The xanthines in the tea are going to act as vasodilators, and the steam is going to help too. Double whammy.
As to combining guai with other meds, I'm sincerely on the fence. It depends on the nature of the decongestant, and on the cough suppressant. I take it they're phenylephrine and dextromethorphan, though? PE seems to have a greater variety of effectiveness than pseudephedrine; maybe you're one of the unlucky ones.
DXM mainly comes as hydrochloride or polystirex, though the hydrocitrate form is faster-acting and easier to digest. The polystirex form is the "12-hour" or "24-hour" version, and IMO is not worth a dry fart. DXM is fairly sensitive to bodyweight, as well as to your CYP2D6 liver enzyme. As I recall, you're fairly slim, though, so bodyweight shouldn't be an issue.
There may be chance that your 2D6 might be abnormal. You're neither Middle Eastern nor North African, so you're not a risk group for overactive 2D6, which would be the most obvious cause of DXM underaction. It's a mystery, at least to me. Do you have small_chicken friended? I notice you've interacted in the past, and she's a whizz at this whole cellular biochem stuff.
no subject
As to combining guai with other meds, I'm sincerely on the fence. It depends on the nature of the decongestant, and on the cough suppressant. I take it they're phenylephrine and dextromethorphan, though? PE seems to have a greater variety of effectiveness than pseudephedrine; maybe you're one of the unlucky ones.
DXM mainly comes as hydrochloride or polystirex, though the hydrocitrate form is faster-acting and easier to digest. The polystirex form is the "12-hour" or "24-hour" version, and IMO is not worth a dry fart. DXM is fairly sensitive to bodyweight, as well as to your CYP2D6 liver enzyme. As I recall, you're fairly slim, though, so bodyweight shouldn't be an issue.
There may be chance that your 2D6 might be abnormal. You're neither Middle Eastern nor North African, so you're not a risk group for overactive 2D6, which would be the most obvious cause of DXM underaction. It's a mystery, at least to me. Do you have