Expecting and have a really Bad cold any home remedies?

[Anonymous]

I have tried Ginger, honey and hot teas, nothing seem to be breaking this cold away is there any thing else out there that will work?

[Anonymous]

Vicks Vapor Rub.

Works like a charm.

Chicken noodle soup.

Lots and lots of liquid -- it helps to thin the mucus.

[Anonymous]

Steam will also help.

[Anonymous]

Whats the most bothersome symptom - congestion, sore throat, coughing, fatigue, sore throat?

I know it sounds completely counter-intuitive, but I was miserable not too long ago (also pregnant) and I actually took a small 10 min. walk around the neighborhood. The first few minutes were dreadful (my legs felt like lead), but then I sorta felt better. Maybe the fresh air? I don't know, but it seemed to work.

I gargle with hot (not scalding obviously) salt water for sore throats and slept with my head slightly elevated (also works for babies when they get sick).

[Anonymous]

Orange Juice. Vitamin C is excellent to fight a cold.

[Anonymous]

My mom got sick toward the end of a pregnancy and couldn't shake it. Delivery cured her.

[Anonymous]

I am a true believer in the neti pot. If you've never heard of it, it might sound like quackery but it works very well for me. It's essentially a saline solution that you spray or pour up one side of your nose and let it drain out the other. It flushes out your nasal passages and sinuses and it WORKS. I have always had raging sinus infections and it's like a super-intensive nose-blowing session. I feel so much better after I've done it and when I have a cold I do it twice a day, morning and night. It's a bit hard to get used to doing at first, but worth the effort. It doesn't hurt at all, btw, and for some reason it doesn't feel like you have water up your nose or anything. (I wouldn't be able to do it if that happened). Whole foods sells them and I'm sure you can get them at other healthier stores.

Also, liquids to further thin mucus and as much sleep as your lifestyle will allow you...nothing beats a cold like sleep.

[Anonymous]

Snort Salt Water

warm water with salt - like you would gargle with
pour a little puddle in your hand
close one nostril
lean over the sink
SNORT HARD.

it drains like a (*@***

this sounds just like the neti pot and you dont have to buy anything!

[Anonymous]

Salt water gargling with salt water and the neti pot always worked for me.

[Anonymous]

Hot teas, salt water gargling, rest, hot showers, and a loving husband taking care of you.
I got the cold just before the trip to Florida and had 5 days alternating beach, hot teas at the hotel, locally produced oranges, and rest. I had three miserable nights with running nose and sore throat, instead of five.

[Anonymous]

Get plenty of rest. Sleep sleep sleep as much as you can.

[Anonymous]

I also highly recommend a vaporizer (not humidifier - they get moldy) with Vicks Vaporub liquid. I sit right next to the vaporizer and it really helps with congestion.

[Anonymous]

Garlic seems to help me fight off colds or make them run their course faster. I crush/mince them and then mix them into soft butter and spread on toast. If the garlic is on the mild side, I can tolerate it raw, but if it's too bitter, I put the toast back in the toaster over to sort of cook the garlic a little. I can consume a few cloves, but if I have more than a half dozen or so, I start to get some "gastric discomfort".

Another plus side is that I'm less likely to infect anyone else because nobody comes near me.

Garlic is believed to have an anti-viral effect, but I haven't researched it, so I can't point you to any studies.

If someone in the family has a cold, I can sometimes avoid catching it by using garlic. But I'm more likely to use a high quality supplement instead, because I don't want to reek. The best supplements are extracts of the whole garlic... because we don't know what compounds in garlic are the most effective, or whether there's a synergistic effect among two or more of garlic's compounds.

[Anonymous]

I totally second the PP who suggested the Neti pot. It works GREAT for nasal and sinus congestion, and it's totally natural!