If you have cold and flu, do you take medicines for relief?

I really dont like taking medicine, or going to the doctor. I have had the flu for a little over a week now, and I am doing pretty much anything that I can do to avoid having to go to the doctor. I did actually decide to take some nyquil the otherday so that I would get a good night sleep, but it really did not work, and my fever was still high. I found that just drinking a lot of water and orange juice got rid of my fever, and I am feeling much better. Though I am still coughing.

No I can't any more as I am allergic to Paracetamol What I do now is have Hot Blackcurrant with Lemon Juice and also hot Milk with Honey and that does help me eventually Hugs to you and I hope you feel better now

Well, I am on my second week of cold and flue. It has been a nasty one this time and I doubt I will EVER forgo the flu shot again after this. I finally went to the doctor's a couple of days ago and yep, it had progressed inyo pneumonia and am now on antibiotics for it, starting to feel a little better. Hubby brought homw nyquil, contac c all kinds of over the counter meds at first because he had it too. We found nothing really worked and just had to let it run its course. He got better. I didn't, but that seems to be changing now. Finally. Good luck to everyone else who has been down with it as well...

Hello charms88 :) Hope you're feeling okay now. I agree with you, water therapy is the best remedy for colds. I usually start with this and if the colds gets a little worse I drink other fluids like herbal beverages. Since colds is a viral infection and usually self-limiting, I usually just take a lot of rest, lots of fluids, and fruits to increase my resistance. You take care now. Have a great day :)

I don't like to take medicine sometimes I will take Nyquil if my cold is really bad to help me to fall asleep but sometimes Nyquil will make me feel really icky for awhile so I try no to take it to much. A cold just has to run its course.

To be honest with you I am pretty lucky in that I dont get colds or anything very often at all, and if I do it sort of hovers in the background for a couple of days and then just disappears! A few years back I was always bunged up with colds, but I never ever took anything, just a couple of paracetomol and some of that smelly stuff you can put on your pillows and tissues.

I do end up taking some over the counter remedies. I like the mucus relieving medicines as they do not seem to have as many side effects. I drink lots of water, tea, and my favorite, pineapple juice. I have a prescription cough syrup that I took for three nights, just so I could sleep. I still feel like I will heal best with liquids, sleep and time. A few rays of sunshine are helpful, if they become available.

Hi Charms88. Well, we all know that colds and flu are generally viral and there is really no cure for it. Increasing fluid intake, like what you're doing, is a good way to decrease cold and flu symptoms. Steam inhalation for clogged nose are also good. I'm also a firm believer in ginger soup. Generally, I let my colds run its course, but I do take Paracetamol (or acetaminophen) if I already have fever and muscle pains. I also like sleeping the whole day away. I generally feel a lot better after I have taken the time to rest. BUT there are times when I simply cannot sleep because I find it hard to breathe through my nose, so I then turn to OTC cold medications to decongest so I can sleep better. But only when I can't bear it anymore and only at bedtime.

I'm not fond of taking cold medicines. I've read before that there really is no cure for colds. It's something that will just go away after it has finished its cycle. What we can do to relieve it is to take a lot of fluids (water, soup and juices) and take a double dose of good old, reliable vitamin C. I do take medicine when I have fever, because I don't want it to interfere with my work when it worsens.

That's weird, I'm sure I posted to your discussion already hmm. Anyways I usually let it take its course and if worse comes to worse then its over the counter medicines. I don't know of any traditional type of herbal medicines to use when I do have these symtoms.

Hi Doll At the first sign of anything I take Defend and Resist Also extra vitamin C and lots of fluids xoxoxoxoxoxo

Hi...sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather...not fun. I do a few things...I rest..stay warm...and drink lots of water. I also make a few homemade concoctions and they are: Freshly squeezed lemon in warm water with honey with a pinch of powered cayenne pepper. I drink that throughout the day. I also use dried sage from our garden and make a tea with cloves in it. Taking higher doses of vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system. If I am really stuffed up I brew cammomile and sage together in a 4 quart dutch oven and when it is steaming I put a towel over my head and inhale. The combination of herbs helps to clear up the sinuses. Another thing I love to do is fill up the tub and put a couple of cuts of Epsom Salts in the water...turn on the bubble jets and say...Ahhhhhhhh. Works for me...take care of yourself my friend. Raia

I don't really like to take more medication than I already do, but when I get sick enough, I have to take something for some relief. The first weekend I got sick, which was two weekends ago, I didn't take any medication for it and I just slept the entire weekend. Come Monday morning, my throat hurt so bad I could hardly swallow without crying and my head was thumping uncontrollably. I finally gave in and went and got some cold medicine. I got night time medication, daytime medication, cough drops and tissues. I needed them for the rest of the week and the beginning of the next weekend. Last Saturday afternoon I finally started feeling better. Everyone here was sick and luckily now, we are all better!

Well for most of the time i avoid medicines and all for relief. I just try to call my mom and ask her some tips to get rid of most of my diseases. Although its not good for our health to take too much medicines.

The only medicinal remedy I take for colds and flu is Beechams and Hot Lemon, or Hot Red Berries. It clears your head and helps you sleep, plus you sweat out the cold more quickly. Other than that, I just have Olbas Oil in the burner, a drop or two on my pillow, and on my tissues. This is eucalyptus based and eases difficulties with breathing. Other than that, I get as much fresh air as I can, and rest, if I have the flu. Brightest Blessings.

I will try over the counter stuff. If it does not help within a few days, I will go to the doctor for advice and prescription if necessary. I also drink plenty of tea and clear fluids. Water and fruits juices are of great comfort to me.

Good to see you here after such a long period, charms. I'm also popping in after quite a while. Well, as for me, I'm down with cold for approximately 3/4th of the year, you see. A handkerchief is always my companion. But winter is the season when the worst of it hits me. Then I resort to "vapour-breathing" (well, couldn't give it another name!). It's done by boiling water in a vessel and then inhaling the fumes arising therefrom. Did you want to mention this only when you said "water therapy"? Oh, and another thing, for the rest of the year, my cold is usually due to some allergies, so then I do have to resort to some over-the-counter medications to control the allergens. Do put in your reactions to this. Cheers.

Hi Charms, welcome back! Didn't realise it was you until I saw the bunny. Thought it was the other charms. lol.. Hope you are well now, or at least on the road to recovery. I once visit a doctor for a bad flu and felt like a fool. He told me that the flu will go away after it has completed its cycle, and send me away with some pills which I do not take. Ever since, I never visit any doctor nor take medicine for relief. I let it heal naturally, unless I get some other infections.

I have home remedy medicine that can cure cold and flu... Of course, there's also the special concoction of honey and lemon and also taking more vitamin C would have added some help to recovery as well

When I got flu or cold it is a bad one... never just a mild ones but always the severe one :( Anyways, one way to cure cold or flu is by sleeping it off... and resting basically... When I got flu, I always take medicine.. over the counter one, because there is one that always manage to cure me faster than other brand :P and then I also drink teas herbals etc2... sleep alot :) And one more remedy for me is to eat HOT SPICY food (which I love soooo much), it makes my body feels warm and the flu is gone faster...