*blears*

[jadesfire]

bironic, I think 'blears' may be the most useful word in the history of neologisms... It's certainly accurate for my present state.

So. I was thinking. Or at least, trying to think. When I have a cold, I take Day Nurse, which I normally swear by as a miracle cure. If it's working this time, then all I can say is that I'm a *LOT* more ill than I thought I was. But most families/people have their own patented cold remedies - any offers? Preferably not involving alcohol, sorry, since I'm only just venturing out of the world of soft drinks at the age of 27, and therefore have the tolerance of a 4 year old.

If you can't think of anything, I also gakked a meme from white_hart:

What has surprised you the most about me (if anything) since beginning to read my lj? Was anything completely unexpected or have I always fit the picture of me you have in your head?

Post this in your own journal (NB if you like, no obligation) and see how you have surprised people.

Comments

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Oxford!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* Tis a pretty place to live

[white_hart]

The fact that you work in the same building as me!

Also, for a cold, I like lemon juice, honey and hot water. And industrial quantities of Olbas Oil.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* We could try to do something controversial like actually meet considering we work a few hundred yards from each other. Maybe when you're working less scary hours...

The other half made me inhale Olbas Oil when he got home last night, but I'm still deaf in my left ear :( Will try the honey and lemon when I get home, thanks. Sounds soothing.

[white_hart]

It would be nice to put a face (and a real name, I suppose!) to the online identity - it does feel a bit mad knowing that we work so close and not even being quite sure who you are. And I'm hoping the hours will get less scary very shortly!

I hate it when colds make me deaf. It's not fun at all!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Currently, I'm the girl in the long blue-check coat with a bright red nose. Let me know when things calm down (I'm permanently attached to jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com so that's the best place to find me) and we'll see what we can do :)

I keep banging the side of my head in case that helps. Not so far, but that's no reason to stop trying...

[white_hart]

Cool, will do. I was going to say that my LJ email address was the best way to get hold of me, but actually it appears not to be working at the moment - however, I do have an emergency anonymous address at thisisnotaname at gmail dot com (or firstname dot lastname at gmail dot com if you happen to have worked out who I am).

I was just at a meeting in your library - you may have spotted me and my boss looking a bit lost trying to find the room (and I'd left my card in my office so I had to be let in on trust!).

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the only remedy I know does involve alcohol. Lemon juice, honey, whisky and hot water. It won't cure you but you won't care...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Yeah. Considering I'm taking medication with paracetamol in, that's probably not my most cunning plan ever... Sounds good though :)

[azure-chaos.livejournal.com]

i heard rubbing vicks on your feet and then putting snuggly warm socks on is supposed to be good for getting rid of a cold (apparently it can also help prevent getting one too).

i swear by strawberry soothers when i've got a sore throat.

hope you feel better soon.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

...vicks on your feet? Ooookay.... I did go wtih the furry socks though, which definitely helped.

Thanks!

[greyias.livejournal.com]

My two favorite remedies are really more items I pick up the store (but I'm not sure if they're available on your side of the pond.) I find Zicam Cold & Flu (Daytime) works well, but I've only really had success with the one that comes with the prefilled spoons. The plus on that side is you can mix it into a hot drink and usually not taste it. I don't know if it has any alcohol in it.

The other I take with a bunch of other supplements is Airborne. A quick googling didn't tell me if it was available in the UK, but lacking that, I've found upping Vitamin C and taking Echinacea works. Magnesium I think helps too, but I'd have to check on that.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The daynurse are helping a little but I'm thinking I'm going to need a duvet to really kick this one... thanks, though.

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Cold remedies:

Everyone I know from Bradford swears by a hot curry to get rid of them, and there is actually some scientific basis for this :D It turns out that the veg is full of vitamin C which is obviously good for colds, the spices are good for killing off germs and clearing your sinuses, and the turmeric has something in it that does you good as well (hey, I'm not a scientist, I just live with one and read her New Scientist occasionally :)).

Hot toddy - you don't have to put the whisky/brandy in it, although that does actually help because alcohol has antibacterial properties. But you can just do hot water (steam - helps with sinuses), honey (antibacterial) and lemon (vitamin C and also antibacterial).

If it's a head cold, get your head over a bowl of steaming (not boiling) water with a dollop of Vick's in it, drape a towel over your head and inhale for ten minutes.

Throat - gargle with soluble aspirin or with salt in tepid water. It tastes disgusting (so be careful not to swallow it), but the aspirin option will reduce swelling, and the salt option will help with any bugs kicking around.

