Any secrets for decreasing length of common cold?

One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned is ginger. Slice up some fresh ginger root and make tea from it.

Vitamin D is the new thing. 2-5IU's.

Wear some good quality and warm stockings.

People have mentioned zinc in passing, but that's my number 1, it's seriously like magic. 50mg zinc glutamate tablets are pretty cheap, so buy a bottle and keep them around (only take with food or right before bed, zinc can cause stomach pains). Vitamins in general and C in particular are also important, as is sleep. And, if you start treating as soon as your nose gets just a bit runny or your throat a little scratchy (even if you think you're not getting sick) you will very rarely get a full blown illness.

Originally Posted by HomerJ

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One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned is ginger. Slice up some fresh ginger root and make tea from it.
Definitely! Fresh - and not from a tube. I'll even chew raw chunks of it every few hours. Sleep is also really important but it's hard to apply if you have a full schedule. Yesterday, I was feeling a bit ragged - and my spidey-sense hit me. There was no fever, runny nose, sniffles, cough, sneezing or sore throat ... however, I could sense there was something coming along. A bit of a scratchy throat and a touch of something in my sinuses.... I went home early, washed up, gargled, popped the Vitamin C tabs and ginger, took two sleeping tabs and had a long deep sleep. If I had done what I usually did in the past -- try to suck it up and go out for my usual after work drinks etc., I am certain I would be in the early stages of a flu right now. Also, despite the fact that many people swear by alcoholic hot toddys (eg with rum or whiskey), I believe the research clearly indicates that alcohol will lower your immune system, not strengthen it. Use it to disinfect your hands and surfaces instead...

Have more frequent sex.

cup of hot water, honey, and lime juice. the taste isnt too bad but you feel alot better afterwards. repeat and symptoms will go away.

Originally Posted by HomerJ

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One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned is ginger. Slice up some fresh ginger root and make tea from it.

Ginger. Ginger. Ginger.

Caloric surplus, lots of water, lots of rest. No, you can't cheat your body out of these things, take some Vitamin C, and heal in a day. It is highly unlikely you are at a deficit for any vitamins or will experience any benefit from taking them. There are no secrets, and most of the advice here is ridiculous. Don't buy supplements or otherwise support the pseudoscience industry like some of these fools.

To the people who think "sweating the cold out" is something other than completely ridiculous: feel free to do this **** to yourself, but please don't risk the health of your young kids.

I dunno about literally sweating, but wouldn't being wrapped up in blankets/staying warm allocate more energy to the immune system? I have no authority on the matter, just trying to understand the reasoning.

Zinc lozenges like coldeeze seem to shorten the time if you do it early enough

Originally Posted by bach

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I dunno about literally sweating, but wouldn't being wrapped up in blankets/staying warm allocate more energy to the immune system? I have no authority on the matter, just trying to understand the reasoning.

It's about raising your body temperate to kill off bacteria.

A chinese herb medicine called Yin Chiao always works for me.

http://www.drshen.com/coldherbs.htm

I've been taking pro-biotics (good bacteria) over the past year to treat something else but I haven't gotten a cold since and i usually get atleast 2 colds a year, not even a sore-throat, nothing!

Well, short of some sort of antiviral you're not going to shorten the length of your cold. You will be able to lessen the symptoms, allowing you to go to work or just be up and about feeling better. Spicy food will unblock your nose a bit, and sitting in a hot bath and inhaling the steam will loosen them up great. Make sure to get loads ot sleep to compensate for the tiredness you'll be experiencing, and eat well so you don't feel weak. Keep hydrated and do a little exercise if you can so you don't get fatigued.

I know this all seems pretty obvious but if there was an easy way out it'd be common knowledge by now .