BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies

Subject: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 02:36 PM

From The G&M

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 03:15 PM

Headlines so seldom give a balanced view of what is being announced. Below are the portions I found most relevant, whcih confirm my current practice in dealing with colds and coughs.

.... new guidelines, issued jointly by the Canadian Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians, are published in today's edition of the medical journal Chest. There are more than 200 recommendations for diagnosing and managing cough.

The recommendations, prepared by a panel of respiratory experts from around the world, single out the newer generation of non-sedating antihistamines (sold under brand names like non-drowsy Claritin and Allegra) as ineffective against cough and say they should not be used by cold sufferers.

Dr. Louis-Philippe Boulet, a pulmonologist at Hôpital Laval in Quebec City and a member of the guidelines committee, said cold sufferers are better off drinking plenty of fluids, eating chicken soup, getting some rest and taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.

The guidelines state that some non-prescription drugs can work moderately well for some people with a persistent cough, but they should take only older-generation drugs that combine antihistamines and decongestants, such as Benadryl DM and Contac.

The older generation of cough medications that provide some relief include a combination of an expectorant, which clears the respiratory tract of phlegm and makes breathing easier; plus an antihistamine, designed to reduce swelling in the respiratory tract. Adult consumers can look on the label for active ingredients such as brompheniramine and pseudoephedrine.

A number of studies have shown, however, that hydration is key to relieving coughs. So, sipping a glass of water works as well as taking an expensive syrup or tablet.

I REALLY take exception to that last sentence-- whose assumption is that one line, exactly? My experience is that hydration WITH the expectorant has worked really well.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 03:29 PM

it probably would have been better is they said "might well" or "can" rather then make the bald statement.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 03:31 PM

Odd that this information should come out now. There's a fad going around among teenagers called robotripping. See also ABC News and The Indianapolis Star.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 04:59 PM

I don't care whether they 'fix' a cough of not...some cough remedies make you FEEL better till it's over. I like 'em STRONG. (I used to swig Creomulsion...made from Pine tar creosote)

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 05:19 PM

There is one that "works". It tastes awful, but, it works.

Unfortunately, they don't make the same old cough drops they use to.... too effective apparently. I used to "stick" a buckley's cough drop on the back of my incisor teeth and sleep all night without coughing when I was a kid. Ya can't get em anymore. Apparently, they worked.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Nemesis
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 06:31 PM

Fortunately, other research - (? no time to google for the source, sorry!) also says that chocolate (the plain, proper stuff) works pretty well or as well!

Just off to the 'fridge, I feel a tickle coming on!

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Nemesis
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 06:34 PM

Oh, easier than I thought to find the research source (and the fridge)

http://www.chocolate.org/health/theobromine.html

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 06:54 PM

A little high-proof whiskey or rum, a little codeine...works like a charm....

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: bobad
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 07:14 PM

One ad for cough Rx used to say it contained 'silentium'...er, waz dat ?

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 10:47 PM

Two words - FISHERMAN'S FRIEND!

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 12:13 AM

Rapaire touched on the formula, but I prefer it in the form of a good warm toddy of single malt with a touch of honey. Keep sipping until tipsy and your arms get heavy.
On the other hand, hot buttered overproof rum ain't gonna hurt nothin' either.

Expectorating makes the floor slippery. Besides, we have a city bylaw against it.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 12:52 AM

I used to swear by "Hearn's Bronchitis Mixture", until the truckies discovered it and the Govt banned it.

It contained lots of interesting things, including ephedrine and 'Oil of Squill'.

What's a Squill?

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 12:54 AM

Rapaire, the old remedies ARE the best. And the old recipes. Cold and cough medicines were once tinctures, and desperate people used to drink them just for the alcohol.

Q, how could you be so philistine as to put anything in single malt!
Whatever you like with Rum, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 01:00 AM

The previous post did not take, so I resent it.

A good natural ingredient cough mix:

Equal parts of honey

and

cider vinegar or lemon juice.

You can use all three ingredients, but then adjust the quantities to personal taste.

A touch of alcohol (rum, et al) doesn't hurt to add to the glass you are drinking... :-)

'Cider Vinegar' varies widely, I once even bought what was claimed to be it, but it just was apple juice and winger mixed - yuck! The real stuff is brewed to form cider that is then taken to the next stage. See Jimmyt's "a href="http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=87569">vinegar thread.

Real good stuff still contains the 'mother' (stated on the bottle so they can charge more) which will allow you to brew your own vinegar, usually found in health shops.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 01:24 AM

Gurney, I use a second-rate single malt, like Glenfiddich. Not much better than Black Label blend. Of course if you use a malt like Highland Park or a Glenlivet or-, nothing need be added.
Hmmm, I believe I'm getting a sore throat and need treatment.

Fishermans' Friend- similar in taste to a bad Madeira (which they all are nowadays).

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 02:09 AM

Clinton -

The same(?) article was in my local newsless rag, with the same headline. I agree with previous comment that the headline was misleading.

