"What's the best remedy for a cold?"
(asked at Crossroads Shopping Center on 10-10-96; published in the JA on 10-13-96)

Norm Neufeld, Mechanical designer, Bellevue


"I drink lots of water -- more than average. No matter what you do, it'll take however long it takes to run its course. And I like to drink something hot, because I think almost anything hot accelerates the healing process."

Richard Goepfert, Physician, Mercer Island


"Rest. Lots of fluids. Maybe an aspirin or two."

Fred O'Brien, Administrator, Carnation, Woodinville


"Time. Personally, I kind of like to indulge in it -- cut myself some slack. It's not a very common experience for me, fortunately... My mom's remedy was, 'I don't think you're really that sick. Go to school!'."

Gloria Methvin, Accounts payable assistant, Kirkland


"Vitamin C. I take 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C everyday, and if I have any symptoms, I double the dose. Within a week or so, the cold is gone! I don't know if it's psychological or not, but doctors say Vitamin C can't hurt you. So I use it and I usually don't get colds."

Harriss Muller, Housewife, Bellevue


"Vitamin C and rest. Tea. Orange juice. I don't usually use medication... If I hear on the radio that it'll be a bad year for flu -- in the past, I've had shots to minimize the symptoms and I feel they have worked -- then I will most likely get a flu shot... But I still believe in that old adage, 'Take care of a cold and it'll be gone in two weeks. Ignore it, and it'll go away in 15 days'."

Heather Bartek, 11th grader, Redmond


"Lots of sleep and stay home from school... My grandparents always tell me to take Vitamin C and drink tea and orange juice. Sometimes I follow their advice... And I buy DayQuil sometimes."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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