I have a nasty cold. I dont' have a cold, but a very stuffy head. To the point that I am woken up because I can't breathe.

I have heard that garlic and hot peppers can help reduce the symptoms and have properties that help you get over the cold faster, so I have been eating both like crazy. I also have been using Zicam and taking vitamin C in mega doses.

Does anyone have any other help they can offer? I am willing to try anything.

Oh, and I have been taking a tea that has echinecea (I may have spelled that wrong), and other herbs and vitamins.

Please help me.

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"Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock
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Rev. Kelly this web site is a local store here that has natural products...the umka right on the big add is really good...eating chips and salsa was always good for opening up the airway....if there is a cough associated with your stuffy head...vicks on the souls of your feet works wonders...as does of course rubbing the vicks on the chest and placing a towel over it ...what i like better then vicks...is unker cream...i find it in the Amish country..and it works for about all alements...two other things that are great are...noni juice and colloidal silver...the stuff that turned that guy blue that was in the news...it will not by no means do that less you abuse it...i take it around the clock every four hours for any type of infection...ear ...throat...etc...

Thank you. I am going to go and check this out right away. I have been so miserable with this cold

Thank you again.

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"Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock
Religion is a smile on a dog."

Your welcome...hope you find something to help...getting so busy doing something you love works wonders...you just forget about it...but night fall that is hard to do...when your trying to sleep...you focus on nothing but ..aahhhh...i can not breath...but truly give it your all to think of someting...anything that takes your thoughts away....maybe music...as you go to sleep...to take your focus

Dear Rev. Kelly,
try anything that will help you forget that you have a cold, even if it's just for a few hours. The faster you can forget it, the faster it will pass: out of your mind...out of your experience. Hope you feel better soon. My thoughts are with you : )

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May your awareness be perfection

A few years ago a study showed that zinc tablets can help shorten a cold or flu. Chances are what you have is a virus, so antibacterials will probably not help you unless you have picked up an opportunistic bacterial infection. You didn't say if you are a vegetarian but if not, centuries of Jews have used good chicken soup for this kind of thing, and while I was initially dubious, I was engaged to a Jewish guy for awhile and I have to say...good homecooked or deli chicken soup does seem to boost the immune system in some manner I can't understand. This is not the time to worry about fats, by the way, your body needs them in the immune battle.

Eucalyptus is a natural way of opening your air passages. Some cold medicines include it, even. I grew up with eucalyptus trees and the oil is pretty powerful. You can get gel capsules of eucalyptus. Look for Australian brands if you can, since they have very high quality oil. The natural tryptophan in milk helps you sleep. That is why in old movies you will see people making warm milk to drink before bedtime. In Asia they tend to drink ginseng tea for stuff like this. Ginseng is an immune booster, but don't take megadoses of it. All of these things are natural medicines, in other words, you can overdo herbs and minerals like any commercial drug or have some side effects. A remedy for colds I think is English is a hot toddy. Hot toddy is lemon juice, sugar, and a bit of rum warmed up. If you're having congestion at all, they work wonders, and they relax you and increase the blood flow.

Some mainstream medicines: If you are having headaches, it might be worth trying an anti-inflammatory. If this could be an allergy rather than a virus (many people have mold allergies this time of year), try a childrens' strength Benadryl. I'm rather drug sensitive, and often find the children strength over the counters are plenty for me, and apparently that is true for many people, especially women.

Of everything I have listed above, I would personally try the chicken soup (and warm milk at bedtime) first, or if going herbal, I'd do the eucalyptus and drink a cup of ginseng tea. Hope you feel better soon! Make sure you're getting enough B vitamins and vitamin E. Again, I don't recommend megadoses. I won't take anything with over 150% daily requirement personally, because the nutritional interactions are really complex, and the last thing you want is a nutritional imbalance. Our society really loves to overdo things. If you're not opposed to aspirin, a child's chewable aspirin, just one, can actually reduce inflammation and enhance blood flow. Warm wet washcloth on your temples might help you, too, and breathing the steam from your tea.

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Hi Kelly! I used to manage a health food store for about 7years. You can take vitmin c every hour (1000mg)..you know if you have taken too much because it will give you diahrea..then you just cut back a little. Zinc lozenges are good but many for sore throughts. Echinacea is a good natural antibiotic. Take garlic softgels or tablets about 4 times a day. One of the benfits of vit c is that it works like a natural antihistamine. Drinking Peppermint tea is really good for congestion and fever. Boil water with Euclypus oil and or peppermint in it and the steam will help...don't drink it however... Using salt water as a nasal spray is also beneficial. Hope this helped a little.

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RevKathyV

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Thank you for the advice.

Mirage, I don't know if it is similar to the chicken soup you are familiar with, but my mother in law has made some homemade chicken soup. It has homemade noodle and dumplings, lots of veggies, big chunks of chicken, and lots of herbs in this really rich broth. It is like a piece of heaven in a bowl. I have been drinking this herbal tea that seems to be helping. I think my biggest problem is that my immune system has been overloaded this year. I have constantly been sick. I expect a few colds a year; I drive a school bus with elementary kids, and they like to talk to you right in your face, and touch and hug you. And we all know that kids are great at sharing germs.

Viv, I try to keep myself distracted. At night is the hardest part.

Kathy, well, you and I are on the same page with the C. I have also been eating hot peppers (pepperoncinis) and garlic cloves that were pickled together. The peppers because what causes them to be hot is a natural anti-inflamitory and you already told about the garlic.


I also have a new symptom that showed up this am. The congestion has moved into my right ear and I can't hear on that side. It does not hurt, but I can feel the pressure in there. I have tried peroxide to attempt to bubble it out and tried to loosen it with a hot compress. No luck. I think I may actually have to go see a doc; I don't want to mess with my hearing.

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"Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock
Religion is a smile on a dog."

kelly...you can put colloidal silver right in your ear..if you put it in there about four times a day...a few days it should be all cleared up...i had an ear problem one year my ear was protruding from the inside out..the silver worked like a charm...thank heavens because i dont have insurance and going to the Dr. is not an option...

this sounds like an amazing thing. I guess I should give in and order some.

__________________
"Philosophy is a walk on a slippery rock
Religion is a smile on a dog."