My mum used to always rub 4711 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4711_(brand)) on my forehead to ease a headache, and it really does work. Sadly it's difficult to get hold of these days, but if you can get some, it's much more pleasant than tablets as a way of feeling better.

Eucalyptus oil on a hankie is another personal favourite.

Sadly, if you've got what I had, none of these will do any good, so you're best off with paracetamol, lots of clear fluid (ie not coffee ;P), and as much vitamin C as you can stomach (take it in tablet form if you can't face drinking/eating it).

Meme:

Hmm. I think you pretty much fit the image I had of you from when I first started talking to you. I guess I was surprised by how easily we got along, as I don't find it easy to make friends.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of curry, but pwcorgigirl also recommended turmeric, so might have to have that for dinner :) We did the steam thing, with Olbas Oil, which most just made the raw parts of my face even sorer :S Am going to follow the honey and lemon route, definitely - considering I'm taking tablets with paracetamol in, alcohol is definitely a *bad* plan.

Ooh! I think I may have some 4711 - my mum has it too! Will try that next time. Hopefully it's a passing thing - Day Nurse and bed rest seem like a plan.

re:Meme: :D Same here *hugs*

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Tumeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, so a curry really would work on a cold. I was once prescribed some capsules of tumeric, an extract from pineapple and ginger for joint pain. They worked pretty well.

Lacking any local curries, we go for Chinese hot and sour soup. My family calls it "Taiwanese penicillin." Since two-thirds of the family is fatally allergic to real penicillin, we go for this instead.

My husband swears by a mixture of cranberry and pineapple juice heated up, but when I have a cold with a scratchy throat, I crave orange juice and potato chips (crisps for you.) I don't consume either item on a regular basis, but I want them when I have a cold.

For drugs, we're big fans of Sudafed PE, which is essentially the same as what's in Day Nurse, with ibuprofen on the side.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

We make our own curry, and usually with turmeric, so will try that. Day Nurse is all kinds of awesome, but this is a vicious little bug, so am going to try honey and lemon as well (I'm weird and don't like OJ...)

Thanks :D

[potatocubed.livejournal.com]

When you're sick you need zinc, protein and carbohydrates. The carbs give your immune system the fuel it needs to fight the disease, the protein helps you repair damaged tissues, and the zinc... does something good? My biology knowledge, it is sketchy as all hell.

Anyway, I recommend chicken soup, heavy on the pepper, and lots of bread. The spiciness of the pepper will help clear your clogged up headbits, too.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ooh, chicken soup. Hadn't thought of that... Thanks :)

*goes to rummage in freezer*

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

I tend to like Lemsip with honey in it. Does wonderfs for the throat.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Oxford!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* Tis a pretty place to live

[white_hart]

The fact that you work in the same building as me!

Also, for a cold, I like lemon juice, honey and hot water. And industrial quantities of Olbas Oil.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* We could try to do something controversial like actually meet considering we work a few hundred yards from each other. Maybe when you're working less scary hours...

The other half made me inhale Olbas Oil when he got home last night, but I'm still deaf in my left ear :( Will try the honey and lemon when I get home, thanks. Sounds soothing.

[white_hart]

It would be nice to put a face (and a real name, I suppose!) to the online identity - it does feel a bit mad knowing that we work so close and not even being quite sure who you are. And I'm hoping the hours will get less scary very shortly!

I hate it when colds make me deaf. It's not fun at all!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Currently, I'm the girl in the long blue-check coat with a bright red nose. Let me know when things calm down (I'm permanently attached to jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com so that's the best place to find me) and we'll see what we can do :)

I keep banging the side of my head in case that helps. Not so far, but that's no reason to stop trying...

[white_hart]

Cool, will do. I was going to say that my LJ email address was the best way to get hold of me, but actually it appears not to be working at the moment - however, I do have an emergency anonymous address at thisisnotaname at gmail dot com (or firstname dot lastname at gmail dot com if you happen to have worked out who I am).

I was just at a meeting in your library - you may have spotted me and my boss looking a bit lost trying to find the room (and I'd left my card in my office so I had to be let in on trust!).

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the only remedy I know does involve alcohol. Lemon juice, honey, whisky and hot water. It won't cure you but you won't care...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Yeah. Considering I'm taking medication with paracetamol in, that's probably not my most cunning plan ever... Sounds good though :)

[azure-chaos.livejournal.com]

i heard rubbing vicks on your feet and then putting snuggly warm socks on is supposed to be good for getting rid of a cold (apparently it can also help prevent getting one too).

i swear by strawberry soothers when i've got a sore throat.

hope you feel better soon.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

...vicks on your feet? Ooookay.... I did go wtih the furry socks though, which definitely helped.

