By Marianne Wait
WebMD Feature
Finding a cure for the common cold has proven harder than paddling across the Pacific in a rowboat. Experts blame the fact that cold symptoms can be caused by more than 200 different viruses.
There may be no sure way to stop a cold in its tracks, but some things may work better than others.
Expert Picks
1. Zinc gluconate lozenges. Nothing is guaranteed to help shorten a cold, including zinc. But so far the evidence in favor of zinc is slightly stronger than the evidence behind other popular remedies.
“We found that zinc (lozenges or syrup) reduces the average duration of the common cold in healthy people, when taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms,” says a recent report from the Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit organization that publishes reviews of health research.
Experts recommend taking zinc for no longer than 5 days. Taking too much may upset your stomach and cause a bad taste in your mouth.
2. Nasal irrigation. Some studies suggest that using a form of nasal irrigation like the neti pot may help cold symptoms.
“The most complete way to flush the nose of bacteria-filled mucus, pollen, and dust is with saline solution and a neti pot,” says Tieraona Low Dog, MD. She's an expert in natural and botanical medicine. “You can use it several times per week during cold and flu season to keep nasal passages moist.”
Use distilled or sterile water when you use such products. And don’t overuse them. Daily use can rinse out too much “good” mucus, which protects against colds. Properly clean and thoroughly air-dry the neti pot after each use.
3. Pelargonium sidoides. You might not have heard of it, but Low Dog recommends this supplement, made from the South African geranium. One study found that it eased symptoms and shortened the length of colds. There are over-the-counter products that contain this supplement.
4. Hot ginger and lemon tea. “Ginger has antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity,” says Low Dog. “It soothes the throat and just makes you feel better.”
Other Popular Remedies: What to Know
Echinacea: According to Low Dog, Echinacea purpurea can help if taken at the first sign of a cold. But don’t expect miracles.
Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD, a professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has led clinical trials on the herb. He calls the overall results of more than 20 studies “inconclusive.” If echinacea helps prevent colds, “the degree of benefit is not large,” he says. It might stave off one in six colds, he estimates.
Vitamin C: “There have been more than 30 published studies on vitamin C, and a bunch suggest that there’s benefit both for prevention and treatment. But any honest review will have to say that a whole bunch of the studies were negative, and we don’t know why,” Barrett says.
source : Natural Cold Remedies: What to Know
