I once read a sci fi story where the cure for a cold was deep sleep for 5 days, I assume with IV fluids and nutrition.....
Unfortunatly we don't have that option, and even if we did, who would take care of the kids?
So instead I have learned a couple ways to save on klenex, meds and lost time.
--Nothing monumental but FLUIDS! lots of them, and clear..like water..not only for the sicko but for the rest of the house....Oh I could find you tons of articles stating fluids are important but do you really need one more expert? go get a glass of water and google em yourself 
--An old soft t-shirt...for the drippy snots..it feels better to a sore nose than all but the most expensive brands of kleenex, but please wash on hot to kill the germs....and no yuky snotty klenex to take out (common you know the kids use a ton and overflow the can, leaving you to pick up and touch the icky snot that never really gets absorbed..if it did the snot would go thru to your hand when used..eww!)
--Soap! wash your hands...and dry them..damp snotty hands not only carry your germs to others, they invite others germs to you...last thing you need is multiple colds in rapid succession!
--generic meds, generic Ibuprofen works fine on me..though no med lasts the full time stated ('take every 4 hours' means 'will wear out in 2-3 hours') generic decongestants work to..read the big long scienticic 'active ingredient' on your favorite brand then look for it in generic....preferably do the reading when you are not sick..and but when convenient..try not to wait till in the midst of a cold..when you are in a akened state and likely to buy more than just your medicine.
there has to be more too.
The frugal cold
December 12th, 2006 at 04:10 pm
December 12th, 2006 at 04:21 pm 1165940503
December 12th, 2006 at 06:35 pm 1165948507
December 12th, 2006 at 07:47 pm 1165952876
dayquil (generic version, of course!) in the day, hot totties at night (hot tea w/ honey lemon and whiskey). you might look at me funny, but check to see what one of the top ingredients is in nyquil... i personally choose to get my alcohol in a yummy hot tea rather than a nasty bottled syrup.
when i was little, my mom used to rub us down with something called "save the baby", similar to vicks vaporub but infinitely better. can't seem to find it anymore, though...
December 13th, 2006 at 03:04 am 1165979045
December 13th, 2006 at 03:13 am 1165979612
Hmm. Strange notion. I've never heard of that one until now.
A cold is a virus infection, and even though our bodies can't fight them directly, our immune systems can kill any infected cells before they reproduce any more.
In short, we want to do anything and everything that will help boost our immune system... but I am not entirely certain that deep sleep will do that. Certainly eating well, sleeping well, a good dose of the sun, and light exercise will help, as that promotes general physical well-being. As such, sleeping too much could cause lethargy by depriving our bodies of exercise, sun, and fresh air.
Whenever I feel sick, I try do take it easy, and make sure that I am doing "healthy stuff". I sure do miss being pampered tho. Sigh.
December 13th, 2006 at 02:11 pm 1166019092