>The placebo effect is pretty powerful.

Agree. It's almost weird how powerful it can be.

>If they start to feel better because the cold is naturally ending, many people will attribute that to a pill that they took that actually did nothing. If it's just the placebo effect, they'll still attribute it to the pill.

Agree.

>...you can probably find the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum next to the Tylenol PM and other actual cures.

I see this stuff everywhere.

Interesting how much money is being made in this segment. I've often wondered if a lot of it is also driven by lack of health care and/or little interests in dealing with doctors and traditional medicines.

By the way, check out the reviews on Boiron Oscillococcinum on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Boiron-Oscillococcinum-Flu-Like-Symptoms-Pellets/dp/B00NMPLGU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494384460&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=Oscillococcinum&psc=1#customerReviews

There's a 'diabetic friendly' cough syrup. It's called diabetic tussin. Tastes like hell but works GREAT definitely works for that quick relief while waiting for pills to kick in.
EDIT: Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Diabetic-Tussin-Suppressent-Throat-Diabetics/dp/B000GCJU7Q

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Thanks for the contest, guys!!

I’m an elementary teacher and every year I’d get sick with bronchitis and then had to take antibiotics which I hated. But last year I decided to try something more natural so I bought three things.

• Air purifier for my classroom.
  
  
• Pei Pa Koa- it’s a Chinese cough medicine with natural herbs and products. Any time I feel my throat hurts or that a cough is coming I take it, and the next day I feel better.
  
  Pei Pa Koa - 10 Fl. Oz. ( 3 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002S56K40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_b8OBCbKCKH2N7
  
  
• Respire Essential Oil - I put 4 drops of this in my humidifier when I go to bed, and the next day I can breath better, and it also helps with sore throat and coughing.
  
  

  1 Respiratory Essential Oil & Sinus Relief Blend - Supports Allergy Relief, Breathing, Congestion Relief, Respiratory Function - 100% Organic Therapeutic & Aromatherapy Grade - 15ml
  

  
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012NZQD28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3.OBCbS2PGET9
  
  Hope you’re feeling better!
  
  

Have you ever heard of Zicam? It's homeopathic with the main ingredient being Zinc. Zinc has been proven to stop the reproduction of the cold virus and as a result Zicam shortens colds.

I first heard of it from my boyfriend, who is a firefighter and the guys at the department swear by it. So when I first started my student teaching experience and felt the signs of a cold coming on I used it right away. Seemed like the next day I was already better and I've used it ever since.

Zicam is available in tons of forms, here's what I use.
zicam spray!


Also you can take vit C supplements, wash your hands frequently, and refrain from touching your face while at school!

One more thing- my mentor teacher swore that he NEVER got sick because he gargles peroxide ! I don't know how much truth there is to that though!

Hopefully you get better soon!!

I should add that in addition to the rinses, I use a sinus medicine that helps tremendously! (link below) Make sure to use the night time version. The regular non drowsy versions do nothing for me, even at prescription strength. I normally get it from Costco but my Costco has not had it in recent months but luckily its on Amazon. I am sure though that you can get something similar at the grocery store. There is a very small amount of antihistimine in it (just 2mg, not enough to make me tired) I have been tested for allergies and I do not have any btw. I know of several other people who swear by this stuff for sinus related issues.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FVOWA76/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's some data (and a long history of folk medicine) to suggest that ivy leaf extract is effective at soothing this kind of cough. Zarbee's Cough Plus Mucus contains ivy leaf extract; the other active ingredient is honey, so it's safe for children over 1.

Anecdotally, I tried it when I was at my wit's end with a cough (from post-nasal drip after a very bad cold) that was waking my 2 year-old all night for going on a week and seemed to be preventing him from getting the sleep he needed to get well. It worked like magic then and we've now used it a few more times with the same results. (We've only ever given one dose at bedtime. We don't medicate coughs during the day.)

I'm always slightly suspicious of so-called natural remedies if it means they're also untested and unproven. But this actually does seem to work for him, and our pediatrician is fine with it (unlike other OTC cough medicines like guaifenesin or dextromethorphan, which are a hard no). This site summarizes the state of research into ivy leaf for coughs: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2116002

Personally I love small tits. I have very little experience with these, I know they work short term and can be fun to play with. Does anyone know if they can have lasting effects?

