Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jmbran11]

My throat is getting all scratchy and feels swollen. I don't know if it's the dry air or the pollution, but I seem to get this every few months. Usually it worsens over the course of a week until I finally have to go the dr. and get some mystery medicine (probably antibiotics). If you know any home remedies or otc medications that would help me out, please let me know. I'm going to make a hot toddy now.

[Bibbitybop]

Nature's medicine: water. And lots of it. I drink about 5 liters or more a day when my throat goes dry. Then my sinuses over produce, leaving me with a clogged nose, but a wet throat for about a week. Then I'm back to normal.

[charlieDD]

Sounds like your condition is about the same as mine, the way you describe the progression from irritated sinuses, throat to an infection.

My defense is a good offense, and one key part of that is using humidifiers to keep my nasal / sinuses moist and healthy, so they can resist the viruses and what not that abound here.

See my post from yesterday (Wedn. the 25th) about humidifiers. I highly recommend a steam type one, as you'll see. That Honeywell evaporative humidifier comes with a bottle of KAZ, which is the Australian equivalent of Vicks. You can mix it in with the water and let it steam out at night; very soothing for your nose and sinuses. I am not sure about where in Korea you can buy more of such (KAZ or VICKS); I usually pick it up when I'm overseas or just have it sent to me from the states in my quarterly care package family sends me. It may be here, or a Korean equivalent, but I haven't tried looking for it

During the day, I apply Vicks VapoRub just under my nose. It is soothing right after you apply it, but the more important thing is that I have read that the petroleum gel can actually trap virus, dust, etc before they enter you nose.

I keep a humidifier wherever I am going to be sitting still. (It seems if I'm moving, things stay moist on their own fine enough from the exertion.) One in the space you sleep is most important.

If you have heated floors and use them, you can always put a few wet towels on the floor or hanging on a line/rack before you go to sleep to add a bit more. Even putting a thin pan of water on a hot spot on the floor - - if you think you won't kick it over! - - is a cheap solution and stopgap measure, or a supplement to a humidifier.

[Thunndarr]

[ChopChaeJoe]

Do you smoke?

Stop.

[jmbran11]

I don't smoke, but thanks for the concern.

[Oreovictim]

Speak of the devil

I've been here a week and noticed the same thing. I thought that I was coming down with a cold, but I'm not. I think that in my case it's a combination of talking a lot in my conversation classes and the air quality here (Cheong-Ju city smells like raw sewage).

[butlerian]

I tried using an humidifier last night, but I regretted it in the morning. I haven't had a mosquito bite for a long time now due to the weather getting cooler, but because of the humidifier I was bitten all over! Silly mistake, but it won't happen again, that's for sure.