The gist of the article, as I saw it, was that doctors are prone to prescribing whatever latest antibiotic the drug pushers have given them samples (and ?) for. Antibiotics generally are ineffective for simple coughs and colds, and the newest ones are no more effective in most cases than older ones. If an antibiotic is needed, the older, and usually cheaper, ones should be used unless there is a confirmed resistance that justifies using "newer stuff." This will save money for the patient, and will avoid creating "bugs" that are immune to everything available for treatment.

The additional text of the article was devoted to suggesting things like decongestants and antihistamines that actually are helpful in most cases, pretty much as has been discussed above.

I suspect that many people missed that the article really was warning against abuse of antibiotics, largely because of the headline that apparently was widely used.

(Note: I didn't check out your link, which appears to have perhaps been a longer article, but suspect that the same meaning is hidden in it. If not, should'a been.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: sian, west wales
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:15 AM

Co-incidentally, I've been cogitating over whether or not to buy "Good For What Ails You: Music of the Medicine Shows 1926-1937", a CD set which amazon.co.uk tells me will be available come Monday.

I wonder: what about coffee? My mum has that Congestive Obstructive Pulminary Disorder (smokers' disease, tho she never smoked; dad chain-smoked so don't tell me there's no peril in secondary smoke). Her doctor has told her that, rather than 'up' her medication, she's to have a good cup of 'real' coffee (not decaff) when she feels a spell coming on.

Mum went back to teaching once my sister an I were both in school. Her mum lived with us at the time and was quite dotty, in a nice way usually. Us kids came down with colds one day and mum came home to find us barricaded in our room. Granny had half-remembered an old Home Cure which involved mustard, brown sugar and vinegar but couldn't remember if it was to be taken internally or applied externally. She decided that she'd try 'internal' first. We had decided that she wouldn't.

But I'm still a great believer in home cures in general.

siân

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 09:05 AM

Try my brother's cough and cold remedy:

Get a liter (or quart) of the cheapest, most rotten, foulest thing that passes for whiskey (or whisky) that you can find. In it dissolve an entire bag (the big one) of Hall's Mentholypus cough drops -- regular, cherry, blue ice, it doesn't matter (and for those who aren't familiar with this product, well, you're better off).

The next coughing spell you have, you tell yourself, "Look, you keep this up and I'm gonna make you DRINK that shit over there!"

Works like a charm, and you only have to make one bottle in a lifetime. Of course, your estate has to deal with the toxic waste problem after you're dead....

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Flash Company
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 09:47 AM

A guy I knew used to spread goose fat on his chest. When castigated by his doctor his response was ' It was good enough for my father, and it wasw good enough for my grandfather........'

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 10:19 AM

Then there's the old remedy of 2lbs of licorice, 5 senna pods and an extra hot curry - makes it so you DAREN'T cough.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 02:45 PM

"the article really was warning against abuse of antibiotics"

Try READING the article before you comment on it eh....

""There is no clinical evidence that over-the-counter cough expectorants or suppressants actually relieve cough," said Dr. Richard Irwin, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass., and chairman of the guidelines committee."

The article makes ZERO mention of antibiotics at all....

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 02:47 PM

Caligula had a sure-fire cough remedy ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Shields Folk
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 04:20 PM

Wire brush and Detol

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 06:05 PM

Q, There is no such thing as a second-rate single malt. They go from smooth to extra peaty, but they are all 'best'.
I had an extra peaty one whilst first-footing at Hogmanay. It was like drinking bog-water, so I had to get another one to be sure.
Don't waste your money. When adulterating Scotch, use a cheap blended, and save the malts for what Americans call "Sippin' Whiskey."

Flash Company, the recipe also calls for a layer of brown paper and an overlayer of greasproof paper. In earlier times, goose-grease was the family remedy for lots of ailments, and the carrier for more dynamic ingredients. Most European country families kept geese, for festival food (remember, the Turkey is an American species) and as watch-'dogs' around the house. They are a very 'fatty' bird, and most families had a pot of goose-grease.
Pedant-alert all-clear.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: GUEST, Jack and Jill
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 06:13 PM

Good tip, the brown paper, but why isn't it in the 'vinegar' thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 06:18 PM

ah, Gurney..."Single Malt" does not guarantee quality....I have some "Glen Gyle" that was given to me, and I cannot choke it down...and some "Old Fettercairn" that is barely tolerable.....but don't be casting your eyes on my Cragganmore or my Highland Park! And I'll take all the Springbank you can send me...and Talisker, at certain moments is Nirvana. Single Malts are like everything else, some are held to higher standards.....and the price 'usually' tells you something.

Subject: RE: BS: Don't waste money on Cough Remedies
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 08:07 PM

Clinton -

Apparently my newsless paper must have seriously edited or just stole the headline, but the headline was identical. I did try your link but was temporarily unable to connect. Since the headlines were the same, I did assume it was the same article.

My own experience is that over the counter meds do work better in many cases than what my various doctors have recommended; but that's a personal observation. The multi-symptom-cures-everything-high-priced stuff is NOT what I use, since to help the problem you have you have no choice but to overdose things you don't. It does get hard to find anything except the currently popular junk on the shelf at the retailers. My approach is that if it's advertised on tv it's probably useless (for me), and I've had little problem with that approach.

John