Summer Cold's suck. School's out, my friends are playing in the sprinklers, and I'm stuck inside trying to beat back a cold.

I've taken pride in my new found ability to beat/fight/lessen the severity of the common cold.  I've gotten so good at it, I'd like to share my non-scientific pieces of advice with you.

When you notice the cold is coming--I always get a little bit of phlegm in the throat, and an overall uneasiness in the throat area--you gear up for war.  Go to the store, get some Zinc (in the form of Zycam or coldeez or whatever you like), some tea, some honey, airborne pills (if you're into them), and nyquil.  I like to keep the medication as natural as possible, but when you're hot and cold, and your nose is running through the night, you need some nyquil to put you to bed.

Now that you're ready for world war 3, you drink lots and lots of water and hot tea (with honey).  As much water as you can.  The fluids are integral.  That's the other great thing about airborne pills--they encourage you to drink more water. Throughout the day take some zinc and the airbornes. Get a lot of rest.  At night take the nyquil.  Wake up and do it all over again. Drink drink drink.

That night, take nyquil again and you should be fine by the next morning.  Maybe take an airborne for good measures.  And continue to drink water.  Then, when you're feeling good about yourself, and the cold is on its way out the door, give it a nice boot through the exit door.  Go work out and sweat out the cold.  That's my favorite thing to do.  Then take a shower.  You'll feel like a million bucks.

And when it's all done, reward yourself.  You've just gone to battle with the oldest warrior on the planet.  Go buy yourself an awesome t-shirt.