An antibiotic won't help with a true cold, which is a viral illness. If you take an antibiotic, it should be to deal with secondary infections that are probably bacterial, such as a sinus infection, tonsilitis, etc. Our old family doc used to say that it last a week if you treat it, and seven days if you don't.
My rule of thumb for meds of any sort is that if I take one for three days, or administer one for that long, with no improvement, then it is the wrong drug for whatever we are working against. This is the principle my vet taught us many ages ago, and it tends to be correct. I have never had a doctor that disagreed with it.
I am sure your juicing gave you a lot of fiber and vitamins, and couldn't hurt in terms of overall wellness. Still, anyone can catch a cold.
I tend to use Zicam as a zinc supplement that helps with colds, and it comes in several forms. If my nose is stuffy, I like the spray. If it is dry, I use the swabs to soothe my nasal passages.
I think I have shared here before that I used saline spray for a year or so, and didn't get a cold the whole time. Got lazy and got sick, too, so I woudl say that having a bottle of this in the bathroom, by my chair, and in the car console, to use several times a day, has worked for me in the past.
Also, since we deal with a lot of mold spores in this wet area, and have a ton of pollen from spring through frost, Mike and I both take a Loratadine tablet daily...10 mg, which is the OTC Claritin. I buy it at Sam's, I think 240 pills for less than $13. You can get it generic at any drugstore really cheap, maybe not quite that cheap. Best allergy preventative I can get for about five cents a day.
Mike used ot have a prescription for a strong steroidal nasal spray many years ago. We tried a Seagate :Olive Leaf Nasal Spray in place of that , which he uses if he is at all stuffy. He says it works just as well as the expensive and sort of scary steroid one.
I buy it online from Seagate, buit found it first at a health food store near us. Now that I know it works weel for us, I order a dozen bottles at a time, for about $8 apiece. The steroid was $35 or so, ten years ago, when we last bought it. Seagate makes an olive leaf throat spray for sore throats, too.
I tend to brew up herbal teas for colds, and upset stomachs. Most grocery stores have various blends for these uses in the tea department now. Celestial Seasonings makes some nice ones, very reasonably priced, and there are other wellness brands out there, too.
Another nice thing to do for yourself when you have a cold is to take a therapeutic bath. I bought some bath salts that have eucalyptus and other natural decongestants in them. Even the J&J baby bath with scents to open up a stuffy nose can help.
Last remedy, is that we keep Vicks Vap-o-rub on the nightstand. Opens up a stuffy head so you can sleep more peacefully. I use some homeopathic remedies, which I keep on hand, too, but they aren't readily available, except by mailorder...by the time they arrive, you are better.
Rest and fresh air will help, and you are on the right trail there; but, don' t overdo the exercise demand on a sick body. Pace yourself. What you describe says that your immune system is struggling with this bug, or a series of them. Anything you can do for immune support is not wasted effort.
Don't forget chicken soup...research shows that it does help! There is no real cure for the common cold, but here are many things you can do to improve your comfort, and lessen its symptoms. Stay well-hydrated and avoid getting chilled, too.
