Medicinal foods

We must have discussed this in the past, but I couldn't pick it up on a search so I thought I'd go ahead with this.

I've been fighting a really nasty cold/flu thing the last couple of days. Throat is sore and swollen, head hurts, no energy, etc. Tonight, my wife picked up an order of pho from a local restaurant for me. The hot broth with tripe and "rare steak", spiced with a squeeze of lime, shreds of basil, and chili sauce went down really well. I don't know if it's hastening my recovery but it sure feels like it is. With it, I had a Dark and Stormy - a cocktail made with dark rum and strong ginger ale. The whole meal was soothing and delicious.

So what do you crave when you have a cold?

Vitamin D3.

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear you are ill and I hope you feel better soon. Hopefully the game last night perked you up a bit.

Dave

Did you get your noodles here?

NoodleBar.jpg

Chef - that would be the preferred spot! Unfortunately, that chain hasn't arrived in Sacto yet.

Dave - Thanks. As sloppy as it was, the game did help. By the way, did you happen to notice the couple of photos they showed of the Green Bay Curling Club? My brother-in-law was one of the people in them.

Considering that a cold in the nose is the wine critic's nightmare, I'm one of those rare people who would rather have flu than a cold. With the flu you may ache all over and wish that death would overtake you but at least the palate and nose remain intact. With a cold, nothing remains intact!

When I do have a cold - hot citron presse (lots of fresh lemon juice, hot water, no sugar)
With the flu - Armagnac or rum. Neither cures but it does help me sleep.

Best
Rogov

It probably won't help you this time around, but I thought I'd pass this on in case you'd like it for future reference.

I'm a network radio announcer, and I'm sure you can imagine that a sore throat in that profession is enjoyed about as much as Mr. Rogov's cold-in-the-nose "nightmare". I'm on the air 7 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week. If I've got a cold it feels like 7 1/2 hours of flaming sword swallowing.

What I and many of my studio-mates do at the first hint of a cold is start pumping zinc preparations, like Zycam or Cold-Eze (although not the swabs, which have been linked to several cases of permanent loss of smell!). It's the only thing so far shown to cut down on the duration of symptoms.

To ease discomfort while the symptoms are still working their way out, well, that's more a personal preference. Most of us in general avoid lozenges with menthol, as the menthol acts somewhat like tannins - it's astringent, and after an initial cooling feeling it actually tightens your throat. But there are non-menthol lozenges, which can help discomfort. I personally go for the Big Guns when I'm at work: Cepacol anaesthetic spray AND lozenges, as well as sipping herb teas with plenty of honey. And as much sleep as possible in between.

Anyway, that's my routine. I hope you're back in full working order soon no matter what method you use!

Just contemplating....what about ground rhinocerous horn? Might not make you feel a lot better but, as referred to in another thread, will keep your eyes focused on the "right places"???

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Jewish penicillin, which has been shown to loosen mucus, etc.

...[Dr]loosen mucus, etc.

Does that come in a screwcap? <sorry>

I've never seen it in screwcaps, but I know it comes in cans and even dried packs.

Every morning I drink Very Veggie juice by Knudson. It is an organic concoction, tomato based with many veggies. I squeeze a good size lemon wedge and lime wedge, pour hot sauce over the top of the citrus, then add the juice. and stir.We eat some sort of citrus fruit every morning, as well. Right now, we are consuming Satsuma Mandarins like crazy. It has been many years since either of us have caught a cold. I don't even recall when we had the flu last. I also carry anti-bacterial wipes in my car, and use them to wipe the handles of the carts at the grocery store. Purell is in my purse and I use it many times, when I am running errands around town. I learned about the bacterial wipes and Purell from the medical folks who teach the pet therapy handlers. We are required to pay attention to such details when visiting patients with our dogs.
Mike hit the nail on the head with the hot broth, lime and spice. I, too, think it helps when down with a cold. Grandma thought she would catch a cold, if after showering she went outside or sat where there was a draft...so who really knows what works!

I know that zinc/Vitamin C lozenges work and shorten time of symptoms; I prescribed them many times. Zinc is virostatic. And, of course, washing hands and not touching your face, eyes or mouth. Hard not to do, though!

Besides the lozenges and cold pills, what helps and tastes good is hot & sour soup, and also the only time I drink tea, with honey and lemon.

Yep - I've had more tea in the last three days than in the last three months combined.

Funny thing about drinking tea only when you're sick... I do that, too, and I now associate tea with illness. I can't drink it in the ordinary course of life.

[Jenise]

When I have a cold, Mike, any good brothy soup would do. Homemade chicken noodle's what I crave, but that's reflex--a spicy Pho would be most welcome! Glad it's helping you.

Chef--cute photo. Passed a similarly inspired shop in Bellevue not long ago called "What the Pho".

Tom, that's interesting. I've never found the zinc method entirely successful, but I may have undertreated myself. Next time I catch a cold, I'm going to post here for exact pointers from you!

You should be asking Good Doctor Larry about that, Jenise, not some professional disseminator of misinformation

Feel free to tap me regardless, though. I'm always looking for an attentive audience, strangely enough.

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Oh hell, even if you don't need it exactly now I'm gonna give you my Secret Decoder Ring Formula anyway. Because I'm just that egotistical:

Basically, I just follow the product's instructions. Which means that AS SOON as you notice any symptoms at all, even if you think it's such a niggling feeling that it MUST be a false alarm, you start the regiment. It seems that whichever method you choose - lozenge, swab, whatever - they all say to apply about every 4 hours. Have a little food in your stomach too, as zinc can cause a bit of a tummy ache if it's empty. And...that's about it. The key really is to start early and be faithful to the Every-4-Hour program.

Howzat? Easy, huh?

And I'll be glad to type it all out again in the future if you ask. The "attentive audience" thing again, dontcha know.

Another bit o' advice: catch pneumonia instead of a cold; at least they can cure pneumonia.

Dave - Thanks. As sloppy as it was, the game did help. By the way, did you happen to notice the couple of photos they showed of the Green Bay Curling Club? My brother-in-law was one of the people in them.

Mike,

I had a house full of friends to cook for during the game so I missed some parts of the coverage including anything related to the GB Curling Club. Has your Brother-in-Law ever taken you curling? It is sort of like bocce but a heck of a lot harder because one is on a solid sheet of ice. The odd thing is that the heavy consumption of brandy is encouraged and from my experience that does not contribute to stability while scampering and sweeping on ice.

Dave -

My father-in-law took me over to the Green Bay Curling Club once for a lesson on the game. A humbling experience. It's a game that looks pretty weird to the uninitiated, but there's a lot of skill involved in all aspects of it.

BTW, I really liked their club. They have a great kitchen setup with a professional range and an ultra-professional set of beer taps.

Another bit o' advice: catch pneumonia instead of a cold; at least they can cure pneumonia.

At this point, I'm almost thinking that would be a good thing. This thing has kicked my ass all week.

Speaking of medicinal foods: I drink my share of gin and tonics, and I've never had malaria.

Kimchee soup! Bacteria and viruses don't hang around; neither does my roommate.