take a handful of echinaecea several times a day - it can reverse a cold, usually at the first sign but even after it's taken hold.
my cold was bad before the 2nd beacon show - i took a whole bottle in 12 hours the day before the show - i went to bed feeling bad and having gone through a box of kleenex. i woke up fine and ready for the show!
i just fended off a cold yesterday, in fact, with two handfuls...it works for the flu too.
Queenie, B'Bro, can likely help you both out here. If you get decent liquid echinacea it tastes a lot like whisky. Not the good single malt, but your taste buds are likely shot anyway...