These are the most amazing thing ever invented. They are cough drops that have pectin in them, so they soothe your throat, they taste AMAZING, and because it's pectin and not chloraseptic or anything else that's bad to have too much of, you can eat them as candy- AS MUCH AS YOU WANT FOREVER!!!!

My pleasure! Don't know if you can get these, but they're great:

https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Throat-Lozenge-Jinsangzi-Houpian/dp/B00SKJKZOE/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Could you recommend a brand of DXM?

http://www.amazon.com/Creomulsion-Adult-Cough-Medicine-Ounce/dp/B006KXSOA4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top this is the one I'm looking at now. It doesn't have any other active ingredients, and the inactive aren't anything bad, so I think it should be good.

These are the 2 safest ways to consume dxm. The soft gel tablets (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZIAVBQ) are great if you hate the taste but they are mg for mg more expensive than the liquid. The liquid robitussin is faster acting and is a slightly better value but I cannot find it online. It comes in a blue package though and contains only dxm as an AI. Never take dxm with acetaminophen or guaifenesin in it as you are likely to reach a toxic dose of those before you reach a recreational dose of dxm!

In theory a saline type nasal spray could work for the application, but you would need to double the dose to make up for a less effective absoption method.

I've heard some people having luck with mt2 using this: https://www.amazon.com/Rhinase-Saline-Wetting-Allergy-Moisturizer/dp/B015DEYIHI/

Okay i have had a simular issue. I tried everything and nothing seemed to help... (flonase, zyertec, claritin, neil med products, afrin, saline sprays, eucalyptus, hot showers, heat compresses... everything) and i finally found a soultution that shouldn't of worked but did. This nasal spray called sinu orega - https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-2-Ounce/dp/B0011DTL78

It burns the shit out of your sinuses but is so worth it to sleep. My theory is that i had some sort of fungus in there, and this burned it out. I was so desperate and this cured me. I hope this helps. Sinus problems are a nightmare.

Ah, that's a good point there's a weasel word in there people are overlooking.

However:

You can overdose on dextromethorphan one of the active ingredients in Dayquil which was specifically mentioned by name by the OP.

https://www.amazon.com/Vicks-DayQuil-Multi-Symptom-Relief-LiquiCaps/dp/B005ZQP478?th=1

Take three of these packs, open them into a blender, add some nice fruit, ice and yogurt and enjoy ODing on this gross ass 50$ smoothie.

Edit: I have been informed you might need to use 6 or more packs to OD on that particular chemical and you might OD long before on some of the other ingredients so don't try and use this recreationally, it'd be bad.

No idea if they're safe for pregnant women, but have you checked out any all natural cough syrups or lozenges? To be fair, most of them contain honey though... This one isn't honey based.

> Fisherman's Friend

Hooray for the internet!

I would definitely recommend the little red liquid gels - http://www.amazon.com/Special-pack-ROBITUSSIN-COUGH-GELS/dp/B003LZQ47O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343179108&sr=8-1&keywords=robitussin+cough+gels

A lot of drug stores like walgreens and CVS also carry generics of those.

Baby chest rub has eucalyptus in it. It if was that dangerous they wouldn’t sell it. That stuff is highly regulated. Eucalyptus oil is perfectly safe for babies as long as they’re not getting digested.

Zarbee's Naturals Baby Soothing Chest Rub with Eucalyptus, Lavender & Beeswax, 1.5 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J767BPY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Wr45Cb1JMVCDP

Check this out instead. This is purpose driven for what you're doing.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CCHPC1R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1rwQBbQD5AZCW

Freeze spray for diagnosing electronics issues ticks all your choices, and is safer for the environment and you than spraying 134a that frequently.

It's this. Hitting the bottom of printed parts on the bed with it will cause them to pop right off the bed most times without needing a tool to remove them. It's very handy for keeping the bed nice.

https://www.amazon.com/Creomulsion-Adult-Cough-Medicine-Ounce/dp/B006KXSOA4/