Streamy sneezy cold...any good symptom relief tips?

[LittlePushka]

Just gone down with a horrid cold, and wondered if the crew could share their ideas or "old family remedies" for easing the symptoms.

Atchooo....thanks

As my doctor says... treat your cold with medication and it'll last 7 days. Do nothing and it'll only go on for a week.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen taken alternately is a good way to keep the aches and pains at bay. Take the paracetamol every 4 hours... two hours later start taking the ibuprofen every 4 hours.... because they are different chemicals you will not OD.

Keep fluids up with broths, soups, juices and other drinks. Dehydration makes colds worse. I particular like to include plenty of chilli peppers and garlic in the mix because a) you can taste them and b) they are quite a good natural antiseptic.

Steam treatment for congestion... avoid using decongestants because, ironically, they can make things worse if you overuse them... head under a towel over a bowl of very hot water and a drop of Olbas Oil.

Apply vaseline regularly to the nose to avoid soreness. Stay warm. Get plenty of rest and relaxation.... and wait until it goes away. Good luck

LOL at your doctors advice chil!! I have taken your advice, dispatched dh and dc to park and have boiled the kettle for a good old stream!

thanks for posting!!

My doctor's a great guy. Another one of his pearls of wisdom for parents is 'don't buy a thermometer'. As he points out, a raised temperature is a natural response to illness. If the child looks hot, it's hot and you don't need to know the actual number of degrees C. Cool them down, give them paracetamol and - if they still look hot - call the doctor.

Kettle's good. Also if you run the shower on hot and sit in the bathroom with the door closed breathing in the steam that's also very effective. Enjoy being fussed over..

Did kettle and had some lunch and lots of tea! then went outside in fresh air and thrashed brambles in the garden...feel much better!

Its straange how you always feel better outside when you have a cold - must be the warm dry air inside.

Fresh air is fabulous stuff for relieving congestion. Being the type that likes to keep heating bills down the policy in our house is 'turn down the thermostat and put on a jumper'. My neighbour keeps her house at temperatures that would make a cactus wilt and every time I go round there I can feel my nasal passages bunging up within about half an hour. And that's without a cold!

Glad you're feeling better.

Thank you Chil! Another full day in the fresh air and only now bunging up as I am sitting in the house! LOL at the thought of a wilting cactus, staggering about in the desert!!!