Can you kill a cold before it takes?

[ShakyBake]

Feel a bit sore throaty and that a cold is about to hit but also feel like it's not taken over yet, like I'm on top of it. Is it possible to actually fight a cold off before it fully takes?

Have been eating extra well with lots of veg and high quality protein and just had a fizzy vitimin. What else can I do?

Would not be without First Defence. A guy in Boots chemist recommended it to me years ago when I was going away for the weekend and felt like I was coming down with a cold. He also said pineapple juice for a sore throat. I still use both.

Yes and you’ll avoid spreading it to others with this method as you’ll reek so badly they’ll maintain their distance

A shot of neat vodka. Gargle with it if possible, otherwise just drink it. I did know some Russians who snorted it but that was a step too far for me.

I go full on counter attack.
At the first sign: I buy everyone First Defence ready for them to take too.
Salt water gargle.
Sinus spray.
Cold and flu tablets.
Lemon and decent honey.

Echinacea drops are effective for me, I prefer them to the tablets - about 15 drops in a small amount of water.

It may not fend off the cold entirely but I'm sure it reduces the duration and severity.

Same @believeinbelieve theres nothing like the shot of pretty much pure alcohol to kill it dead. I'm was told about it 30 years ago by a consultant looking after my daughter who suffered terribly with every cold ending up an infection. We still use them to this day but now they say not suitable for under 14 or something? Pffft I was using them on a three year old! 😂

I double up with first defense as well - got to cover all the bases!

Another vote for echinacea tablets. Also, sambucol. I'm the only one in the family who never caught any of the winter school/work colds when taking these. I have some First Defence spray but have never needed to use it.

ETA: the last time I had a cold a few years ago, having a ready meal vindaloo for two days seemed to have helped! Solevita ginger shots from Lidl too.

Double Defence from Boots is better than First Defence. Just as effective IMO, but doesn’t give a horrible aftertaste. Also, FD occasionally does this awful thing where it goes inside a sinus or something, and you get the most hideous burning pain for several minutes, and can do nothing to ease it. Double Defence doesn’t do that.

No. All over the counter medicines do is ease the symptoms, which with rest and taking it easy will make you feel more comfortable. Always use a hanky once and then dispose.

There's no cure for the cold because it's a virus that continuously mutates.

Suppression of the symptoms can lead to more serious illness such as lower respiratory coughing, which will make you feel even more unwell.

Dual defence I mean

I had a cold starting a few weeks back and made this “cold busting soup” after a bit of Googling:

A red onion
Kale
Parsley
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
Bone broth instead of stock
Chicken breast poached in the liquid then shredded and returned. I think the recipe said chicken thigh but we had breasts in the freezer so that’s what I used
Turmeric powder, loads of black pepper
Tiny pasta - I’d have cooked this separately or just added it in right at the very end before serving as it went a bit gloopy. I’ll know next time. I used the little pasta stars

My cold didn’t come to anything, but it may not have been the soup. It was really nice though!

Allicin max

Yes, this works as long as you take it as soon as you notice any symptoms. I actually keep a bottle at home and one in the car so they I’m always within easy grabbing distance.

I do 8.30 bedtime, after a pint of fresh orange juice and a banana. Always seems to work.

Rationally I know that it is unlikely that you can stop a virus in its tracks. But I always take Lemsip every four hours for a day if I think I’m getting something.

I tend to get one every few years (although it is an absolutely vicious fecker when it does get through!)

I’ve used first defence and it works.

Agree with Sambucol - though what's even better is making your own elderberry syrup. Really easy & far more potent. There's been quite a bit of research on the properties of elderberries - apparently they contain an enzyme that latches onto the cold/flu virus & helps reduces the length & intensity of a cold. I've had okay results with Sambucol - but amazing overnight results with the home-made version.

No scientific basis for this but I go to sauna, proper hot, and alternate the heat with ice cold showers, and I use eucalyptus essence in the löyly water.

I do all the time. Take paracetemol, First Defence. Decongestant if I have sinus pain. Eucalyptus in oil burner when I go to bed. Make sure I have my vitamins/supplements. Avoid alcohol. Try and have a good sleep. I only have full on colds rarely and they don't linger when I do.

Any soup I make has onions/garlic as a base and they all work on colds or sinus infections.

Garlic. Raw. Several cloves minced, olive oil and a bit of salt to make it a bit more palatable. You can quickly and very lightly sauté to take the edge off. Pour it into a bowl and top with chicken and veg in broth. Eat. Then sleep. Old country recipe a few generations of my family swear by. G'ma's don't lie.

I think it’s the protein. Since I started resistance training and being more aware of how much I get I’ve been much more resilient.

Oh apparently sniffing eucalyptus oil is proven, as is that defence thingy.

First Defence, a glug of cough medicine, a shot of whiskey and a antihistamine before bed.

https://www.boots.com/boots-dual-defence-nasal-spray-20ml-10220406?srsltid=AU7gw4VOUnb1vkvWPQUNyD0SlHx_4RVTrIC-GySPvsoZX1uKrdfYcQZI

DD started with a cold last week, used this and the boots version of sterimar a nd was done by Friday