>>...when that throat tickle comes.
There is some evidence that zinc *acetate* used as losenges for a few hours can stop that ticke from progressing into a full-blown cold. The type of zinc matters; the zinc losenges I see in my drugstore are *not* acetate - so I get them online.
Anecdata: I've used them for beginning sore throats (that 'tickle') five or six times over the last year. One time progressed into an actual cold. So anecdotal - and mixed at that.
I've also read that influenza starts in the sinuses - and is heat sensitive. I've read (somewhere - *not* any kind of study) that a facial / nasal steamer might be useful in the same way. I have a steamer anyway (bad hayfever) and have used it whenever I thought I might be 'coming down with something'. No full-blown flu yet - although I make a point of getting the shot each year, which is very probably what's protecting me. If you've already got a steamer, you might as well try it that way, but I wouldn't spend the USD30-ish mine cost to get one on such flimsy evidence - unless you're seriously into 'belt + suspenders'.
FWIW, the zinc acetate losenges I get are from Life Extension: 18.75mg zinc acetate each. I have no connection with LE other than as a customer. Just mentioning this in case anyone wants to get some...