Pseudoephedrine is still the most effective over-the-counter medication against the cold or serious sinus congestion. However, sales of pseudoephedrine in the US have been strictly regulated since 2005 to prevent crystal meth makers from using it as an ingredient in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine.
Well, the UK Telegraph reported that pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are apparently finding their way into illicit drug factories. So, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (similar to US FDA, I pressume) is looking into a “consulation process” to find if medicines containing pseudoephedrine need restriction, such as decreasing the pack size and making …read more

Two months out of it, I still rant about my episode with severe sinus congestion. I’ve never had it that bad before, being so stuffy that I couldn’t even swallow. I tried in vain to decongest myself with over-the-counter phenylephrine cold medicines but could find no relief for a week. I tried four different brands, some with acetamenophen and even guaifenesin, all in desperation of getting better.
None, until I took pseudoephedrine, the original formulation for cold medicines, as in Sudafed.
When I read this article in the Alameda Times-Star, my suspicions were confirmed.

“The new decongestants are crap,” says Nikole Wilson-Ripsom, of …read more

A previous post prompted a scurry of web searches in my quest to prevent my cold-susceptible daugther from developing asthma later on in life.
Thank goodness there are plenty of advice. The Mayo Clinic posts this action plan here.

1. Call your doctor immediately if you think you have the flu. Antiviral medications must be taken within 24-48 hours after the start of a flu.
2. Take good care of yourself. Rest. Drink plenty of fluids.
3. Pay close attention to your asthma symptoms. If you notice warning signs of an asthma attack — such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath …read more

I tend to put my faith on research evidence. But there are days when I pray that science gets it wrong. Days like today, when I read that children who have frequent colds as infants develop a higher risk for asthma by age six.
Because my child falls into this group. I stopped counting how many times in the past two years that she’s gotten the cold virus. Every few months, she gets treated with antibiotics to control recurring ear infections due to fluid buildup. She’s a candidate for an ear tube, although I swear she can hear normally.
Now this. A …read more

This week, I suffered the worst sinus congestion in my entire life and today is the first day I actually felt relief.
My nasal passages were so blocked that I couldn’t even take a drink long enough without gagging. Even with a full strength of pain relievers and decongestants, the facial pain and headaches were just so damn bad that touching my face hurt and my teeth felt like pulling out. I could barely function. What’s worse was for four days my mucus and nasal drips had blood mixed in them! The thing is, it actually started two weeks ago on …read more

Ever wonder why your sniffles and congestion don’t last forever? They may feel like it after 3 boxes of Kleenex, but after a week or two, you’re suddenly bright and cheery again. (Thank God!)
Scientists have now discovered what stops the sniffles from continuing for eternity. Its called Carabin, “a protein that’s like a built-in timer to keep the immune system in check”.
All that slimy snotty mucus is a sign that your body is trying to rid itself of a virus. The white blood cells rush to the nostril area and attack the virus, and the extra slush of mucus clears …read more

Zen Wizard, who’s very name makes you believe he is a genius at something, provides his tested cure to the common cold, or the rare case of stomach flu that he got.
Read here at your own risk. Gulp down at your own risk.

At the first sign of a cold:
1) Wash down 2000 mg. of garlic and 1500 mg Vitamin C, with 2 quarts of Sunsweet “pulp” prune juice.
2) Dice 2 fresh onions and 1.5 oz. fresh jalapeno pepper. Heat 2 cans of Hormel “Turkey with Beans” chili.
As it simmers, add the onions and jalapenos. Add five dashes of …read more

January 18, 2006. That’s when Flu Patrol came live last year, wow. Between the previous writers (Adelle Tilton and Carl Vancil) and yours truly, we’ve covered almost a whole year of posts. It’s truly been a full year for Flu Patrol, and here are some of the best things that happened this year, flu- and blog-wise.
1. Rapid advance of bird flu vaccine research
In the bird flu front, the first human trial of a DNA-based bird flu vaccine is now underway. The same group also developed the first vaccine against the H1N1 Spanish flu virus , which caused the worst flu …read more

I’ve heard plenty about the quest to cure the common cold. Airborne. Sinus buster. Zicam. Echinacea. Uncommon cures. But nothing tops this one – COFFEE.
That’s right, folks. Coffee. Or at least coffee at THIS house -

The Brew-Has Coffee and Tea in Long Beach, California claims that Grobaty’s Cold Buster is the perfect concoction that cures the common cold! What’s in it? A blend of orange juice and Monster energy drink.
Find out more at “What’s Hot!: Coffee-house quest“.
[Source: presstelegram.com]
Tags: Grobaty’s Cold Buster, common cold, cure, coffee, coffee house

Knowing if you have the colds, flu or sinusitis is important to receiving the right treatment. How do you know what you have? Here are seven ways, via Caroline’s Health Edge -
1. What your symptoms do include. Classic complaints of someone with a cold include a runny nose, difficulty breathing through your nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough and/or headache.
2. What your symptoms don’t include. Symptoms such as high fever, significantly swollen glands or severe sinus pain can signal a complication or more serious illness that should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
3. Exposure lapse. You begin to feel ill 2 …read more