What can I get for a common cold without prescription here? I have usual symptoms, running nose, sore throat. Have any of you ever taken any Chinese pills for cold?

My Chinese is too poor to ask for an advice in a drug store.

There are those small bottles of bitter medicine called Shuanghuanlian.

I believe having a good rest and frequently blowing your nose works as good as taking cold medicine.

I saw some Beechams cold and flu powders in Paul's a while back, over near the Vicks vaporub and deodorant etc.

My Chinese friend recommends fenghan ganmao keli, have you tried it?

Yep, that stuff your Chinese friend recommends is awesome. Take it when the cold is starting and it disappears! Has worked twice for me anyway, under the advice of my wife! Not sure how it is during a cold though, never got that far!

Yep, that stuff your Chinese friend recommends is awesome. Take it when the cold is starting and it disappears! Has worked twice for me anyway, under the advice of my wife! Not sure how it is during a cold though, never got that far!

Yep, my family uses that stuff. There are two types, for different kinds of cold. One comes in a blue and white box, the other in a yellow and white box.
People knock chinese cold cures and say that in the 5 days you take them your cold would have got better anyway. Even if that were the case, if nothing else these TCMs are really good at controlling the symptoms until the cold is over.

Got to also add to the chorus, that really is a good medicine. Made by the Kunming Chinese Medicine Factory I think?

I use "Contact" pills - dries up symptoms for 12 hours per pill. Available in all chemists.

@Ocean. You know the Chinese name for them?