Request for evidence-based help. Will anything actually fend off a cold?

[WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn]

I have a vague feeling in the back of my eyelids as if I’m brewing up a virus. I’m normally pretty good at fighting things off, but it’s particularly important that I’m not ill this weekend (visiting premature newborn niece, and this will be my only chance to see them for the next 6 months).

Is there any real evidence that running to Boots and necking an entire bottle of zinc, vitamin C and echinacea will actually help prevent me getting sick?

And no, I absolutely won’t be going to visit them if I do get sick so those of you who are only here to slag off the OP do feel free to head off to AIBU: I think there was an economically challenged pregnant woman buying fags for her boyfriend wasn’t there?

Get that spray that you spray at the back of your throat and lots of vitamin c

OP
I think that the only thing that might work is rest, as much as you can, and good food. At this stage your body will make it or break it
Rest if you can, sleep and loads of liquid
Best of luck so you can meet that bundle

First defence nasal spray. There may be others. If caught early enough that works

Honestly: no. But - when I am in this stage, I take cold tablets (any brand - I get them from the pound shop) and it does seem to shorten the duration and stop the total, utter misery I get otherwise.

Oh I never heard of the spray!
Still rest is the best help for our tired bodies 😫

Start taking EchinaCold (Schwabe Pharma) available from Holland and Barette. (Touchwood, this has worked for me, so far).

There is evidence that taking a lot of vitamin C in the early days of a cold wards it off.

I've been using a netti pot. I know that all it does is flush the virus out of your nose so its not actually a cure, but I've been able to fend off a cold.

There is evidence that taking a lot of vitamin C in the early days of a cold wards it off.

The evidence is that Vit C helps prevent infection, but does nothing once something is caught, so depends on how 'early' days as to whether there'll be any effect.
Rest and water will stop it dragging out longer.

Steaming your face is supposed to be good as it temporarily raises the temperature of the inside of the nasal passage. Steam with water as hot as you can stand, for at least 5 minutes, breath in as much of the steam as you can stand through both your nose and mouth, and blink a lot too. It seems to work for 9 colds out of 10 if caught early enough.

The way it works is that the cold virus can only live at certain temperatures and steaming kills off enough of them to allow the bodies natural defences to beat the cold off before it gets to the snot and bogey stage.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170330115246.htm

That link might help OP. I’ve found that vitamin C helps enormously (in large doses) - but that’s anecdotal of course!

Too late now but copious hand washing, partucularly after shopping etc, is a proven aid staying cold free.

I swear by Vicks First Defence. It's about £7 and should last you the whole winter. You spray twice per nostril 4 times a day. Colds never develop.

I'm with @Wotev - it was recommended on a thread a while ago and saved me when I felt a cold coming with a premie newborn

First Defence really is amazing. Use it early enough and it will ward off most bugs, even when you are later than ideal with it I think it reduced symptoms and length of suffering.

First Defence nasal spray and personally I take Echinaforce echinacea drops as well if a cold is threatening.

Raw Clive of garlic, first thing in the morning crushed between two spoons with a glass of water chaser.

You can feel your sinuses drying out as it burns its way down. Amazing.

Fasting for 24 hours and nothing but fluids also works.

Bless you all. I’d vaguely heard of First Defence in the past but have never used it and forgot it existed. For 6.55 it’s got to be worth a try.

First defense is by Vicks and us too menthol-y for me...Boots own Dual Defense is an alternate that I swear by

Years ago I read about a doctor who kept his hands away from his face. I realised I frequently brushed my face with hand or absent mindedly rubbed it or moved my hair away etc. Since I made a conscious effort not to touch my face, I've hardly suffered any colds or illnesses.

Will also have very hot, very long bath and drink my favourite hot honey and lemon with a huge spoon of garlic and ginger purée: it may not actually work but it puts my system on notice that we’re on red alert, and it makes me feel that we are Not At Home to Mr Rhinovirus.

I have several colleagues with colds and am taking liquid echinacea as many times a day as I remember! It tastes vile but does seem to be keeping the bugs at bay. I take it as soon as I feel a tickle in my throat or other warning signs of impending lurgydom! However past experience has shown me that nothing keeps it away forever and the best you can do is fend it off as long as possible!! I did read somewhere that our immune systems NEED to catch a cold or bug once a year to 'reset' and be as strong as possible

Good luck WakeMeUp I hope you manage to keep the cold at bay long enough.

I’m an inveterate face toucher - only an intensive one-to-one course with Paul McKenna would fix that I’m afraid.