Colds
Colds
29 Remedies to Win the Battle
At one time or another, every one of us succumbs to the common cold. The bravest, the strongest, the sweetest, the smartest—our virtues matter not to these viruses as they set about reducing us to coughing, sneezing shadows of our former selves.
Worse yet, there's no cure. Antibiotics, champs at knocking out bacterial infections, are down for the count against cold viruses. So we sniffle on bravely, maybe take a cold pill or two, and hope the symptoms will disappear in the customary week or so.
But there's actually a lot more we can do to get through a cold more comfortably, say doctors who specialize in self-care medicine. Some remedies, they say, may even help us overcome a cold more quickly. Here are the best remedies the experts have to offer.
Take C and see. "Vitamin C works in the body as a scavenger, picking up all sorts of trash—including virus trash," says Keith W. Sehnert, M.D., a physician with Trinity Health Care in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "It can shorten the length of a cold from seven days to maybe two or three days."
MEDICAL ALERT
It Could Be More Than a Cold If your cold is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms, see your doctor. Your problem may be a more serious disorder than the common cold. - Fevers that remain above 101°F for more than three days, or any fever above 103°F. Children with high fevers should see a doctor within 24 hours.
- Any hot, extreme pain, such as earache, swollen tonsils, sinus pain, or aching lungs or chest.
- Excessively large amounts of sputum, or sputum that is greenish or bloody.
- Extreme difficulty swallowing.
- Excessive loss of appetite.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
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Vitamin C may also cut back on coughing, sneezing, and other symptoms. In a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin, cold sufferers taking 500 milligrams of vitamin C four times per day suffered about half as many symptoms as those not taking the vitamin.
Short-term use of such high doses shouldn't cause any side effects, says Dr. Sehnert. But you should get your doctor's okay before starting any supplement program. Better yet, simply get your additional vitamin C by drinking it. Orange, grapefruit, and cranberry juices are rich sources of vitamin C.
Zap it with zinc. Sucking on zinc lozenges can cut colds short, to an average of four days, researchers in Great Britain and the United States have discovered. Zinc can also dramatically reduce symptoms such as a dry, irritated throat, says Elson Haas, M.D., director of the Marin Clinic of Preventive Medicine and Health Education in San Rafael, California. "It doesn't work for everyone, but when it works, it works," he says.
The down side is that zinc has an unpleasant taste. There are, however, lozenges on the market that contain honey and/or citrus that are a lot easier to swallow. But do not take more than the amount recommended by your doctor. Zinc can be toxic in large doses.
The Cold Truth So you've got a cold that won't let go, and you'd love to know just who or what to blame? Eliot Dick, Ph.D., a virologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has conducted research for more than 30 years on how colds are transmitted, says a lot of suspects have been taking a bum rap. They include: - Sharing food or beverages with someone with a cold
- Kissing someone with a cold
- Not bundling up against the cold
- Sitting in a draft
- Stepping outside with a wet head
The real carrier, of course, is a virus transmitted through the air, says Dr. Dick. You can catch it, he says, when a cold sufferer coughs, sneezes, or does a sloppy job of blowing his nose, sending the virus floating into your path. |
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Be positive. A positive attitude about your body's ability to heal itself can actually mobilize immune system forces, says Martin Rossman, M.D., a general practitioner in Mill Valley, California. He teaches this theory by getting his patients to practice imagery techniqeus to combat colds. After bringing yourself into a deeply relaxed state, "imagine a white tornado decongesting your stuffed-up sinuses," he suggests, "or an army of microscopic maids cleaning up germs with buckets of disinfectant."
Rest and relax. Extra rest enables you to put all your energy into getting well. It can also help you avoid complications like bronchitis and pneumonia, says Samuel Caughron, M.D., a family practitioner specializing in preventive medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Take a day or two off from work if you're feeling really bad, he advises. At the very least, slow down in your everyday activities and reschedule your time. "Trying to keep up with your regular routine can be draining because when you're not feeling well, your concentration is down and you'll probably need to double the amount of time it's going to take you to do things," he says.
Turn out the party lights. When you're sick, parties and other good times can wear you out physically, compromising your immune system and causing your cold to linger, says Timothy Van Ert, M.D., a physician in San Francisco and Saratoga, California, specializing in self-care and preventive medicine. Let the good times roll right on by until you feel better.
Warm up. Keep bundled up against the cold, advises Dr. Sehnert. This keep your immune system cozily focused on fighting your cold infection instead of displacing energy to protect you from the cold.
Take a walk. Mild exercise improves your circulation, helping your immune system circulate infection-fighting antibodies, says Dr. Sehnert. "Jump on a gentle rebounder indoors for 15 minutes or take a brisk half-hour walk," he suggests. But refrain from strenuous exercise, he warns, which could wear you out.
Feed a cold—lightly. The very fact that you have a cold in the first place may point to your eating "too congesting a diet" that puts a strain on your body's metabolism, says Dr. Haas. Counteract it, he advises, by eating fewer fatty foods, meat and milk products, and more fresh fruit and vegetables.
