Man Flu

[flip_flop]

I am the biggest pussy ever when I've got a cold - I was the reason the term man flu was invented.

Because I'm such a big girls blouse I'm a sucker for cold remedies and on Friday spent £4.99 on Beechams Ultra (I think that was the name) which apparently is the strongest cold remedy available.

It didn't relieve any of the symptoms at all - but then in my experience none of them ever do - but nonetheless I was mug enough to hand over a fiver anyway in the eternal hope of finding something that does work.

Are cold remedy manufacturers latter day snake oil salesmen?

[poodicat]

Morning flip no one has invented the cure for the common cold as yet,dont buy main brand medications,maybe a generic brand and lots of lemons boiled up!

[daffy654]

All you need is generic paracetamol or aspirin along with a decongestant such as Sudofed for treating cold symptoms.

[Verbix]

Agree with Daffy. My approach: a few Strepsils when the throat and the "Oh b....r I'm getting a cold" stage kick in (just 'cos they are the only thing I can taste); some deconge stuff (Vick) spread around at bedtime; and some paracetamol to stop any headache from stuffy head etc. Then give it another 10 days to clear completely, with walks in fresh air to help clear the goo. None of this actually cures anything, but it makes you feel that you are at least doing something to regain control over your life. But the pricey stuff in bottles? Forget it.

[joannie10]

Beechams etc never work for me but always find nu-cron good. You get it from the pharmacist. I have recommended it to others and it has worked for them too.

[stonekicker]

just as good to get asda's own cold and flu remedy - contains the same stuff and its mainly the paracetamol that makes you feel a bit better. olbas oil for the bunged up nose and hibernation....aaaah! x

[Panic Button]

Stop smoking and drinking.

Eat well

Take more exercise.

Take vitamin c with zinc supplements

You will find you almost stop getting these infections, and when you do you will get over them more quickly.

[snags]

flip-flop... save your money... man flu is fatal. Have you written a Will?

[ummmm]

As you know Panic....I am super human. So I don't know what these people are talking about...

[mccfluff]

oh dear man flu, almost always fatal, eat the hottest curry you can find and make sure it has plenty of chilli in it, you sweat or poo it out of you

[ladyalex]

Start taking echinaceae. It won't help this bout , but should help to prevent the next one.
Otherwise, paracetamol, no more than 8 per 24 hours, hot lemon and a toddy at night , alcohol of your choice.
If you can get the liquid form of echinaceae, it tastes vile, which I always find has a better effect on man-flu sufferers than the tasteless capsule or tablet form. Something to do with the worse it tastes, the better it must be for you.

[karenmac60]

Have a good strong toddy and an early night.

[jno]

people swear by First Defence - if you take some the minute you detect a symptom it keeps the cold at bay, apprently. It hasn't worked for me, and it tastes vile; but you could try it.

There's no cure for colds, but you can treat symptoms - suppress runny noses and coughs and so on. Night Nurse may help you sleep, which will help recovery.

[willowman]

My dad was Scottish and his remedy was....whisky.
He used to say "If whisky doesn't cure you, then you're not worth curing"

In fact a pharmacist once refused to sell me any cold remedies because I have high blood pressure (apparently they raise the BP even more), so I asked her what I could take.
She said "Whisky"
My sort of pharmacist!
It doesn't relieve the symptoms, but after a few glasses who cares.

[Panic Button]

You need Night Nurse

http://www.frankspart...mages/night_nurse.jpg

[Backdrifter]

Some of the above - certainly ensure you have vitamin C intake but just as part of a healthy diet should be sufficient, but contrary to popular perception it isn't the cold-preventive we think it is. But it'll stop you getting scurvy.

More worthwhile as a supplement is zinc, preferably in powder form, as there is a mechanism for it blocking virus particles in the throat.

Unfortunately, some of the preventive stuff is basic common-sense that too many people seem incapable of following. Such as washing your hands after using public transport; not picking your nose, rubbing your eyes or eating hand-food until you've washed your hands. I can never get over it when people use their bare hands to wipe away condensation from bus windows. That's everyone's condensed virus-laden breaths they're smearing over their skin. They might as well lick it off the window. People closing bus/train windows help to ensure we keep breathing in the viral fog of everyone's exhalations by sealing it in. All those things help the spread of colds so sometimes we're at the mercy of other people's stupidity.

Yes, don't bother with the cold 'remedies' - make yourself stop being a sucker. Paracetamol for the aches and pains, plenty of hot drinks. Don't bother with the echinacea - no firm evidence it works. I get hungry when I have a cold and find stuffing myself makes me feel better.

[Justincider]

Bottom line, there is no cure for a cold and any 'remedy' you can buy is no better than simple paracetamol.