I agree take your echinacea as soon as you think flus and cold are going around.
I also drink garlic tea, which i posted on tea forum.
Jump in the tub with Epsom Salts and baking soda.
Another thing i learned years ago when i got food poisoning was to eat sauerkraut,boy did that ever take all the poison out of me, it smelled awful, and i plugged my nose to eat it, but "wow" it worked like a charm.
I have also used it in the past for the flu as well, it seems to release alot of the bad stuff out of my system and cleans me out and i usually feel better the next day.
Since i have been taking all these steps i have not had a cold or flu in 7-8 years.
Keep a positive attitude.