I woke up this morning (or afternoon, as it were... oi!), and I've got the early effects of what seems to be the cold that's been going around.

Whenever I get sick, I try to stay super warm, take hot showers, and generally sleep and sweat the sickness away. I tend to not stay sick very long, but even being sick just a few days is annoying.

What kind of stuff do you all do to get yourself back to full health as quickly as possible?


On a side note, I also think it's kinda creepy that you can track a virus' progression across the country via Facebook. About a month or so ago, my friends on the eastcoast were all getting sick. Then shortly after, my midwest friends were getting sick. Then, my Nevada friends were all getting sick. And now, my Cali friends (and myself) are sick. Crazy that it makes it way across the entire country.

A good acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist can do wonders for getting you back on your feet. The problem is finding a good one ...

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:
A good acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist can do wonders for getting you back on your feet. The problem is finding a good one ...

Thanks for the suggestion Fishgurl!

Interesting lol. I have a friend who swears by that as well, as she is always feeling some sort of ailment at any given time. (However, not that I have anything against "alternative medicine" type stuff, I'm also curious that since she does so much of that stuff, perhaps that's why she's always feeling weird?)

I don't think I'd much like acupuncture. A) From what research I've done, it seems the main affect of acupuncture is just a placebo, and western medical science can't find any major benefits, although some people think it just feels good. B) Not sure I'm a fan of getting that many needles stuck in me. Getting a shot or a tattoo doesn't bother me; but that many needles just looks uncomfortable.

But hey, I'm no doctor. If it's worked for you that's awesome! Different strokes for different folks!

Just for curiosity's sake, how much does an acupuncture session cost, and how long does it take?

And what does an herbalist do?

Well, yeah ... The problem with a lot of alternative medicine types is that they sometimes convince their patients they need to come in weekly and patients often get psychologically addicted to the treatment. It can be a wonderland for hypochondriacs ... Chiropractors are apparently the worst about it in that some string out treatments over several weeks when they could have easily snapped the damn vertebra back in place in one. There are some real quacks calling themselves alternative medicine practitioners, too. I ran into a lady once who claimed she could cure anything with magnets. Who's to say? LOL

As for acupuncture in general, I don't think it's merely a placebo at all. The AMA has actually listed a number of maladies they've recognized it's good for although they can't say why. I think western medical science just hasn't caught up with it yet since what you're dealing with is the body's subtle energy about which they currently know very little. A good one will have trained for years and a true Chinese physician doesn't just do acupuncture, but combines the practice with herbology. It's a many thousand years old tradition. I first went to one a couple of years ago when I had a lingering problem with my knee that the doctors just couldn't figure out. I even had an MRI done and it showed nothing. One of my teachers sent me to his acupuncturist and it felt better after one treatment. After three, it was gone and hasn't returned. The cost will vary, but mine is $75 per treatment and I mostly just go in for seasonal "tuneups." It can hurt, though. There's a point up about 3/4 of an inch between my thumb and forefinger that totally makes me see stars when she hits it!

rest up and eat well

This is what I'm doing when I get ill, or already have a feeling I'm going to.

- No showering!!
- Garlic (with almost every meal)
- Looooots of tea (and it's better if it's some kind of medicine tea)
- Lemon (just eating it, without anything else)
- Hot milk with natural honey before bedtime
- A cup of hot soup when a bit hungry
- Enough healthy and nutritious food, and not hesitating on sweets or anything else that makes me feel better (chocolate, for example)
- Lots of sleep throughout the day, no PC and a lot of rest (best time to read books/plays/scripts)

quote:

Originally posted by Pavel:
This is what I'm doing when I get ill, or already have a feeling I'm going to.

- No showering!!
- Garlic (with almost every meal)
- Looooots of tea (and it's better if it's some kind of medicine tea)
- Lemon (just eating it, without anything else)
- Hot milk with natural honey before bedtime
- A cup of hot soup when a bit hungry
- Enough healthy and nutritious food, and not hesitating on sweets or anything else that makes me feel better (chocolate, for example)
- Lots of sleep throughout the day, no PC and a lot of rest (best time to read books/plays/scripts)

Processed sugar (ie chocolate) is the absolute worst thing you can put in your body when you have a cold. Yes, the sugar high feels better for a few hours, but bacteria multiplies like CRAZY when sugar enters the bloodstream.

