I felt a cold coming on yesterday. I wasn't surprised -- it's that time of year and it seems that everyone is sniffling, dripping and hacking lately -- including my kids, co-workers, husband and the cashier at the grocery store who sneezed on my change.

I woke up with that weird feeling in the back of my throat yesterday. It got worse throughout the day and I expected that I would wake up this morning with a full-blown cold. Except that I happened to mention my impending cold to email to girlfriend Jen. She told me that she had taken Zicam over the weekend and it seemed to stop her cold.

So, I picked some up on the way home, thinking that I might just have shelled out $8 for snake oil. But since almost every cold I have turns into a sinus infection that lasts for weeks, what did I have to lose (besides my $8, I mean).

But, damn if it didn't work!

Whether it was the Zicam or whether I was just wrong about the cold coming on, I have nothing more than a semi-scratchy/sore throat today. No running nose, no watering eyes, no headache, no cough, no fever, no nothing!

According to the packaging:
Zicam is best used at the first sign of a cold and you are supposed to continue to use it for 48 hours afer your symptoms subside.

Zicam contains zinc and comes in several forms -- including a tablet that disolves on your tongue, a mouth/throat spray, nasal swabs and a nasal gel. I opted for the nasal gel, which was, well, kind of an interesting feeling, but it only took a few seconds for it to dry or travel down my nasal cavities or whatever it is that it does.

It was the best $8 I spent this week.