The Best Medicines to Fight Off Colds and the Flu

It’s that time of year again! Time to get that flu shot, and get a double dose of vitamin C into your system. Let just say that you have done everything in the world that you could have thought of to do, and even called your mother to ask her the recipe of her delicious chicken soup for you to make and put in the freezer, you still catch a cold, or worse, catch the flu. What do you do then (apart from call your mom)?

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A little background on the illness you are going through:

“Believe it or not, those annoying symptoms you’re experiencing are part of the natural healing process — evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For instance, a fever is your body’s way of trying to kill viruses by creating a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, a fever’s hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively. Thus, if you endure a moderate fever for a day or two, you may actually get well faster. Coughing is another productive symptom; it clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body. Even that stuffy nose is best treated mildly or not at all. A decongestant, like Sudafed, restricts flow to the blood vessels in your nose and throat. But often you want the increase blood flow because it warms the infected area and helps secretions carry germs out of your body.”¹

Even though you are feeling really annoyed with your nose, you should also keep blowing it. Make sure you do it gently though, because if you do it too hard, the pressure may back up into your ears. Make sure that you don’t do that. Also try gargling with warm water and salt to help ease the throat and nose passageways. This could bring some relief to your over exertion on your ears, nose and throat.

Make sure you rest, and rest as much as you can. This helps your body recharge and gives your body strength to fight the stuff inside of you. Apply a warm compress to your forehead, right above your nose and on the sides of it as well. This will help loosen your sinuses, and thus help you breathe a little better. To help loosen the sinuses more, you can get yourself in a warm shower or bath and let yourself sit in the steam to help open up the sinuses even more. Also of course, get some liquid in you, warm and soothing are the best ones. Maybe a warmed whiskey or bourbon.

If all these things still do not help you or give you some relief, these are the best over the counter, in your drugstore remedies.

1. NyQuil and DayQuil

These are the best over the counter medicines. Taken together, they are the ones to beat. “Both products contain ingredients that target pain and fever as well as a cough suppressant, but they go beyond that to take care of other symptoms.”² . Just be ready to have a fantastic sleep.

2. Threaflu

There are some people who do not like pills, and do not like the taste of the syrupy flu medications either. This is the best solution to both problems. You just dissolve the powder into warm water and drink it. So not only will you be able to soothe your throat with the warm liquid, but you will be able to remedy your illness as well. A win-win!

3. Vicks Sinex Severe Sinus Pressure & Pain Non-Drowsy LiquiCaps

If you need something that is non drowsy so you can get on your day, this is one of the best of in the market. It combats hay fever, allergies, cold, sinus congestion, and just to help you breathe normally again.

4. Sudafed PE

Another non-drowsy over the counter option for your flu or cold. “Non-drowsy decongestant provides powerful relief of sinus congestion and pressure with pain, plus headaches. Each maximum strength tablet contains acetaminophen for pain relief and phenylephrine HCI.”³ Relief is just a pill away.

5. Tylenol

There is of course good ole Tylenol to the rescue. May not be the strongest, but it is still potent enough to ensure to give you whatever relief that you need.

Whichever medicine you pick from our list, or even if you are able to find something else, we hope you get the relief and rest you deserve.