The Health Category of the 'Ask h2g2' Archives.

• I've got a cold, should I stay in bed or take drugs?

I've got a cold, should I stay in bed or take drugs?

(Asked by Lady in a Tree)

Pah! don't take drugs. Colds are viruses, so try not to spread it around. If you have a sore throat put a spoonful of honey in a mug of hot lemon juice, or squash, add some infused thyme if you can, and drink it down. The honey will soothe your throat, while the lemon will help your nose. The thyme is antispetic, so will help to heal your throat. If you take Lemsip, then all they have done is add paracetamol and nasty chemicals to that. And without the thyme! If you have got aches and pains put rosemary in a warm bath to soothe away the pain... It's also a stimulant, so it will make you feel a bit better. Anything here you haven't got, send a man out shopping
- Mina

Other remedies suggested:

• Olbas Oil - Put it in the bath, on your hankie, on your chest, everywhere you can think of! However it only gets rid of some of the symptoms, as soon as it stops you will be back in bed.
• Sliced root ginger in hot cola (about two centimetres cubed per mug of cola)
• Heating yourself up to about 60-70 degrees celcius - should destroy the virus and its 'protein coat'.
• A heavy/sweaty workout and about a hour in a hot sauna - It should burn the viruses right out.
• A nice hot mug of lemon and ginger tea with honey in it - does wonders for the throat and helps to clear the head a bit as well.
• Heat a can or bottle of beer until the stuff is hot, downing it quickly and jumping into bed.
• A combination of echinacea (to boost the immune system), vitamin C and B complex, zinc lozenges (to help soothe the throat) and garlic (antibiotic).