How Do I Get Rid of a Cold Quicker?

Updated on January 04, 2011
K.V. asks from Lansing, MI
16 answers

How can I get rid of a cold quicker? I know it needs to run its course, but is there a faster way of getting it to run its course?? I've been taking Vit C, Vit B12 Complex, Sudafed and some liquid Niquil stuff. I also have a vaporizer going in my room 24/7 and I put vicks on my neck, back and feet. Nothing is working!

Typically, I would let it run its course for however long, but if I am still sick on Jan 18th, I will not be able to have surgery.

Any cures, advice...will be appreciated!

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So What Happened?

Thanks! I couldn't handle it anymore, so I went to the doctor...the thing in the back of your throat..gag reflex maybe? Is completely swollen, and I can't cough anything up and can hardly drink or eat.

I don't just have a cold, I have strep throat :( I've never had strep throat before. So, he put me on the Z pack. I've had great luck with the Z pack before when I have had to use it. I'm still doing the vaporizer, nose drops, gargling salt water and everything else I can do.

I'm just sooo stinkin' miserable. It sucks!

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A.D.

answers from Jackson on

Airborne, works for me and my husband and adult kids and their spouses.
Although, we discovered that if taken before bed at night, you may not sleep soundly, or you cannot fall asleep. Great daytime treatment for us.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

I work at a daycare, and I swear by Zicam and EmergenC! With all of the germs that are spread, I get sick quite often.

A combination of those two, v8 juice, and lots of rest and KEEPING HYDRATED really helps!

1 mom found this helpful

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J.K.

answers from Sacramento on

My favorite home remedy is garlic. I crush two cloves of it in a mug of hot water and drink it like tea. ( I don't eat the cloves, though they are mild and aren't bad). I do this 2 times a day for a couple of days. If your stomach can handle it, and your spouse isn't a vampire it works wonders. I also take extra Vitamin C.

Get well soon!

1 mom found this helpful

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

SALINE!!!! SALINE!!!! SALINE!!! we use saline solution 24/7 and that seems to clear up our colds fast. usually 3-4 days max!!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

1. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in water, every 2-3 hours.
2. Vitamin D3
3. 1 tsp. raw honey and 1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar in hot or warm water, several times per day.

I have a horrible cold and am doing all of these things and I am getting better much quicker than I normally do.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

I stayed healthier and got rid of colds quickly when I was teaching by taking a zinc supplement. I usually took one a day, but when I felt a cold coming on, I took one at night also. It still works!!

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. If the products that you are taking are good quality, you are on your way to recovery. If they are not, you may want to consider an isotonic formula. I provide them to health care professionals locally and can sell them to individuals. Isotonic means that they enter your body at the same pressure as your body fluids so that they can be readily absorbed into the body within 5-10 minutes without the loss of potency of digestion. We have an amazing B complex and antioxidants that are even more powerful that vitamin C. (We do also carry C though!)

Feel better!

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Zicam homeopathic spray and Airborne help me. If it doesn't help or you feel worse, stop this. But if it works, it works GREAT!! =) You can also try gargling with warm salt water and using a Q-tip to swab out your nose with warm salt water. And good- old -fashioned drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest is the best! I'm allergic to a lot of stuff, including OTC medication so I'll drink a glass of water and go to sleep. That alone does wonders. Get well soon!!

C.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

Airborne... enough said :D

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T.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have been taking a nutritional supplement that has dramatically improved my immune system. I still get sick from time to time, but instead of a cold that lasts for a week or two, it lasts for no more than 48 hours! :-) Let me know if you want some more info about it. Also, have you ever tried a netipot or sinus rinsing bottle? Those are also very helpful and you can get one at the grocery store or pharmacy... Good luck! Hope you are feeling better soon! God bless.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Avoid the Sudafed and the Nyquil...they break down the immune system and just simply work with the symptoms. I've heard Zycam is wonderful but never used it. We keep Beta Glucan in the house to boost the immune system to get things to run their course faster...or even prevent them if you feel them coming on. For the little ones or those who don't need quite that much power Elderberry Extract will do wonders. Unless you can avoid sugar there is no reason to even try Echinacea. It's great if there is no sugar in your diet but that's almost impossible these days with most folk.....but avoiding sugars will also build your immune system....

To keep things from ever coming on, detox your home and get into regular chiropractic maintenance. We rarely get sick anymore> It's amazing how many hours in the day you can work with if you feel good!

God bless,

M.

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi Momma---Your best bet is to be sure you eating an optimal diet. This will help to prevent colds in the future. Please understand I am not suggesting you have a poor diet, rather maybe just not quite good enough.

Eat mostly plants, fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts and seeds. Minimize animal protein and eliminate dairy (please go to www.pcrm.org and put dairy in the search box). Also eliminate negative foods such as added sugars and HFCS (too much sugar makes the immune system lazy), artificial colors and preservatives, MSG, etc. I know that we are told that these compounds are GRAS (generally recognized as safe) but no one has studied what the combination of them might do, especially in a vulnerable body.

Only take the OTC stuff if you are miserable. They actually lengthen a cold, not letting the body do what it needs to rid itself of the virus and the results of the immune system killing those viruses. Even taking extra C will not work any longer, as studies show that it only will help withing a very narrow window about the time you are exposed...which is well before you even know you have a cold. If you live near a middle eastern restaurant, go get one of their juice drinks that contains as many fruits and veggies as you can get. You will get some benefit from fresh veggie juicing, but you won't from isolated vitamins and nutrients. With whole foods, you will be eating tens of thousands of nutrients. With OTC vitamins, you only get a handful. It's like listening to an orchestra without the string section.

Be sure to drink lots of filtered water, get lots of sleep and try to reduce stress as much as possbile. Facing surgery, even something simple, I'm sure causes a bit of stress. Also, eating this optimal diet will help you to detox the chemicals from anesthesia and other drugs given you during surgery...as well as heal from it faster as well.

I've also read that a spicy chicken soup is very helpful for a cold as well. I have a great recipe if you would like it. If you have any questions about these topics that I've touched on, feel free to contact me. I am taking a series of classes, taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. Our bodies are amazingly capable of healing themselves IF they are given the proper nutrients. We need food, not only for calories and fuel, but for repair and protection...we sometimes forget about what it takes to achieve that last part. I am happy to help in any way that I can. Good luck. D.

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G.B.

answers from Detroit on

I always drink ecinachea tea when I start with a cold or sore throat. I do this for a couple of days and sometimes, it's gone by then.

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L.N.

answers from New York on

I think you should be fine for a surgery on the 18th. Most colds last 8 to 10 days. Honestly, I have found being able to sleep it off is the best medicine. Keep the OTCs going, hot teas with honey and lemon, and make sure you blow your nose as much as you can (to avoid sinus infection/ear infection which would require you to get on antibiotics). Don't know what kind of surgery you will have but colds usually are not a reason not to go through with surgery. Good luck

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P.K.

answers from New York on

That is two weeks away. I am sure your cold will be gone by then. Just
let it run its course.

Updated

That is two weeks away. I am sure your cold will be gone by then. Just
let it run its course.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

No, there is no way to purge a virus from our system faster. Just let it run it's course and take meds to minimize your discomfort. Nothing you've tried is working because nothing will. Colds usually run 3-7 days, depending if you develop a cough, fever, congestion.

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