Just spent two weeks on the other side of the border from Munich, in Austria. The article is very accurate on over the counter meds - you can’t get what you are used to in US.
I caught a really nasty flu the first few days there and by end of the week was searching for something to ease the cough. The cough syrup I was able to buy tasted like rubber and did not contain the active ingredients you normally find in US. It sort of worked - better then nothing, but certainly did not really help the situation. Cough drops I was given plain did nothing for me. All was purchased in a local Apotheke and dispensed by a pharmacist.
Upon return to the US, I continued to struggle with the cough and finally gave up and when to a doctor. Sinus infection and antibiotics... so much for the non-drug way of healing.
There is certainly a difference between 'just' a flu and something worse (sinus infection, and so on).
The body notices when there is something more to it than just a flu.
That's the point were you get yourself a nice appointment at your 'Hausarzt' (family doctor, sounds wrong tbh) and let yourself check thoroughly. If somethings wrong, you'll get your medicine. If not, well just get yourself some rest. Our social systems and working rights give you the freedom to be ill for a long time and not needing to worry about losing your job.
Maybe in the US you are so used to getting your painkillers and hardcore medicine for a simple flu (, and so on) that you cannot withstand some pain.
Most dentists don't prescribe you painkillers or even antibiotics after a wisdom tooth removal, even if it was a operation and not just pulling it out. Yes it hurts as hell, but just stay at home for 3-5 days, get some rest and live happily ever after.
It's unclear cough medicines work at all, and if they do, it's probably only from the soothing effect of sticky liquid in your throat. In the UK the NHS recommends just making your own lemon and honey tea in favour of buying cough medicine [1].
Flu can certainly impair one's immune system and pave the way for an opportunistic bacterial infection, but in the general case, antibiotics do nothing for viral infection.
I caught a really nasty flu the first few days there and by end of the week was searching for something to ease the cough. The cough syrup I was able to buy tasted like rubber and did not contain the active ingredients you normally find in US. It sort of worked - better then nothing, but certainly did not really help the situation. Cough drops I was given plain did nothing for me. All was purchased in a local Apotheke and dispensed by a pharmacist.
Upon return to the US, I continued to struggle with the cough and finally gave up and when to a doctor. Sinus infection and antibiotics... so much for the non-drug way of healing.