At the first sign of a cold, what do you take and does it work?

[Lottapianos]

This house has been like a flipping sanitorium for the past week, and I had a horrible cold mid December as well. Fed up of it. I eat well, lots of fruit and veg, generally get enough sleep and drink loads of water. Have tried taking echinacea and vitamin C as early as possible, both did sod all. Generally in good health and am fit and active

Is there any way to avoid getting colds and bugs, or are they just part of life and no way around it? All advice gratefully received

@user1471453601 I usually lose my voice for part of December and this is the first year in a while when I haven't. I can't help but feel something worse is going to hit, though.

Even for a flawed trial, the numbers for echinacea aren't exactly miraculous. 26% improvement if taken daily for 4 months.

www.nhs.uk/news/lifestyle-and-exercise/echinacea-cold-study-claims-analysed/

Actually if it were a better study I would find that impressive. 26% means a 3 day cold instead of 4. Imagine how much productivity that would be in a business. 30 people having 3 colds a year would save 90 days. Also fewer days to infect other people so hopefully fewer colds.

90 more days attendance in a class of children.

Fewer teacher absences needing covering so a saving to schools. Ditto the NHS.

Daily echinacea could actually be the way to give the UK economy a much needed boost.

Steam room and sauna, early night, fresh orange juice and lots of water!

Beecham's All-in-one liquid. Usually stops anything in its tracks with me.

1000mg giant vitamin C tablets and zinc tablets

I second the Boots own version of First Defence. The Vicks version is more expensive and oh the pain! The Boots one does the same job but doesn’t give me a thumping headache.

Hand gel all the time, echinacea & berroca. Next stage, paracetamol at night, them Lemsip, last resort hot toddy. I don't succumb often.

What on earth is in First Defence if it makes your nose bleed and gives you a headache? I think I'd just go with the cold.

I can't use a nasal spray as I have a cauterised nose but still occasional nose bleeds & nasal spray thins the lining of your nose.

Vicks first defence
Echinacea
Vitamin c with zinc

Oh and never had a nosebleed or headache from using first defence

High dose vitamin C - the effervescent 1000mg tablets. I take them fairly regularly anyway but on feeling that throat tickle I take a couple of extra doses.

I am going to get some of the vick first defence to try as well.

Raw onion.

Just a reminder - hand gels are a waste of time, they are anti-BACTERIAL, whilst a cold is a VIRUS. Far better to use good old soap and water.

Potters cold and flu remedy - it blew your head off but I found it was the bees knees for symptom relief.
It's a shame it's been off the market for a while now, I don't know why and Potters aren't saying.

L lysine. I actually take it most days over winter is I find it stops or reduces my cold sore outbreaks and helps me keep colds at bay. Also vits...esp d and b12. As many as possible through diet.

Honestly the Boots one was a revelation! Original First Defence is pretty painful. I just got to the point where I didn’t want the stinging etc. Then tried the Boots one and no pain or stinging! So I use it lots.

In general I make sure my iron levels remain high as anemia increases my susceptibility to colds massively.

I use alcohol based hand sanitiser throughout the cold and flu season and get the jab every year.

At first signs of a cold I use vicks first defence and a good quality echinacea tincture

If a cold takes root then it’s elderflower and yarrow tea

I rarely get properly ill and I frequently work with the public including lots of kids. DH is a teacher and brings home everything that’s going around.

Berocca.

I have one a day, and if I feel a throat tickle coming on, I double up to two. Haven't had a cold in years. Well worth adding to your routine.

I think it’s a great point about iron levels and very true.
My vitamin D levels are high (had them checked recently) but my iron levels are always on the low side. Had a good few colds this year already despite the vitamin D. So low iron (amongst other things including crap sleep) probably contributed.