If you can take the icky feeling, the Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs are a must-have for getting over a cold.

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I’m not the world’s best patient when I’m sick. So every time a cold starts creeping around, I start breaking out my regimen of over-the-counter cold remedies to try and fend off the cold or expel it from my fortress as quickly as possible.

Several years ago, a co-worker introduced me to Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs. I gave them a try… and they actually seemed to work. Shortly thereafter, the company announced it was recalling the nasal swabs because they were causing a reduction or loss of sense of smell in some users. Sad times.

The products are now back on the shelf, minus the zinc, which was identified as the cause of the smell problems. So do the new swabs hold a match to the original?

Packaging

The swabs are conveniently self-contained. Each box contains 20 little tubes:

Each tube contains a swab and a glob of the cold remedy formula. Everything is nicely and securely contained until you snap open the lid, revealing the swab. This is great for when you need to tote them with you to work or school.

Using the product

This is where it gets gross. As I mention above, you “snap” the lid, separating the tube into two parts: the lid with the swab attached inside and the remainder of the tube, which contains the actual gel. You’re supposed to pull out the swab, place it just inside a nostril, make three laps around the inside of your nostril and then dip back into the vat of gel. You then repeat this for a total of three times for each nostril. The original formula just required you to press the swab against the inside of each nostril for seven seconds.

The noise of sticking the soaked swab into the tube and pulling it back out can definitely be a turnoff for some people. Some may find putting a Q-tip into their noses objectionable as well (my spouse calls these “brain scramblers” and refuses to use them).The worst part, in my opinion, is the amount of the gel you end up applying to the inside of your no

The worst part, in my opinion, is the amount of the gel you end up applying to the inside of your nostril. It’s difficult to keep it contained inside your nose (and you’re not supposed to blow your nose for at least 30 seconds after application, though the longer you wait, the better). Inevitably, some of it will get out onto your outer nose and upper lip. When it dries, it looks like you have some weird Krispy Kreme habit of snorting glazed donuts.

But does it work?

This is not the sole weapon in my anti-cold arsenal, so I cannot say definitively “yes,” but since these have been reintroduced, I’ve dodged three colds and the one that conquered me ran its course in about four days. So I would say that these definitely help fight off colds.

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Drinks on the House

Top Shelf
Convenient and seem to assist in defeating colds

Well
Can be drippy, requires you putting something in your nose (didn’t mom tell us not to?)

Bartender’s Advice
A definite must-have for when you feel a cold coming on (or if you work with a bunch of patient zeroes whose sole purpose, it would seem, is to infect you with the illness of the week).