Summer Colds: Cures in New York City

Stock up on TISSUES

One of the worst things about having a cold is the sore, red, crusty nose that comes along with it. I tried avoiding blowing my nose to see if maybe it’d just disappear or trickle down my throat, to then eventually get coughed up. Unfortunately, that method didn’t work. On average I am blowing my nose up to ten times every three minutes, needless to say my nose ring is now infected and I look like rudolph.

SO- make sure you have plenty of toilet papaer and PLENTY of kleenex. There’s nothing worse than running out and resorting to rough paper towels, or scratch paper.

Go the ALL NATURAL route

I’m really into homeopathic remedies. And witchcraft and magic tricks and voodoo. No, but seriously, yes you can try taking Tylenol, Dayquil, Benedryl, etc. etc. but those tend only cover up the symptoms for a little bit.
Yesterday I made a little trip to the health food store, wearing my yoga pants and dreadlocks and picked up New Chapter Organics- Host Defense…..it’s supposed to be taken twice a day as an herbal supplement for immunity and I popped two and felt better within an hour. They’re made with activated organic mushrooms, maybe that means something??

Also try:
Sambucus- Black Elder Berry Extract
Umcka Cold+Flu (they’re chewable in case you can’t handle swallowing pills)
Oscillococcinum
and some Snapea Crisps, for snacking.

If none of those things work, I don’t know what to tell ya.

FINAL SURVIVAL TIPS:

Because it is summer time you’ll need  A HUGE FAN. Colds induce serious cases of hot flashes and a fan would help you reduce some of the flashing. More important tips:

• Throat lozenges
• ICE….I never have ice in New York, so if you can fit it in the fridge you’ll want to buy a bag.
• Cool rags for your forehead
• A large stack of movies or Greys Anatomy episodes since you will be prisoner to your home
• A really good friend who is willing to go and buy you a Jamba Juice…..since they’re delicious.

IT MAY BE HOT.....

But chicken noodle soup still cures all.

The worst part about having a cold in the middle of the HOT, HOT SUMMER is NOTHING SOUNDS GOOD to eat. Pizza? NO. Salad? Eh, too much effort. Soup? Absolutely.

If you’re going to eat soup when it’s 110 degrees outside, you’ll need need to know a few different things:

• ATTIRE IS VERY IMPORTANT. The picture is an example of what NOT to wear. If you are going to eat soup and you’re sweating buckets, please throw on a pair of shorts. Flannel is reserved for “winter colds.”
• Get it delivered. That’s what’s great about New York, they even deliver, hard to deliver things-like soup. If you step outside your apartment to buy the soup you’ll most likely start getting heat flashes, you may even get so delirious you froget why you left in the first place and by the time you get the soup (if you manage to make it there) you will have told yourself that soup was a bad choice and you’ll end up getting Subway.
• Campbells is good, but you shouldn’t have to WORK. Stay in bed.

I've had a hard time with.....

not drinking.


Yep, it’s difficult to try and keep up with a social schedule or a nice glass of wine while you catch up on DVR if you can’t drink any alcohol. Having an intense cold is a bad time to go boozing because it will only break down your immune system even more.

HOWEVER- I found a loop hole……THE HOT TODDY!

Apparently they loosen up all of the build up that you get when you are very congested. I’m sure that a nice cup of TEA would do the same thing, but tea is borning…..you may as well get a little bit of a buzz if you’re confined to your home sick as a dog!

HOT TODDY RECIPE

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, stir the honey and lemon juice into extremely warm water, allow it to cool slightly, and add the whiskey

ALSO TRY:

Though I did this VERY, VERY RELUCTANTLY ( I almost cried during the whole process) I gargled a little a salt water…..this was shortly after I also snorted salt water. Which everyone kept telling me would have “immediate results” but, no, it was ineffective. Not saying you’d have the same results.

Salt water. A saltwater gargle — 1/2
teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — may
temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.

Snot the salt water- Ya know, with a straw.