apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Lots of couch with dog at my feet.
And catching up on AT house tours.

I'm so ready to be over this flu :(

For some reason, when sick, the only place I get any real rest is the guestroom bed. It could be anything from flu to sinus-induced ear infections - I always seem to migrate to that bed.

When we start feeling stuffy, we immediately start using our Vicks Waterless Vaporizer. It's amazing how much less congestion we feel after a night with the vaporizer.

Swan: have you tried the Vicks-infused tissues? I don't know how much they really help, but they do provide a little relief. I might have to try that Vaporizer because I'm congested and sneezing a storm here.

honey tea, lemon tea, or ginger tea.

or, honey lemon ginger tea. load up on the ginger -- it works wonders.

oh, and garlic! lots of garlic cloves in your chicken soup!

My husband, my son, and I are all just getting over the flu, knock on wood.

For a sore throat, there is no better remedy than Throat Coat tea. You can find it in the natural foods section of most major supermarkets.

Thayer's Slippery Elm Cherry Lozenges are my favorite cough suppressants - I used them back when I was a singer and they worked like a charm.

I also second Vicks-infused tissues! They provided an extra boost when I was battling the flu last month.

My mother and I were just talking about this - and our go-to remedies are not even remotely healthful but they do wonders for our dispositions. Both of us drink a ton of hot Vernor's ginger ale and eat Ruffle's potato chips. No substitutions!

Sleep, sleep, and more sleep. Your body's immune system works best when you are resting. I'm of the belief that a day in bed at the beginning of the flu will help nip it in the bud.

i'm getting over the flu right now. here's what works for me.
*i 2nd the "throat coat" tea. although, there are lots of contraindications. "gypsy cold care" is also amazing. just READ THE LABEL. it can be dangerous w/ certain conditions & meds.
*i carried around a 2 liter jug of water w/ very dilluted crystal lite. hydration is important.
*i MADE myself sleep. the first week, i didn't sleep at all b/c i was out of state, sleeping on a couch. when i got home, i took the nighttime cold meds & slept all day w/ an eye pillow.
*beauty. i know that sounds nuts, but me & my friend agree that doing a simple beauty act makes you feel better, even if it's only mental. so, take the nice bath, deep condition your hair, try the gradual sunless tanner lotions, or paint your nails. even if nobody sees you, you'll feel a tad less gross. haha
*also, if your throat hurts, gargle a cup of warm salt water (no more salty than the ocean). follow that w/ swallowing a spoon or two of honey. this is a natural way to fight bacteria.

I make a eucalyptus steam tent. I add a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to freshly boiled water, pour it into a bowl and make a "tent" out of a towel, breathing the steam in through my nose and out through my mouth. It really helps.

I also take Zinc lozenges and lots of peppermint tea.

I find it really hard to sleep when I have the flu, or when I'm sick at all. The only exception is when I soak in a hot bath, get really bundled up, and then get in bed with some hot tea. That conks me out quick and is a supposed hydrotherapy treatment designed to help you recover a bit faster.

Man, I love those Vicks tissues ... I went through about 6 boxes this year with a bad sinus infection. However, if you don't use them within a couple of days, the potency totally wears off.

And don't forget to throw out your toothbrush every few days and definitely at the end of your flu or else you'll keep those germs circulating around your body. Your gums are one of your most vulnerable spots when it comes to getting bacteria into your bloodstream!

Soup soup soup. Dear husband just made soup with cabbage, turnips, potatoes, carrots and vegetable stock, and loads of pepper. Ahhh!

Chicken and rice also works.

Constant Comment tea.

NyQuil. Hard core.

Just got over the flu.

Tea w/ honey, soup and computer games.

I haven't tried the Vicks tissues! I haven't even seen them! (I'm so excited!) My husband suffers from year round allergies and has a stuffed up nose a lot. He'll love this!

A suggestion about the vaporizer - water vaporizers are probably more potent but always run out of "stuff" in the middle of the night and just end up making it humid. I may be in the minority but that seems to make my congestion worse. The waterless one is great because we can just plug it in a half hour or so before bed and close the door. It's small, too; we've even taken it on trips with us.

Feel better soon.

I stay drunk on Hot Toddy: 1 ounce of scotch, 1/2 ounce of spiced rum, 1/2 ounce of triple sec (or grand marnier - yum!), 1/2 ounce of lemon juice, a hefty dollop of honey, hot water to nearly fill the mug, and a camomile tea bag left to steep in the mixture for about five minutes - and then heartily wrung-out into the tea. Stir, and sip it down to the last drop.

Vicks is your friend. I smear that stuff all over the place!body. And then I get the Vicks stick and snort that up. Ahh good times. Dayquill is your friend for suriving thoughout the day.

You gotta drink room temperature 7up. My mom gave it to us when were sick as kids like that. It always makes me feel better. You have to eat french fries (it's the salt) and chicken noodle soup.

And you don't need socks you need a dog to lay on your feet and keep them warm. Preferably a furry dog who likes to spoon your feet.