Ok, if this thread keeps up much longer we are definitely going to hear about people who traveled and got

cholera

thyphus

dengue fever


I really WISH somebody WOULD finally develop a cure for the cold so we could stop hearing about all these "cures" both homeopathic and otherwise that seem to "do it."

Called placebo effect.

"this one has worked for me a few times now."

It can't. Homeopathic medicine has the ludicrous idea that the more you dilute a substance the more powerful a medicine it is. Utter rubbish. And it's a joke that pharmacies sell this stuff. They do here in Canada too.

Have a look at James Randi explaining this silliness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U

PA,
What about my ionic wrist band? I'm being pumped full of positive ions!! ;)

I guess I can ditch the garlic lei around my neck. The hub will be pleased...

Actually apersuader65, pharma companies actually have to do placebo controlled double blind multicenter studies to prove efficacy (must show statistically significant effect above placebo results and more) and safety. They are the ones isolating new compounds not repackaging "homeopathic" compounds, (which many times do not contain what they say they contain or in the correct levels/strengths), there is a reason for doing the appropriate studies to gain FDA approval. I at least want to take the product that has been tested and many homeopathic remedies are quite expensive.

Cafegoddess, I can assure you far worse things happen in any American kitchen any time you eat out; in fact, you are probably even more at risk any time you eat at other people's homes, which are rarely up to food safety standards. People who prepare food do end up touching food with their hands. I'm not fussy about this but people who are should probably only eat at home.

Purell makes a dandy little container that fastens onto a belt loop or handbag. I never leave home without it!

The best way to avoid getting a cold is to avoid flying on a plane. Unfortunately, that pretty much rules out going anywhere.

All I know is that when I came down with a horrible cold on our last day in Paris, I got the best drugs at the pharmacy there! I stocked up on them on our last trip, and the entire family knows that they are a limited quantity so you better be sure you are sick before you take one, lol.

I am with kerouac. The best way to avoid getting sick is to build up immunities by being exposed to "stuff" over many years. I haven't had a sick day in more than 30 years. I HAVE had a day or two when I thought I MIGHT be coming down with something and have used Zicam and similar things from overseas, but I can't say if they actually prevented the illness or whether my own system just prevented it. I think Purellists probably are sick more often than most people because they don't develop immunities.

I do agree that French, and Italian, pharmacies, are wondrous compared to American drugstores.

French drug stores are not better than the US ... they are always out of things, sell you the wrong medicines and try to sell you things you don;t need. Plus they're very expensive. Also they are not open all of the time.

Poor baby. Have you been ill?

They are coughing here in Buenos Aires too ! Could that be because it is the Paris of South America? lol ...
I do like Paris pharmacies.. I always found the best bath products and lozenges and small ordinary things that were somehow not so ordinary because I bought them in Paris.

maria, I've been away and lost track of you. Did you ever find the perfect cassoulet? where?

As long as we are worrying about our health, you will be thrilled to know that the American tourists from the east coast have managed to import the bedbugs to Paris (and London). There are now major infestations in Saint Germain des Prés, so I hope that all you people will continue to stay there and not stray to other parts of Paris.