First of all, taking vitamins, like Vitamin C, are the best daily way to prevent colds. But, if you do get a cold, herbs are really great at helping cure it. Garlic, goldenseal, and echinacea some. Another sure-fire remedy is to gargle a strong solution of table salt and wam water. Do it several times a day; it'll relieve that uncomfortable burning feeling. Lastly, hot teas are also helpful. Hope that helps!

12 Tips To Treat a Cold The "Natural" Way WebMD Reference WebMD went to Charles B. Inlander, president of The People's Medical Society, for some home remedies that may speed your recovery, and help you feel better along the way. #1 Know When Not To Treat Symptoms Believe it or not, those annoying symptoms you're experiencing are part of the natural healing process -- evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For instance, a fever is your body's way of trying to kill viruses in a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, a fever's hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively. Thus, if you endure a moderate fever for a day or two, you may actually get well faster. Coughing is another productive symptom; it clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body. Even that stuffy nose is best treated mildly or not at all. A decongestant, like Sudafed, restricts flow to the blood vessels in your nose and throat. But often you want the increase blood flow because it warms the infected area and helps secretions carry germs out of your body. #2 Blow Your Nose Often (And the Right Way) It's important to blow your nose regularly when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head. But when you blow hard, pressure can carry germ-carrying phlegm back into your ear passages, causing earache. The best way to blow your nose: Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other. ^ Back to top #3 Treat That Stuffy Nose With Warm Salt Water Salt-water rinsing helps break nasal congestion, while also removing virus particles and bacteria from your nose. Here's a popular recipe: Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a bulb syringe to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat 2-3 times, then treat the other nostril. #4 Stay Warm and Rested Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down under a blanket. #5 Gargle Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle -- such as tea that contains tannin -- to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey, popular in folk medicine. Seep one tablespoon of raspberry leaves or lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix with one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling. #6 Drink Hot Liquids Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. If you're so congested you can't sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and 1 small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon. Limit yourself to one. Too much alcohol inflames those membranes and is counterproductive. #7 Take a Steamy Shower Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath. #8 Use a Salve Under Your Nose A small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can open breathing passages and help restore the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw. #9 Apply Hot or Cold Packs Around Your Congested Sinuses Either temperature works. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs at a drugstore. Or make your own. Take a damp washcloth and heat it for 55 seconds in a microwave (test the temperature first to make sure it's right for you.) Or take a small bag of frozen peas to use as a cold pack. #10 Sleep With an Extra Pillow Under Your Head This will help relieve congested nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope. #11 Don't Fly Unless Necessary There's no point adding stress to your already stressed-out upper respiratory system, and that's what the change in air pressure will do. Flying with cold or flu congestion can temporarily damage your eardrums as a result of pressure changes during takeoff and landing. If you must fly, use a decongestant and carry a nasal spray with you to use just before takeoff and landing. Chewing gum and swallowing frequently can also help relieve pressure. #12 Eat Infection-Fighting Foods Here are some good foods to eat when you're battling a cold or flu: Bananas: Soothe upset stomachs. Bell Peppers: Loaded with vitamin C. Blueberries: Curbs diarrhea, high in natural aspirin. (May lower fevers and help with the aches and pains.) Carrots: Loaded with beta-carotene. Chili Peppers: Can open sinuses, and help break up mucus in the lungs. Cranberries: Help prevent bacteria from sticking to cells lining the bladder and urinary tract. Mustard & Horseradish: Helps break up mucus in air passages. Onion: Has phytochemicals purported to help the body clear bronchitis and other infections. Rice: Curbs diarrhea. Tea: Black and green tea (not herbals) contain catechin, a phytochemical purported to have natural antibiotic and anti-diarrhea effects. Remember, serious conditions can masquerade as the common cold: sinus infections, bronchitis, meningitis, strep throat, and asthma. If you have severe symptoms, or feel sicker with each passing day, call your doctor.

"AnswerAsh" has some good info. A little tip on Vitamin C. It washes through the body rapidly and one would probably want to take some every hour or so, not just once a day when fighting an infection. Don't be surprised to get diarrhea from the Vitamin C as the excess Vitamin C is eliminated. Another tidbit: "Ester C" often has some toxic chemical residues. Colloidal silver may also help. You will find more about it on this website.

The natural way: http://www.chiff.com/a/flu-remedy.htm "Green tea, garlic, black elderberry, and Vitamin C are just some of the more easily available choices indicated in recent studies as either protecting against aches, fever and congestion, or reducing flu's overall symptoms considerably." I wish you better. :)

Did you wonder if perhaps you have a sinus infection and that is why it has not gone away yet? It is very common when colds last that long. A doctor can tell you. If you do have one, it can't be fixed at home without antibiotics.

I would suggest if it's your third week you have something a bit more serious than everyday flu - a trip off to the docs may be the order of the day. Not very helpful I know, sorry!

Stop taking the medicine. The symptoms you face are actually your body's doing in order to fight off the flu. The medicine shuts down your body's natural defense mechanisms while its active. Therefore your body can only fight the flu while there are no medicines in your system. If your jacked up on Medicine 18 hrs a day then its gonna take forever. Also I would say get plenty of sleep and take showers about twice a day. The showers make you LESS likely to spread the diesease and make you feel better and the sleep helps your body fight it.

Mama-bear, I feel your pain. I've been there myself. I knoqw you said you've tried everything out there but maybe it ois time to go to the doc because I had the flu and pneumonia concurrently and was ill for weeks. The doc gave me something called zithromax or a z pack I think they call it and my symptoms abated almost right away. If you can't go to the doc all I can say is drink as much fluids as you possibly can.

Use zicam. It will get rid of your cold in about 2-3 days. You can get it at any retail store.

These are 100% natural home remedies for colds. They may be very useful: Tea For Flu Yarrow tea has positive effects in reducing the severity of symptoms. Catnip tea enemas reduce fevers. You can try a tea made from echinacea or ginger, sipped slowly every three to four hours. A Spoonful Of Relief The fruit of the gooseberry plant contains more Vitamin C than seven oranges. Take one to two teaspoons a day if you think you have the flu. It should lessen the effects and boost the body’s immune response. In addition, take one tablespoon blue or black elderberries in syrup form three times a day. This syrup is available in most health food stores. In recent years, studies have been done in Israel on this remedy. Nasal wash Use a half teaspoon of fennel seed in one cup of water and allow to simmer for ten minutes. Add an eighth teaspoon of sea salt and cool the mixture to room temperature. Drain out all http://www.nature-medicine.info/2008/12/home-remedies-for-flu.php

To one teaspoon of honey add a quarter teaspoon of lemon drops, stir it well and consume it ten or 15 minutes before breakfast,similarly before lunch,before tea, before supper etc.....You will soon have a clear throat!I guarantee. Shafrini