The common cold has been around since the beginning of time and you would think by now there would be a sure cure or a vaccine to prevent us from getting these colds.

The cold is medically described as a viral upper respiratory tract infection with symptoms of a cough, runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing. You catch it by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after  an individual sneezes or coughs.

In 1928, Dr. Richard Simmons hypothesized that colds and flu virus enter through the ear canal.  According to Simmons, contrary to what you may think or have been taught about how you catch the flu or the cold there is only one way that you can catch the two, and that’s via the ear canal, not through the eyes or nose or mouth as most have believed.

Once they have entered the inner-ear (middle-ear) there they begin their breeding process, and from there they have access to every avenue throughout our body to travel to and to infect and make us sick.

In 1938, German researchers had great success using hydrogen peroxide in dealing with colds and the flu. Their data has been ignored for more than 70 years. For many years, people in the know have been attacking the Influenza(s) virus and common cold, where they begin their breeding process and not where they have already have spread to, and that’s the inner-ear.

First off, how do you catch a cold? This comment infers that the cold is running and it has been thrown at you and if you are lucky you can catch it. A cold usually last seven to 10 days and sometimes as long as three weeks.

What are some of the modern medicine ways of treating a cold? Treatments that help alleviate symptoms include analgesics and antipyretic such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Most agree that getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to maintain hydration and gargle with warm salt water are reasonable conservative measures.

Modern medicine has not been very successful in treating the cold. So many are resorting to the old-time home remedies. I remember my mother treating me for a cold with her own remedies. Maybe you remember some of these also.

My mother tried honey mixed with lime juice for treatment of a cough and improve sleeping, or applying a mustard plaster to the chest. Wearing cloves of garlic or eating garlic soup was another common remedy. Did your grandmother used to crush garlic and mix it with warm milk? Some research seems to show that large amounts of garlic can shorten the duration of a cold.

Sweat it out. This old wives’ tale has merit, but not in the traditional manner. I used to get sent to bed with Vicks rubbed on my chest and a small white cloth inside my pajamas. I don’t remember this causing me to sweat but a hot water bottle beside me made me feel better.

Another common home remedy involves cutting ginger and putting it in boiling water, straining and drinking with a little sugar added.

A hot bath or inhaling steam can relieves some of the cold symptoms. Drink herbal teas that have almost come to the boiling point.  Boiling water dispels the tea of oxygen and tea’s healing properties are diminished.

Another drink to try is 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, 4 tablespoons brandy, 4 tablespoons of honey and 4 tablespoons of glycerin. Drink it hot or cold and go to bed immediately.

Some of the more colorful cures involve wrapping a dirty sock around your neck, putting skunk oil on your chest or sipping elephant dung tea.

Simple remedies are the best. Chicken soup is the No. 1 icon of cold relievers, this one’s been utilized on practically every Cold War TV show from “Leave It to Beaver” to “Bonanza.” But chicken soup’s combination of fats, spices and water seems to work best when it comes to breaking up mucus.

Drink a hot toddy. When I was a kid, the best thing about being sick was that I got to drink alcohol. A hot toddy’s mixture of piping hot water, whiskey and lemon can provide a lot of relief. A hot toddy at bedtime – made from one boiled cup of milk, sugar to taste and topped up with as much whiskey as you see fit, the combination of hot milk and whiskey induces a sort of sleepy stupor, leading to a good night’s sleep — just what a cold needs.

Feed a cold; starve a fever. Dutch researchers have found that the balance of two chemicals that regulate the immune system seem to shift markedly when eating and fasting, leading to a theory that eating less during a cold may shorten its duration.

Breathe steam. A head being shoved under a towel above a pot of boiling water. Steam liquifies and loosens mucus, allowing clearance of the airwaves that can relieve coughs and nasal congestion.

Mix horseradish in some of your favorite dishes. Horseradish fumes can burn, so if you must, allow the fumes to escape from your mouth. However, for best results, keep your mouth closed and you will sweat the cold away.

Always wear a light scarf or turtle neck shirt all day throughout winter.

Never go outside on a cold day with wet hair. Always keep your feet covered indoors.

Every morning combine apple cider vinegar, molasses, cayenne pepper and brewers yeast to a glass of spring water.

And finally, buy a bottle of  vodka, get yourself to a sauna (or a hot bath), sit, sweat and drink!  You may not get rid of the cold, but you will be much happier.