Cold Remedies

Its hard to find good relief for a cold

Its hard to find good relief for a cold. Before you select a cold medicine, learn more about the available treatment options -- what works and what doesnt -- so you can effectively treat your cold symptoms.

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms include nasal congestion, sore throat, cough and fever. The usual length of a cold is one to two weeks, but taking vitamins and natural supplements reduce the duration.

Cold for Remedy

1) Take the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C before and during a cold to reduce the duration of symptoms. According to the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), they recommend adult males consume 90 mg and females consume 75 mg of vitamin C per day, preferably from dietary sources, such as fruits and vegetables.

2) Take zinc supplements, lozenges or syrup at the first sign of a cold to reduce the length and severity of symptoms. Potential side effects include nausea and a bad taste in the mouth.

3) Take Echinacea in the early stages of a cold to reduce the duration by 1.4 days, according to studies published in The Lancet.

The common cold usually strikes adults about 2 to 4 times a year, while a child can experience up to 10, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Triggered by a virus, the scientific community has yet to discover how to prevent this extremely common affliction. Many natural treatments have a long history of use for combating colds and research indicates some of them might help reduce the duration of symptoms, though evidence has been mixed in many cases. Generally, most natural cold remedies do not pose any serious health risks, particularly since you use them for only a short time. Do not give children natural supplements without consulting with your pediatrician.

Vitamin C

1-Long hailed for its beneficial effects on the immune system, vitamin C has gained a strong reputation as a natural treatment for a cold. WebMD reports mixed evidence on its benefits for treating colds, but notes some studies have found it might lessen the duration of a cold by 24 to 36 hours. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that many studies only found symptom-reducing benefit in people who took vitamin C supplements regularly, not just when sick.

Zinc

1-Zinc lozenges are also commonly used to treat colds. Along with other vital functions such as promoting normal growth and development, zinc plays a large part in promoting healthy immunity. This supplement has been long studied for its effects on the common cold and has always produced mixed results.

2-According to a WebMD article last updated in December 2010, a recent review of 15 studies found it did reduce the duration of cold symptoms. It notes the different formulations used in different studies that might account for inconsistent results. The body most easily absorbs zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc glycerate and zinc monomethione.

by: Anand Midas

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