I wouldn't drink any dairy products as they cause congestion which can complicate your cold. But almond and soy milk would be alright.

I don't really see the point of not showering. A good shower makes me feel a lot better when I'm sick. Wash those germs off your body!

Jon_K, I'm not really sure about how bad it is to eat chocolate while you are ill (cause it always helps me), but a cup of hot milk with honey is the main thing that helps to stand on your feet next day (making your sweat throughout the night also).

When going to shower you are changing body temperatures, so unless you live in a perferctly build home, I wouldn't risk of showering while ill. Atleast, that is what makes the cold worse for me the next day.

Milk with honey just sounds tasty I'll have to try that!

But I gotta agree with Jon; at least, in my experience, I always get worse off if I eat any processed sugars. As he said, it just makes more breeding grounds for the bacteria.

And I love hot showers too much; -especially- when I'm sick. I wish I had access to a sauna. I love to just sweat all that junk out.

But if chocolate and no showers gets you back to 100% quicker, then more power to ya!

Chicken broth with ginger, garlic and cayenne... add shitake mushrooms and red pepper. If it doesn't kill you, it'll kill the bug.

1000 mg of Vitamin C througout the day (with LOTS of water).

Body contortions and Cheyenne pepper. A candle, olive oil, and a full moon.

quote:

Originally posted by actorpat:
I woke up this morning (or afternoon, as it were... oi!), and I've got the early effects of what seems to be the cold that's been going around.

Whenever I get sick, I try to stay super warm, take hot showers, and generally sleep and sweat the sickness away. I tend to not stay sick very long, but even being sick just a few days is annoying.

What kind of stuff do you all do to get yourself back to full health as quickly as possible?


On a side note, I also think it's kinda creepy that you can track a virus' progression across the country via Facebook. About a month or so ago, my friends on the eastcoast were all getting sick. Then shortly after, my midwest friends were getting sick. Then, my Nevada friends were all getting sick. And now, my Cali friends (and myself) are sick. Crazy that it makes it way across the entire country.

I personally **swear** by Echinacea. I take 2 capsules the moment I start to feel a tickle in my throat, and if it doesn't keep me from getting sick altogether, it definitely lessens the amount of time that I stay sick. I keep taking them for like a week and it always helps SO MUCH.

I used to work at a health food store. I've tried EVERY homeopathic, organic food, and supplement on the market and this is what I've learned.

First, I don't believe theres any "magic bullet" out there that will fend off colds any better than just staying reasonably healthy (exercising, eating right, etc.). Unless your a starving Indian living in Calcutta, a normal diet is enough. I used to take mega doses of C and when I felt a cold coming on and I'd take giant doses of echinacea and goldenseal, too. I've noticed no difference at all with the vita C, and nothing at all from any of the herbs whatsoever (btw, things like echinacea only work BEFORE you become ill. Once you're actually sick, its too late). I began to think that maybe the origin of my many illnesses was mental/emotional. So I decided to do something about it.

I used to suffer from colds every season, 5 to 6 times a year. Then I tried something that might sound crazy, but its worked for me for the last ten years and it still works today. I have always believed that sickness of all kinds begin in the MIND. So one year on New Years Eve, I decided to make a resolution that I've made every year and here it is:
"I WILL NEVER GET ANY SICKNESS OF ANY KIND, FOR ANY REASON, AT ANY TIME, AT ALL!!" I kept repeating this positive affirmation over and over whenever I begin to feel sick, and I haven't had a cold in so many years that I can honestly
say that I never get colds anymore!!! Whenever I used to get sick, I noticed that it always happened when I was at an emotional "low." Thats when even the smallest "bug" knocked me flat. Now I know for a fact that all illnesses begin in your mind, then the body follows. Try it for yourself and please let me know if you notice a difference.

Audrey