Creeping Crud

Creeping Crud. That is what I call the upper respiratory bug that is currently causing my discomfort.

Usually, when I feel the first discomfort, I get out the zinc lozenges and the Echinacea tabs. According to laboratory studies, Echinacea has not proven to be beneficial. However zinc is helpful, as is vitamin C.

Many people testify to the wonders of A*rborne and other new products designed to stop the culprit before the symptoms even begin.

I'm trying to remember any remedy that my mom used on me and my siblings. I think she scared germs away by making "the face." She put my feet in a bucket of hot water once and covered me with a blanket to sweat it out.

My dad thought the answer to every sickness was to have your morning...uh...constitutional. Apparently he considered irregularity the source of many diseases. ( No worries, here, however...when I drove out of the garage this morning, the sun reflected off an arachnid swinging close to my face. That did the trick.)

My boss says a hot toddy is the best defense against the creeping crud.


What's your potion? I'm going to post the answers.

I may even try your cure.

Comments

LIBSMOM said…
Pamela,
When my boys are sick (thankfully, rarely) I start a humidifier right away, plenty of strong, hot chicken soup and orange juice for the Vitamin C. I'm not a big fan of traditional medicine, rather letting the cold run it's course but soothing the symptoms. I also believe in letting a fever do it's job of killing off the virus so I don't medicate that unless they whine about it TOO much :)
In any event, I'm sending you healing vibes from the sunshine state, hoping you're back to feeling fine very soon.
Anonymous said…
When I was pregnant with Maia (and couldn't take much of anything) I got bronchitis. The doctors recommended grapefruit as a natural anti-histamine and it worked wonders. Now every time I get the "crud" (my mom called it that, too!) I buy a bag of grapefruit. It helps every time.
Anonymous said…
**that should read: when I was pregnant with Chris.

Duh.
Susie said…
My Mom used to rub my chest with Vicks and then put a big glob up each nostril. Boy did that stuff burn! She'd then run the vaporizer with plenty of Vicks in it and give us Vicks coughdrops.
Can you tell she swore by Vicks?
Hope you find the magic cure and feel better soon..
xoxo
Devon said…
A nasty cold has gone around here. I got it last week and treated it with a glass of wine, nighttime cold medicine and bed 9 hours of sleep a night. Worked like a charm. Also, lots of soup.
Anonymous said…
sleep sleep and more sleep.

I've been told WD-40 and Duct Tape work too. (heh)
Anonymous said…
Pam Mom and Dad had aremedy for everything. They would say "you need a Physic." and a Physic to them was a big does of epsom salts. Rose
bichonpawz said…
Vitamin C, Vicks, and tons and tons of sleep...as much as possible!! Hope you feel better soon!!
Beckie said…
I heart Z*cam! Love it, love it, love it. It speeds everything up.
Kaytabug said…
I hope you feel better soon!
I like EmergenC...Chicken soup works well for me. My hubby likes Green tea and honey...but for Me if its some cruddy chest congestion then a tsp of dried Coltsfoot flowers in a mug add boiling water and let steep for 15 minutes,strain, add honey, sip slowly. Same with Mullein one tsp of dried leaves...you can brew them together in the same cup...Mullein is very bitter so you will defiantly want honey/lemon/sugar to taste! Rest Rest Rest!
Bibi said…
LOL, you and my dad both!

My cure (passed on through generations ... this was dad's other cure!) is a hot toddy, lots of warmth, and early to bed. My fave toddy is boiling water poured over Captain Morgan's spiced rum, lots of honey, and mashed lemons.

Hmmm I think I feel a cold coming on ...
Susie Q said…
Lots of sleep, hot drinks...tea, a toddy, whatever! Orange juice, oranges, grapefruit, Zcam and chicken soup. The hot soup and the chicken broth really seems to work for all of us. I hate that you feel so bad now. We all had it last month. But all of these things helped me from getting worse...something that usually happens!

Would you believe my late FIL used to swallow Vicks? He claimed that worked but geez...it clearly says on the label do NOT take internally! He did it for years though...who knows!