Thanks!

[greyias.livejournal.com]

My two favorite remedies are really more items I pick up the store (but I'm not sure if they're available on your side of the pond.) I find Zicam Cold & Flu (Daytime) works well, but I've only really had success with the one that comes with the prefilled spoons. The plus on that side is you can mix it into a hot drink and usually not taste it. I don't know if it has any alcohol in it.

The other I take with a bunch of other supplements is Airborne. A quick googling didn't tell me if it was available in the UK, but lacking that, I've found upping Vitamin C and taking Echinacea works. Magnesium I think helps too, but I'd have to check on that.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The daynurse are helping a little but I'm thinking I'm going to need a duvet to really kick this one... thanks, though.

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Cold remedies:

Everyone I know from Bradford swears by a hot curry to get rid of them, and there is actually some scientific basis for this :D It turns out that the veg is full of vitamin C which is obviously good for colds, the spices are good for killing off germs and clearing your sinuses, and the turmeric has something in it that does you good as well (hey, I'm not a scientist, I just live with one and read her New Scientist occasionally :)).

Hot toddy - you don't have to put the whisky/brandy in it, although that does actually help because alcohol has antibacterial properties. But you can just do hot water (steam - helps with sinuses), honey (antibacterial) and lemon (vitamin C and also antibacterial).

If it's a head cold, get your head over a bowl of steaming (not boiling) water with a dollop of Vick's in it, drape a towel over your head and inhale for ten minutes.

Throat - gargle with soluble aspirin or with salt in tepid water. It tastes disgusting (so be careful not to swallow it), but the aspirin option will reduce swelling, and the salt option will help with any bugs kicking around.

My mum used to always rub 4711 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4711_(brand)) on my forehead to ease a headache, and it really does work. Sadly it's difficult to get hold of these days, but if you can get some, it's much more pleasant than tablets as a way of feeling better.

Eucalyptus oil on a hankie is another personal favourite.

Sadly, if you've got what I had, none of these will do any good, so you're best off with paracetamol, lots of clear fluid (ie not coffee ;P), and as much vitamin C as you can stomach (take it in tablet form if you can't face drinking/eating it).

Meme:

Hmm. I think you pretty much fit the image I had of you from when I first started talking to you. I guess I was surprised by how easily we got along, as I don't find it easy to make friends.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of curry, but pwcorgigirl also recommended turmeric, so might have to have that for dinner :) We did the steam thing, with Olbas Oil, which most just made the raw parts of my face even sorer :S Am going to follow the honey and lemon route, definitely - considering I'm taking tablets with paracetamol in, alcohol is definitely a *bad* plan.

Ooh! I think I may have some 4711 - my mum has it too! Will try that next time. Hopefully it's a passing thing - Day Nurse and bed rest seem like a plan.

re:Meme: :D Same here *hugs*

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Tumeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, so a curry really would work on a cold. I was once prescribed some capsules of tumeric, an extract from pineapple and ginger for joint pain. They worked pretty well.

Lacking any local curries, we go for Chinese hot and sour soup. My family calls it "Taiwanese penicillin." Since two-thirds of the family is fatally allergic to real penicillin, we go for this instead.

My husband swears by a mixture of cranberry and pineapple juice heated up, but when I have a cold with a scratchy throat, I crave orange juice and potato chips (crisps for you.) I don't consume either item on a regular basis, but I want them when I have a cold.

For drugs, we're big fans of Sudafed PE, which is essentially the same as what's in Day Nurse, with ibuprofen on the side.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

We make our own curry, and usually with turmeric, so will try that. Day Nurse is all kinds of awesome, but this is a vicious little bug, so am going to try honey and lemon as well (I'm weird and don't like OJ...)

Thanks :D

[potatocubed.livejournal.com]

When you're sick you need zinc, protein and carbohydrates. The carbs give your immune system the fuel it needs to fight the disease, the protein helps you repair damaged tissues, and the zinc... does something good? My biology knowledge, it is sketchy as all hell.

Anyway, I recommend chicken soup, heavy on the pepper, and lots of bread. The spiciness of the pepper will help clear your clogged up headbits, too.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ooh, chicken soup. Hadn't thought of that... Thanks :)

*goes to rummage in freezer*

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

I tend to like Lemsip with honey in it. Does wonderfs for the throat.