Eli5 : how does cold medicine work? It alleviates symptoms so well and quickly, but doesn’t “cure” and I don’t understand how or why.
In: 7
A cold is a virus.
You aren’t “cured” until your body’s immune system has successfully hunted down all the viruses.
The symptoms of a cold are a mix of (a) the virus making parts of your body misbehave and (b) your body trying to fight off the virus.
Cold medicine suppresses the symptoms of a cold. But since the virus is still there, you’re not cured.
Latest Answers