Take care of yourself! I will send a good thought or two your way! It can't hurt right? : )

Hugs,
Sue
Kila said…
Vicks, vitamins, and extra Zinc and C like you mentioned, and sleep if I'm lucky ;) Hot soup is nice, too. I'm not a fan of cold medications.

I hope you feel better soon!
Amanda said…
Take a shot of everclear, ma. That will cure about anything! ;o)

Snuggle up with Tessie, drink some hot green tea, and get a goooood night's rest. If you have any essential oils like peppermint or menthol, put that in your humidifier.

I've heard of people putting vicks on their feet and then putting on socks. I don't know what that's supposed to do.

Feel better mom!!!
ChrisB said…
As I was reading this your comment came in, (I'm in tears again but thank you)
All my remedies have been mentioned, I was a big believer of Vicks,( probably because it smelt nice), Echinacea, hot lemon and rest. What's the old saying 'feed a cold and starve a fever'.
Hope you feel better soon.
Patriot said…
I think a free giveaway will cure the crud. ;o)

Hi! Just wanted to let you know about a free giveaway I'm hosting at my site. It's for all natural bath and body products made in Texas. Come check it out!

I'm hosting more giveaways every week - so keep checking!

Thanks!
Gwen said…
Hi Pamela.
Thanks for the visit,and yes it was a kiwi joke.
Sounds like that bug will have to run it's course,hope your'e feeling better soon xx
Anonymous said…
NyQil. Shots and shots of NyQuil.

Or shots of something even stronger.
katy said…
oh poor you, i know how you feel, i started with a head cold last saturday and its still in full swing.
i take paracetemol, lem sip, and lots of liquid, go to bed with a good book and big box of tissues
hope you better soon
Debs said…
I am sorry you are not feeling well.

Get plenty of rest.
Vick rub on the chest.
Chicken soup.

Then, get your hubby to serve you breakfast in bed. Then he must rub your back, shoulders, and/or feet.

Get better soon.
Shelby said…
yes - get your husband to serve you breakfast in bed - - absolutely the best idea.
Beccy said…
The only good thing about colds when I was young, dad would give me hot whiskey and lemon and mum didn't say anything about underage drinking. Dad even gave me a bottle of whiskey for medicinal purposes when I went off to university. It didn't last long enough to give me any relief from a cold!!!
Beccy said…
BTW, I wasn't that young...16 or 17.
karisma said…
Well, let me know whatever works please. I have had my cough for four weeks now. Tried all the naturals and then resulted to cough medicine. Still coughing. Not the usual for me. Boo Hoo.

I hope you get better quicker than I did.
Debs said…
I forgot to tell you about my mom calling me Miranda. She liked the name. That is all she would ever say.
Anonymous said…
Karmyn- You forgot the zippy ties and bungee cords!

Vodka and sleep is all I have to offer. Feel better soon.
Walker said…
Lots of sympathy from the husband three times a day while he is doing the cooking.
BarnGoddess said…
Zicam!! it really works. Dont get the nose spray tho, it burnslike heck.

hot toddy:
1 cup of VERY strong lemon tea, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 healthy shot of Chivas Regal premium.

I hope you feel better asap.

giggle over the spider scaring the poop outta you-Ive been there before!
Anonymous said…
I'm telling you...airborne every 3 hours
Anonymous said…
My FIL swears by rum and honey--drink the rum, and take the honey to bed. I don't know if it cures anything, but you might feel better. Well, you know men.

I just drink warm teas and take lots of vitamin C and if I have to, I will take medication to relieve the symptoms so I can rest.

I hope you are feeling better soon.
Coffeypot said…
When I get a cough or runny nose and fever I find that chemotherapy and radiation works. For the chemo I chug down a shot of Jack Black and then radiate in a very hot tub of water – the only time I take a bath. I’m a shower boy. And the surprise arachnid thing works every time. :)
Ms. Kathleen said…
When I first moved to Nebraska at 15 -- and encounter really, really cold weather, all the people around there said a shot of peppermint schnapps would do the trick. I don't like schnapps so there was no way it would do me any good. Others claimed a Hot Toddy or Hot Buttered Rum.

