| The normal duration for a cold is 3-7 | | | | conditions. If someone wants to megadose safely |
| days, with symptoms occurring up to 10 days (1). For | | | | with vitamin A, they should consider using the much |
| influenza infection, the duration and symptoms are | | | | safer beta-carotene instead, since it is converted to |
| much more variable, duration lasting 7-14 days and | | | | vitamin A in the intestines as needed. Heavy smokers |
| symptoms lasting up to four weeks. If cold or flu | | | | and drinkers should notify their physician before |
| symptoms last longer than the above times, a person | | | | megadosing with beta-carotene. |
| may have contracted an opportunistic bacterial | | | | There is not consistent evidence |
| infection, and should notify their physician. There are | | | | that supplementing with vitamin C significantly |
| over 200 viral strains that can cause colds and | | | | reduces the incidence of the common cold (9). There |
| influenza (1), so vaccines have not been very | | | | are, however, isolated studies that do find some |
| successful, since they can often only target one | | | | reduction in cold incidence. When study subjects took |
| strain at a time. If you have a fever, or your mucus | | | | 0.6-1 gram of vitamin C every day, there was a |
| is dark yellow, green or brown, notify your physician. | | | | considerable reduction in common cold incidence (10). |
| Everyone with a cold or flu infection should drink | | | | Between 1971 and 1994, 21 different studies were |
| plenty of spring water, at least six glasses (48 oz.) | | | | performed that attempted to determine if vitamin C |
| per day. | | | | helped fight off colds or not. All 21 studies showed |
| Influenza and pneumonia together | | | | that vitamin C supplementation reduced the duration |
| have been the in the top 10 killers of Americans for | | | | of the common cold, and its severity was reduced |
| at least the last 100 years. Around 20,000 people die | | | | by an average of 23% (11). However, there was no |
| either directly or indirectly from the influenza virus. | | | | reduction in the incidence of the common cold with |
| There is a lot of hype about the Swine flu virus | | | | vitamin C supplementation. |
| lately, but as of this writing, the deaths caused in | | | | Zinc gluconate, ascorbate, |
| America by this particular strain of virus are more | | | | glycinate, and acetate are much more effective |
| than 100 times less than the average influenza death | | | | against colds and flu than zinc citrate or tartrate (12). |
| rate for all strains combined. Sometimes viruses cross | | | | It appears that zinc gluconate lozenges that are |
| the species barrier and infect other species that they | | | | unflavored, with no additional additives (ex. citrate), |
| normally cannot infect: this is true for the Human | | | | may be more effective against the common cold |
| Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which once only | | | | than flavored zinc lozenges (13). One of the side |
| infected monkeys as the Simian Immunodeficiency | | | | effects of zinc overdose may be loss of taste and |
| Virus (SIV). Fortunately, unlike HIV, the Swine Flu | | | | or smell, so do not supplement with more than 80 |
| virus and similar viral strains infect humans too quickly | | | | mg/day of zinc for more than a week at a time, and |
| to keep any infection momentum, and will burn | | | | no more than 50 mg/day of zinc between cold or flu |
| themselves out before long. | | | | infections. As you have read, there are many |
| For the common cold, there are a | | | | different natural remedies for cold and flu infections. |
| number of different treatments. Antihistamines are | | | | However, the key is to help prevent cold and flu |
| effective in reducing symptoms, but have side | | | | viruses from gaining a foothold in your respiratory |
| effects such as drowsiness. One study found that | | | | system, by exercising, eating healthy, minimizing |
| driving after taking the first-generation antihistamine | | | | stress, and taking the proper immune-boosting |
| Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can cause impairment | | | | supplements. |
| equivalent to driving drunk (2). Anticholinergics (ex. | | | | References: |
| nasal sprays) can also help cold symptoms, and the | | | | 1. Balch, P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Ed. |
| side effects are relatively mild (3). Alpha-adrenergic | | | | Avery Books/Penguin Putnam Inc., 2000. |
| agonists (stimulants) are powerful decongestants, but | | | | 2. Litin, S., ed. Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 3rd Ed. |
