Sorry this is long. I found this message thread very interesting because over 3 and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Rheumatoid Arthritis. My doctor said it was 'triggered' by an antibiotic that I was given that I had an allergic reaction to. In one month I went from hiking 8 miles and not breaking a sweat and doing climbing walls to being so disabled with pain and swelling in my feet, hands, my joints ached and sensations in my legs (needed to sleep on my back with legs up on pillows) that I had to get pants with elastic. The doctor told me that I would be disabled and on meds the rest of my life. He could not explain to me sufficiently how this could happen in one month. I refused meds and toughed it out. The first month I felt sorry for myself and was a couch potato. Then I kicked myself and started to read. That was about the only thing I could do. This is what I found out and how I beat my diagnosis. I found that when we reach around the age of 40 our body slowly diminishes it's production of our super antioxidant glutathione. This is a major player in the proper functioning of our immune system and regulates so many body systems that I am not going to list all of them here. The one I am going to mention is that it does regulate the hormones. When this is depleted via the severe immune response that happens when you receive a vaccination the body's cells and gut (80% of our immune system is regulated from there) is no longer protected because of oxidative stress. When the gut is compromised the body absorption of vit. D is diminished. Now another thing to take into consideration is family medical history. Is there allergies or auto-immune disease in the family? If this is true then there is the possibility that there could be any one or more of these factors: 1) defective GSH (glutathione) gene; 2) elevated levels of free floating IgE in the body; 3) increased levels of histamine release from mast cells. These are the most important. Because I found that RA was an auto-immune issue likely caused by my allergic reaction to the anti-biotic I had to deal with the inflammation and find how I could diminish this. First I started with diet. What foods can cause inflammation and eliminate them? I eliminated all processed sugars and went to honey for a start. Then I found what to add to my diet to increase my body production of glutathione (I was 58 at onslaught of RA). I added more fruits and green veggies (increasing my vit C & E). As I researched further I found that whey protein helps intensify the C & E so I started taking a whey suppliment. With the changes in diet initially I saw slow impovement in 1 month. When I added the whey protein I saw improvement in 2 weeks. It took 2 years for my body to heal itself and I was pretty much symptom free and pain free. The only problem I had left was my gut. I believe I had IBS (irritable bowel symdrome). I never went back to the doctor so this is my diagnosis of the symptoms that I had. My gut would feel funny (I called the five minute warning) and I would have to find a bathroom fast. Every store I went to I knew where the restroom was just in case. Further research was done to find out that Autistic children are glutathione deficient and their gut problems diminished after going gluten free. Hummmmm I pondered this for about 1 day and decided to minimize my gluten and test the foods I did eat to see what reactions I would have. I no longer eat standard breads or pastas. I can eat rye bread and one bun with unbleached white bread for my hamburgers. (I love my food, sorry.) I can also eat the pasta that is labeled semolina pasta. Don't understand why but I can but I do not overdo it. I have been reading labels for 2 years now and I am pretty much (money is a little tight) all natural foods, frozen veggies, etc. As of one year ago I am now totally symptom free. Wohoo! My only problem is that I know I will never be 100% ever again. I do have energy level problems so I do everything in moderation. I have to take a power nap every afternoon. I lost 35 - 40 lbs of muscle mass so I can't do some of the strenuous things I used to. But the upside is that my allergic responses to seasonal pollens are next to non-existant. No flu or colds (this was a concern of mine). Over all with my auto-immune issue it is all under control and people are amazed that I ever had RA and was 95% disabled. This is my story. Do your own research. If your doctor will not test for glutathione deficiency (warning: they will not) ask them to test for magnesium deficiency. Glutathione deficiency goes hand in hand with magnesium deficiency. Foot note: Glutathione supplements do not work because the body does not absorb the glutathione. The best way is to get the body to produce more. Here is a link that might be useful: Histamine

Different herbal remedies attack different symptoms of a cold or the flu, and some herbal composites treat several symptoms at the same time. German herbal companies have patented some excellent herbal mixtures for colds. They all are effective. They all taste great. Save the list of ingredients from the package. You may be able to buy or grow some of the herbs yourself. If you want to attack a specific symptom, you may want to use just one or two ingredients: Relieving congestion Ginger, thyme, licorice. Soothing to the throat Slippery elm, comfrey, basswood bossom, fennugreek. Relieving nausea Ground fennel, ginger. Inducing perspiration Basswood blossom. The German word for basswood is Linde, the English term is lime. The following herbs require simmering, not just brewing: Ground fennel, comfrey, fennugreek, basswood blossom. Flavors of herb teas are improved with the addition of a touch of honey. Never use sugar.

Having raised a family of kids, I can say that getting one to adopt considerate habits for sneezing and coughing isn't easy. Look around in public, it isn't like all adults have caught on either. With kids, I found it mostly didn't happen until well into teenage years, if then. Those who think this is a simple habit for a kid to pick up are either much better at child training than we were, or don't have any kids. I gonna bet the latter. Airplanes are notorious for catching diseases, it's just the chance that has to be taken when you take a flight. I agree with chi83, people often can't change travel plans just because they've taken ill. It's happened to me many times on both the giving and the receiving end. As the expression goes, stuff happens, you just need to move on. Someone who is susceptible or at risk for catching airborne-spread diseases should avoid enclosed public places, including going to a religious service when flu or other diseases are active in your area. You know what can happen to you when other people and kids are around, why be angry or surprised about it?

I went to the dr. last week with "something." He thought I had either strep or the flu; however both tests were negative. He diagnosed a virus and upper respitory infection. He highly recommended Allegra-d, Mucinex DM, Coricidin HBP and the nasal spray Neo Synephrine, all of them over the counter. I've used all of them as directed...some 8 hrs and other 4 hrs...and am finally out of bed. Still coughing but not all the time as before. So, currently, that's what's been working for me. Good luck, everyone. It's been difficult to stay well this winter, with allergans so bad and Mother Nature thinking it's already spring. Local schools are closing for a day at a time to disinfect everything after near-epidemic levels of flu and even pink eye.