Feck

[Merlin]

I don't believe in all the wives' tales and home remedy stuff because frankly it is usually a placebo effect. I take the brute force method which will make you feel like shit for a short time but you get over cold/flu/etc faster. It is so simple... drink lots of fluids with electrolytes in them. Lots of straight water is bad because it flushes all the nutrients out of you. Anything caffeinated is bad because it dehydrates you. Switching between water and Gatorade/PowerAde/Water with electrolytes helps clear out the evil baddies in your system.

People hear their doctors say that all the time and assume they are drinking enough or that it does nothing. It really helps. I'm not talking 8oz of water every few hours... no. If you don't have to pee every 30 minutes, you aren't drinking enough!

Also, a hot shower or sticking your head over a pot of boiling water (the steam) helps loosen up all the stuff in your sinuses. Just don't stick your face IN the pot... hah. I usually don't do that step because the water does the trick. Your nose will be running like Niagra Falls, but that's what you need, especially for a sinus infection. Bacteria is just festering in there... flush the bastards out!

Of course, who wants to feel "worse" to get better? People just want to mask it with pseuphedrine, cough syrups, etc. Slowing your body's natural healing process only makes it take longer. And no I'm not a crazy health nut. I've gotten more than my fair share of sinus infections, colds, flu, lower-lung pneumonia, bronchitis, etc...

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and I am not prescribing a treatment regimen. Each individual is different and should seek advice from their doctor before performing any 'home remedy'.