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It’s annoying enough that, when you need commercial cold medicine, you’re generally in such a befuddled and cotton-wool-wrapped state (well, I am, at least) that the vast array of options and slight variations on a theme is mind-boggling. Trying to find one that’s vegan, without any goopy inactive filler ingredients, and one that treats just the symptoms you have and not a gazillion others that you don’t, is enough to make you storm out of the store in an indignant, if somewhat congested, snit. (The expedition sparking this mini-rant occurred yesterday over lunch. I spent most of the day today lying on the futon, groaning faintly when I had to move, and explaining repeatedly to the dog that no, I really was not interested in playing fetch at the moment, and that it was probably best that he not stand on my stomach.)

First narrow the field by ruling out all the things that contain unnecessary medicine: antifebriles (my temperature has been elevated a bit, but has only barely reached triple [Fahrenheit] digits and hasn’t stayed there long; it’s not worth fighting such a wimpy fever), cough suppressants, cures for aches and pains. All I need is something that will unclog my skull and enable me to have some sort of vaguely coherent contact with the outside world. The meds that are left after the culling, though, usually contain something icky. Probably about half the decongestants I checked contained lactose as a filler. The little slippery pills have gelatin capsules. Most of the syrups contain glycerine from unspecified sources, which usually means that they use whatever’s cheapest at the moment.

When I’ve got a cold, I am not in the mood to stand there and read labels full of long-named ingredients. I am generally doing well to be standing upright and not swaying overly much. Thus, I’ve gotten to where I take refuge in other stuff: licorice or other decongestant herbal teas, an ocean of various juices, drops that are supposed to shorten the cold’s duration. They all seem to help about as much as anything, though I will say it’s a bit more of a nuisance to keep having to microwave cups of water for hot tea than it is to take a pill and forget about it for the next four hours or so. Still, at least I have a little more control over what it is I’m consuming, and at least I stay hydrated.

One thing I do kind of miss: lotion-impregnated tissues. I’ve been sworn off paper tissues for a year or two now, and generally handkerchiefs are fine — except when you’ve got a cold. About day four or five, my nose usually looks like some sort of festive light-up holiday ornament, possibly reindeer-oriented. Bleagh. It’s no worse than with non-lotion paper tissues, but I miss the lotion. I wonder whether there’s a way to add just a touch of lotion to handkerchiefs, so you don’t rub your nose raw when you’re sick?