avoid herbal remedies, until after the surgery. the best cure for a cold is to hide in bed, asleep or just half asleep doesn't matter. just stay there and relax. and relax. tell any anxiety to stay away, and only come back after you leave for the surgery.
if you have work or school, attend. but get in bed as soon as you get home. and make sure to eat healthy food. without spices that the doctors say you should avoid. like garlic and ginger. i'm not sure if chili is on that list. if it isn't, eat more of that.
when i can just get in bed early enough, a beginning cold will be gone within two days at the most. do nothing stressful at all. and make sure you always keep warm. wear thick scarf and wool sweater when leaving bed. a good natural remedy for itchy or sore throat, is to smear on some camphor oil. very thinly, and only twice a day. it works like magic, much better than any type of pain killers (i can't give you any guarantees though, that would probably be unethical). hopefully it's permitted to mention a natural remedy like this, or some mod will have to correct me.