How to get over a cold FAST!
Lets face it, with all of our preventative methods, sometimes we just can't keep from acquiring the common cold. At the threshold of our miserable sneezing, sniffling, coughin, hauking and dying, we are willing to try anything to get over this sickness, and fast, so we can continue on with our lives. There are many "tried and true" methods for getting over that cold/flu virus and there may be other methods that work better for you. Cold and Flu viruses mutate and adapt which makes it hard to avoid contracting it once in a while, so its good to have yourself a personalized concoction to deal with it. Here is one method you may try that works for me.
1. Take any safe combination of OTC drugs (for the symptoms) that include these ingredients: antihistamines (Diphenhydramine), decongestants (Phenylephrine, Oxymetazoline), fever reducers (Acetaminophen). Follow recommended dosaging, DO NOT OVERDOSE, consult WebMD for drug interactions. Recommended suggestions - Theraflu, Sudafed, Afrin, Drixoral, Alka-Seltzer, Mucinex, Nyquil, Robitussin, or whatever works best for your symptoms. The medicines help alleviate symptoms brought on by the virus but your body is what is fighting the virus. Therefore you need to take supplements that help your body's immune system so it can fight the virus which has to run its course. Sometimes colds and flus can last for weeks but we want shorten the duration. When the virus stays in your system longer (say for weeks) you can develop lung and upper respiratory infections which will require prescription antibiotics to get rid of. The best way to avoid this and the miserable prolonged sickness is to knock it out as fast as you can. Medicine helps alleviate symptoms but it is up to your body to get rid of the virus that plagues you.
2. Mix recommended dosage of powder form Spirulina and powder form Emergen-C (or other brand) into a glass of Acai or orange juice. Spirulina contains anti-viral and immune stimulating compounds and research has show it to inhibit viruses from invading cells. They are even using it to treat herpes and HIV/AIDS (which are viruses) because it does not allow the virus to enter cells allowing AIDS patients to live better quality lives. Spirulina has other health properties that you should be aware of also. Emergen-C is a powder form multi-vitamin that contains a larger amount of vitamin C plus your daily intake of vitamins and minerals. You should double-dose up on Vitamin C but taking too much can have negative side effects so just take double your daily value or take it more often throughout the day. It is always better to take vitamins in powder or liquid form because your system may absorb it faster or easier than pill form.
3. Dose up on Vitamin C and drink plenty of water... water flushes and purifys the system. It helps flush the virus out of your system allowing for more rapid recovery. (Note it is best to do this during the day because you don't want to have to use the restroom all night long). Also get plenty of rest so your body can focus on eliminating the virus. You may not feel hungry but eat C-rich fruits and vegetables (of course). Continue to consume vitamin C and vitamins up to a few weeks after symptoms disappear, as trace amounts of the virus may remain in your system, you do not want to go into a relapse and re-infect yourself. Also sipping on HOT water kills bacteria in you lungs so perhaps mix the vitamin powder in a cup of HOT HOT water or just have yourself a bowl of hot soup.
Here are some helpful links that have information that can help you cure a cold, fast.
http://newyorkbodyscan.com/coldcure.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Cure-a-Cold-Fast
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-remedies/id00036
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080204164440AA1CD4F
http://www.manageyourlifenow.com/Articles/tabid/60/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21/10-Simple-Ways-to-Cure-Cold.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7kJFG5Uvk
Give it a try, and hopefully this helps. Please comment if this was helpful.