I think the latter two work great. At least they sort of knock you out. Hot Toddy -- a cure for the common cold, sore throats, etc...

1 1/2 ounces Whiskey
1 ounce Honey
1/3 ounce Lemon Juice
3 ounces Water (Hot)
If you have a microwave, the easiest way to make this drink is to warm the honey and lemon juice for about half a minute and then to add hot water and the whiskey. Otherwise, we recommend that you stir the honey and lemon juice into extremely warm water, allow it to cool slightly, and add the whiskey.

Hot Buttered Rum - one of my favorites

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 pinch salt
3 sticks cinnamon
6 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups rum
heavy cream -- whipped
ground nutmeg -- for topping
Put all ingredients, except rum and cream, and nutmeg into crockpot. Add 2 quarts hot water. Stir well. Cover pot and cook on LOW for 5 hours. Add rum; stir to blend. Serve from pot in warm mugs with a scoop of whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg.

I hope you feel better soon!
my4kids said…
Sorry no good cures here just rest...for the kids and the hubby. Mommy doesn't get to do that! I'll have to read some of your comments to see if anyone has a good idea for me to try next time.
Jodi said…
Sorry to hear you have the crud. You DID buy something from the traveling Fishmobile, DIDN'T YOU?!?!? That will cause the crud every time!!! ;-)

Feel better, my friend!
Shelby said…
so sorry about the creeping crud.. yes a hot toddy is in order.
Anonymous said…
If my husband was answering this he'd be telling you to "Get out the garlic cloves and start chowing down." Ya. He sleeps alone a lot of the time. Me? I take massive amounts of Vitamin C at this time of the year. It can't hurt you because what your body doesn't need, it just gets rid of. I also use a product called Cold F/X (a herbal remedy) that I do believe is available in the States now. It rocks!! I also use a product called Oscillococcinum. Ya. Say that 3x really fast. It's a homeopathic medicine you can buy in any health food store. Little white beads that taste like sugar you let dissolve under your tongue. Unbelievable how fast THIS stuff works. But sometimes hard to find. All these I've mentioned are all natural products. Which is the only way I go unless I am absolutely dying. Then I just drink liquor and sweat it out :o)
dieter said…
Nothing really works apart from rest and fluids(water)how ever I do take a higher does of Vit c just incase I am wrong. And I have been known to be wrong lol. thanks for visiting my blog, drop by the site some time ad say G'day, you can get to it from the blog.
Kelly Curtis said…
I think I've recently discovered that my "crud" is actually allergies. I started taking Claritin and I'm good as new!

I hope you find a potion that works for you!
BarnGoddess said…
you gave me your crud!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous said…
Aw, Pam I hope you feel better soon. I do the zinc and C also.
My mom always said "feed a cold and starve a fever" so I go by that and also take plenty of Vitamin C's (at least 3,000 mg. a day if you're sick, 2,000 mg a day during cold season). If I get sick, I take NyQuil and rub Vick's on my forehead, neck and chest, then go to bed and get plenty of rest. Sleep is a great healer. Hope you feel better soon!
Jenni said…
When my kids are sick, I pump them full of vitamin C, kyolic garlic, echinacea, and elderberry concentrate. There is a place near us that grows elderberries and makes the concentrate as well as several wines. It's one of those things that is supposed to be good for everything.

Chicken soup is comforting and helps get them more fluids, but I'm not so sure it's a cure. I always use Hyacinth's chicken broth from Pioneer Woman Cooks for my chicken soup now.

If anyone's feeling *really* bad, though, in addition to all of the above, they get the store brand NyQuil. It knocks ya right out so you can get the sleep which is probably the most beneficial.

I hope you're feeling better soon!
Anonymous said…
Hey Pamela,

Sooo sorry to get back into town to find you ailing, friend :/. I wrote a post about home remedies a while back with our family's recipe...and although it might not cure ya, it'll probably make you feel better ;).

(p.s. my dad thought exactly the same way your dad did...)
BS said…
How about ....SEX !!
bichonpawz said…
Glad you are feeling better today, Pamela! Hang in there!

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