Shower Soothers for a Cold

Vicks used to sell Shower Soothers.  I loved these things when I was sick with a cold.  Unfortunately, I can't find them in the store at all and haven't even seen them in years.  This led me to find a make your own recipe for them.  There are tons of different recipes out there.  Below is the one I used.

Shower Soothers How-To:
1.  Mix one cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of cornstarch.
2.  Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water.  Start with a small amount and add only what is needed to mix everything together.
3.  Fill cupcake liners with the mixture.
4.  Let mixture dry overnight or cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  I find cooking them keeps the shape better.
5.  Add 15 drops Eucalyptus and 15 drops Rosemary Essential Oils. (Add more or less depending on your needs/wants.)
6.  Remove a shower soother from the cupcake liner and place on the floor of the shower whenever you are sick.  This will help your sinuses open up.

Verdict:
5 stars - This is one of my go-to's when I get sick.  They hold up very well.  One shower soother could last multiple showers.  I like to make them when I am feeling healthy because doing anything when you're sick is difficult to do. They last a really long time.  If the scent seems to be diminished, add more essential oils.

Honey for a Sore Throat

A couple of days ago, I started to feel sick.  For me, the first step is almost always a sore throat. Since I was about to have a few days off of work, I definitely did not want to start off sick.  One remedy for a sore throat involved apple cider vinegar and honey.  I can do the honey but I can't stomach apple cider vinegar - I have tried but it always leads to failure.

Verdict:
5 stars - I took a spoonful of honey before bed and another one when I woke up.  My sore throat completely disappeared.  Now, it is not a miracle cure.  However, I do feel better overall.  Hopefully, I have warded off the worse of a potential sickness.  From now on, my first line of defense will be a spoonful of honey.

Water at Bedtime

One of the most fascinating things that I read was about how dehydrated people get while sleeping.   (I can go into the science behind it, but that is boring.) For some reason, that really resonated with me.  Yeah, I would wake up with dry mouth but that's because I am a mouth breather.

If you are accident prone (like me), then use a water bottle!

Verdict:
5 stars - I cannot imagine a night where I do not have my water next to my bed.  I often wake up in the middle of the night.  If I do, I take a quick sip of water.  I find that I feel much better in the morning.  I will finish the water in the morning.  The weird thing is that I think drinking the water also helps combat morning breath.  Now, I can't get to bed without my water.

Suppress a Cough at Night

I hate getting sick!  I know that no one likes it, but I get stubborn when I am sick.  I have to teach and try to miss as little school as possible.  How do I help myself when getting sick?  Simple, all I need is Vicks and socks.

Directions:
Slather Vicks on your feet.  Put a pair of socks on your feet.  That's it.

Verdict:
5 stars - This may not suppress your cough 100%, but there is a notable improvement.  Bonus, my feet feel warmer and softer after using this.  I must admit, when I am feeling sick, I put this on to help get me through the day (not just at night).  Because it is on your feet and covered, the smell is not noticeable.  This little trick helped get me through the flu and a cold in December.  Regular use has also kept my feet feeling like I get regular pedicures.  In short, I highly recommend this!