by Garry Shepherd

Created on: January 26, 2009

Catching a cold is as quick as a handshake, and often how you get one. So then why hasn't there been a cure figured out yet? Like most viruses, they run their course and are difficult to cure. While there are no actual curing treatments. There are a few things you can do however, to treat the sypmtoms of a common cold.

Tried, true (allegedly) and tested by many. Whether or not they will work for you, who knows, but while your suffering around the house and have nothing better to do, you might as well try to make yourself feel better a little faster. Hopefully, these tips will speed your recovery and lessen your symptoms:

Homemade chicken Soup. It is proven to release antioxidents to aleaviate the common cold. Must have celery, carrots, potatoes and chicken broth bare minimum to get this health benefit. Also must be homemade, during commercial processing, often the health benefits are lost. Score one for Mom and Grandma.

Zinc. These come in liquid, tablets, gel caps and some food and vitamins. Scientifically proven to lessen the length of the common cold. Available without a prescription. Check with interactions between other medications you might be taking. When I took them for my cold, they did not alleviate my symptoms, my cold did however, only last two days.

Vitamin C. Best taken naturally in juice or fruits for better absorbtion, but can be taken in a vitamin. At least 1000 mg a day to help boost your healing and immune system.

Cold tablets/liquid. Read the label carefully. Don't buy products that take care of symptoms you don't have. Not only is it a waste, it could be dangerous. Be sure to check with your pharmacist for drug interactions with other medication you have.

Vapor rub and alcohol wrap. Place vapor rub on back,neck and chest, rub it in and put on a cotton shirt. Place liquid vapor in a humidifier if desired. Take a washrag and rubbing alcohol, saturate half of the washrag or hand towel with alcohol. Roll into a bandanna and lay loosely on your neck. Go to sleep with this on. This is an old family method, Grandma swears it draws the cold out of you.

Go see your doctor for prescription cough medicine, if your hacking all night, to get your rest. Also see your doctor if symptoms get worse or coughing is accompanied by a fever, excessive mucus or lasts longer than ten days.

Worse case scenario, if none of these work for you, I know this sounds awful, but sometimes, you just can't get rid of a cold, until you give it to someone else.

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