mucus and stopping or slowing sneezing) and Emergen-C.
I asked my doctor about OTC medications, in view of my thyroid condition, and she said as long as my blood pressure remains low, she can’t see any problem, as long as I follow the directions.
I find sudafed works for me, but I prefer to try to just get as much sleep as possible, and drink lots of juice and homemade broth.
A soak in a very hot bath before bed will help loosen the phlegm in the lungs.
A German guest of ours recently swore by grated ginger root in warm water (like a tea, sort of). It seemed to ease his cold symptoms and he got better faster than the rest of us.
Neti pot 1–2 times per day. It makes me feel so much better, and clears out head congestion like nothing else. It is not unpleasant at all, and does not feel like when you get water up your nose at the pool – it is weird the first time but seems oddly natural once you actually relax and get a good flow.
If I think I may have been exposed (someone sneezing near me and who did not answer that they had allergies when I asked), I start my routine. Immediate 200 mg of vitamin C followed by 1000mg morning and night. I take this for 3 days, the usual incubation time for a cold. Haven’t had a cold in ages. The method also worked when my husband was traveling a lot and getting colds after each trip. Once he used my vitamin C plan after each trip, no more colds.
As for cures, you know the old saying, treated, it’ll be gone in 7 days; untreated , it will take 7 days. So you just need to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Take hot fluids, toddies, lemonade, cocoa. Pain killers. Sleep as much as possible. Steam your sinuses. Watch funny movies. Read until you fall asleep. Use it as an excuse NOT to do anything you don’t want to do anyhow. Hope you feel better soon.
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