I need to find a way to completely shake off a cold/flu. Anyone have an ABSOLUTE way?

Im reasonably fit and only 23. Everytime i seem to catch a cold its only a matter of time before it blows out of proportion, like right now.
Doctors are doctors an only ever prescribe you the same thing over, and over. i've tried natural remedies from Garlic pills to ZhingZhang leaves. Anyones help would be greatly appeciated.

Short answer, there is no cure for the common cold. It's a virus, and that means the fighting has to be done by your own immune system. Your immune system takes about three days to mount a defense, and peak fighting usually happens between days 3 and 5, which is why and when you typically feel the worst. The best thing you can do is the oldest remedy in the world- eat right, rest and drink plenty of fluids. You will get better faster if you do. If you insist on burning the candle at both ends, it just takes longer to improve. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, and all those home remedies are primarily only meant to help you tolerate the symptoms. They have no effect on the disease itself. If your colds seem to always last a long time, it's probably because you insist on fighting things. People usually do. They start taking things like aspirin and tylenol to lower the fever, which is the worst thing they could do. Fever is an excellent first defense for the body- body cells do quite well in the elevated temperature, but viruses can' function or reproduce. Fevers up to 102 are actually limiting the buggie numbers, and the advantage is to your immune system. Keep the temperature supressed, viral numbers explode and you feel like dookey. Second, all that fighting and making immune cells takes a lot of energy. Your body only has so much energy, and if you insist on running full tilt, your body has to try to split the energy available between running you and stoking up the defenses. End result, it takes longer to mount troops for the fight, so you feel like dookey longer. Eating well provides nutrition and ammo for the fight, lots of liquids helps remove offending gerbies via the nose and mouth through coughing and nose blowing. There are no instant cures. There are medications to help with symptoms only, although honestly, I think they just prolong matters because they make it possible for you to keep pushing on. So if you want to get better, follow grannies advice. Eat right, rest, drink plenty of fluids. It worked in grannies day, it still does.

No absolute way, but I'll tell you a few things I've learned.
When I was your age I burned the candle at both ends. 2 jobs,school ,partying you name it.
It wore me down so much I was on antibiotics very 3 months.
Young people tend to push their fit bodies too hard. Try getting regular sleep (8hrs) even when you are not sick.
For now just try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
Yes,Drink fluids
If you are stuffed up try placing a wash cloth in hot water (not so Hot it Burns) place it over your nose and cheeks where your sinuses are.
Sleep on 2 pillows to help you breath.
I am sorry you did not give specific symptoms. You will need to read labels and match any over the counter meds to those symptoms. If you have a fever take a fever reducer. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen
If you don't have a fever have you considered that you have allergies. Especially since it seems to come and go often.
Try an OTC allergy remedy.

Well as my mum always says
take your horshradish and garlic tablets and 2 vitamin c tablets.
i never believed her as a kid but now it always helps and my cold is gone in 1-2days
try it!!

The only way I have ever beaten a cold (meaning ending it in a day) is tied one on. You'll have a one day hang over but the cold is gone. I guess alcohol kills bad germs and brain cells.

I would drink some hot tea with lemon juice in it.