Cold Home Remedies Review

Fight it though we may, cold season is upon us. And with it comes the hoard of old wives' tales, folk remedies and herbal treatments that have developed by just about every culture that has ever faced the sniffles. Some of them are interesting and quite useful, some of them... aren't.

Disclaimer: The following is not intended to replace medical advice from a qualified doctor. The information provided represents the research surrounding various folk remedies. Herbs can have powerful and potentially dangerous interactions with other treatments and should only be taken under the direction of a qualified health care professional. Consult your doctor if you are sick.

Without further ado and in no particular order:

Echinacea
This native American herb is probably on of the most popular for preventing and treating the cold and other upper respiratory problems. Studies suggest, but do not prove, that the plant chemicals found within echinacea may support immune function, reduce inflammation, reduce pain, support hormone balance, kill viruses and have antioxidant effects.  By far, the most popular use of echinacea is to prevent and treat the common cold. And its effectiveness at that is up for debate.

It is incredibly hard to prove or disprove prevention. For example: I have had this computer, upon which I type these very words, for about 4 years now. In that time, I have never been mauled by a bear. Therefore, my computer must prevent bear attacks. And you can never convince me otherwise.

The same logic can be applied to the claim that echinacea shortens the duration of the cold. How do you know how long the cold was planning to stay?

Several studies have shown that drinking echinacea tea can help to reduce the severity of cold symptoms, but several others disagree. An analysis of the entire body of research published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded this way "Echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials differ greatly. There is some evidence that preparations based on the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea might be effective for the early treatment of colds in adults but results are not fully consistent. Beneficial effects of other Echinacea preparations, and for preventative purposes might exist but have not been shown in independently replicated, rigorous randomized trials."

Translation: It might work, it might not.

Zinc
Zinc has been included in cold remedies for years but the science behind it was always a bit dubious. Until now. A recent review of the research published in the Cochrane Library found that zinc lozenges appear to be beneficial for reducing the symptoms of the cold. But they can also cause nausea so use discretion.

The review did not include zinc-based nasal sprays in the review. These have been known to cause people to lose the ability to smell.

 Vitamin C
This little vitamin has gotten some big press over the years and has been touted as doing just about everything, including cure cancer. But even with all it's rabid supporters,there is no concrete proof that vitamin C prevents or treats the common cold.

Chicken Soup
Everybody knows this one. It's a classic. But it seems as though the ingredients in classic chicken soup have anti-inflammatory effects that can help to sooth the throat and nasal discomfort associated with the common cold. Chicken soup is also full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which promote overall health. And the psychological comfort derived from it shouldn't be overlooked either.