| their constant use can lead to drug tolerance, where | | | | New York, NY: HarperCollins Books, 2003. |
| withdrawal of the decongestant can lead to even | | | | 3. Hayden, FG, Diamond, L, Wood, PB, Korts, DC, |
| worse congestion. Tylenol, aspirin, and non-steroidal | | | | & Wecker, MT. (1996). Effectiveness and safety |
| anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as Ibuprofen can | | | | of intranasal ipratropium bromide in common colds: a |
| actually worsen common cold symptoms (4). | | | | randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. |
| The reason why hot chicken soup | | | | Annals of Internal Medicine, 125: 89-97. |
| may be helpful for colds is because it helps mucus | | | | 4. Graham, NMH, Burrel, CJ, Douglas, RM, Debelle, P, |
| flow out of the sinus and respiratory system | | | | & Davies, L. (1990). Adverse effects of aspirin, |
| (5). Some people use cayenne pepper to | | | | acetaminophen, and ibuprofen on immune function, |
| help clear their sinuses. Small amounts should be fine | | | | viral shedding, and clinical status in rhinovirus-infected |
| for this use, as long as someone is not allergic to the | | | | volunteers. J Infect Dis, 162: 1277-1282. |
| peppers. Steam inhalation to reduce cold symptoms | | | | 5. Feinstein, A. Healing with vitamins. Emmaus, PA: |
| gives inconsistent results (6). However, drinking | | | | Rodale Books, Inc., 1996. |
| plenty of water is always a good idea when | | | | 6. Forstall, GJ, MacKnin, ML, Yen-Lieberman, B, & |
| someone has a cold or the flu. Adequate hydration | | | | Medendorp, SV. (1994). Effect of inhaling heated |
| thins out the mucus and helps clear the virus from | | | | vapor on symptoms of the common cold. JAMA, 271: |
| the sinuses. There is some evidence that bovine | | | | 1109-1111. |
| colostrum reduces the incidence of upper respiratory | | | | 7. Brinkworth, G., & Buckley, J. (2003). |
| tract infections, such as the cold and flu (7). Bovine | | | | Concentrated bovine colostrums protein |
| colostrum is the pre-milk produced from a cow that | | | | supplementation reduces the incidence of |
| has just given birth. Pregnant and nursing women | | | | self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract |
| should not take this supplement, nor should anyone | | | | infection in adult males. European Journal of Nutrition, |
| with cancer or with a high risk of developing cancer. | | | | Vol. 42(4): 228-232. |
| There are a few different | | | | 8. Mainous III, AG, Hueston, WJ, & Clark, JR. |
| medications now to reduce the duration and severity | | | | (1996). Antibiotics and upper respiratory infection: do |
| of influenza. However, these drugs have side effects, | | | | some folks think there is a cure for the common |
| including difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and | | | | cold? J Fam Pract, 42: 357-361. |
| dizziness (2). If someone decides to get a flu shot, | | | | 9. Reavley, N. The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, |
| they should demand information about whether the | | | | Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs. New York, NY: M. |
| vaccine contains thimerosal or not. Thimerosal is a | | | | Evan & Co., 1998. |
| vaccine preservative that contains 50% mercury. | | | | 10. Hemila, H., (1996). Vitamin C and common cold |
| Mercury is a well-known neurotoxin, among other | | | | incidence; a review of studies with subjects under |
| things. Some people like to take antibiotics whenever | | | | heavy physical stress. Int J Sports Med, Jul 17(5): |
| they feel ill. However, antibiotics kill only bacteria, not | | | | 379-383. |
| viruses. And yet 60% of patients with common cold | | | | 11. Hemila, H. (1994). Does vitamin C alleviate the |
| symptoms received an antibiotic at the clinic anyway | | | | symptoms of the common cold?---A review of |
| (8). | | | | current evidence. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious |
| Vitamin C and Zinc are highly | | | | Diseases, 26(1): 1-6. |
| recommended to help prevent colds and flu. There is | | | | 12. Mossad, SB, MacKnin, ML, Medendorp, SV, & |
| more mixed evidence about whether these two | | | | Mason, P. (1996). Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating |
| supplements actually decrease the duration and | | | | the common cold. A randomized, double-blind, |
| severity of colds and flu. Some practitioners | | | | placebo-controlled study. Annals of Internal Medicine, |
| recommend megadosing with vitamin A, often | | | | 125(2): 81-88. |
| 50,000-100,000 IU/day, but this amount can be toxic | | | | 13. Eby, G. (1998). Where’s the bias? Annals of |
| to some people, especially if they have any liver | | | | Internal Medicine, 128(1): 75. |