Sip chicken soup. A long-time folk remedy is now a proven fact. A cup of hot chicken soup can help unclog your nasal passages. Researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach found that hot chicken soup, either because of its aroma or its taste, "appears to possess an additional substance for increasing the flow of nasal mucus." These secretions—what comes out when you blow your nose or sneeze—serve a first line of defense in removing germs from your system, the researchers say.
Load up on liquids. Drink six to eight glasses of water, juice, tea, and other mostly clear liquids daily, advises Dr. Sehnert. This will replace important fluids lost during a cold and help flush out impurities that may be preying on your system.
Butt out. Smoking aggravates a throat that may already feel irritated from a cold, says Dr. Caughron. It also interferes with the infection-fighting activity of cilia, the microscopic "fingers" that sweep bacteria out of your lungs and throat. So if you can't kick the habit for good, at least do it while you've got a cold.
Soothe with saltwater. Relieve an irritated throat by gargling morning, noon, and night—or whenever it hurts most, Dr. Van Ert advises. Fill a glass with warm water and mix in 1 teaspoon of salt.
Sip a hot toddy. Clear your stuffed-up nose and help yourself to a good night's sleep by drinking a "hot toddy" or half a glass of wine before bedtime, suggests Dr. Caughron. But more alcohol than that can stress your system, he says, making recovery from illness more difficult.
Get yourself in hot water. Taking a steamy shower can help clear congestion, says Kenneth Peters, M.D., an internist specializing in self-care and chronic pain in Mountain View, California. Or heat a teakettle or pot of water to boiling on your stove, turn off the flame, drape a towel in a tent over your head and the kettle, and inhale the steam until it subsides. This also relieves your cough by moistening your dry throat, he says.
Go for the grease. Relieve a nose raw from blowing by applying a lubricating layer of petroleum jelly around and slightly inside your nostrils with a cotton swab, suggests Dr. Peters.
Medicate at night. Numerous medications for colds are available without a prescription. Some treat specific symptoms. Others, like Nyquil and Contac, contain a combination of drugs—plus alcohol, in some cases—aimed at treating a wide range of symptoms. These combination drugs, however, can have many uncomfortable side effects like nausea and drowsiness, says Dr. Van Ert. "I recommend that these be taken only at night, since you won't feel the side effects while you're sleeping."
He says that if you need to take medications during the day, take only those that treat the symptoms you're suffering from. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, he advises, and give children only a child-size dose. Here's what to reach for.
- For relief of the body aches or fever that can accompany a cold take aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). But do not give aspirin to children under the age of 21. What you think is a cold may actually be flu or chickenpox, and research has shown that aspirin taken by children with certain viral infections such as these can increase their risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a relatively rare but potentially fatal disease of the brain and liver. The same goes for cold medications containing aspirin. They include Alka-Seltzer Plus cold medication tablets. Bayer children's cold tablets, Bristol Myers 4-Way cold tablets, Pepto-Bismol tablets and liquid, and St. Joseph's aspirin for children.
- To stop sneezing and dry up your runny nose and watery eyes, take an antihistamine, which blocks your body's release of histamine, a chemical that causes these symptoms. Look for products like Chlor-Trimaton, Polaraimine, Dimetane and Actidil, advises Diane Casdorph, R.Ph., a clinical instructor at the Drug Information Center of West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. Warning: Antihistamines frequently cause drowsiness, so save these for bedtime or at least for when you won't be driving or doing anything that requires coordination.
- To unstuff your nose, take a decongestant. Look for products that contain the active ingredients phenylproponalamine, phenylephrine, or pseudoephedrine, says Casdorph. Try Sudafed, Actifed, Dristan, Aspirin-free Congespirin or Contac.
- Nasal sprays and drops such as Afrin, Neosynephrine, and Coricidin are also effective decongestants. But they shouldn't be used for longer than three days, says Dr. Peters. Overuse can result in a "rebound effect," meaning your rebellious nose gets seriously stuffed up all over again.
The Alternate Route
Herbs and Teas Certain herbs and teas contain special properties that are natural antagonists against colds, according to two doctors who recommend them to their patients. Goldenseal and echinacea. "I recommend herb capsules such as goldenseal and echinacea at the early onset of a cold," says Elson Haas, M.D. Goldenseal, he says, stimulates your liver, whose partial job is to clear up infections. It also strengthens the ailing mucous membranes in your nose, mouth, and throat. Echinacea cleans your blood and lymph glands, he says, which help circulate infection-fighting antibodies and remove toxic substances. Try one or two capsules of each twice a day for up to two weeks. Garlic. This familiar herb has an antibiotic effect, says Dr. Haas. "It can actually kill germs and clear up your cold symptoms more rapidly." He recommends two to three oil-free garlic capsules three times a day. Herb teas can be just as effective, says Timothy Van Ert, M.D. Here's his prescription. Licorice root tea. Dr. Van Ert says that this tea has an anesthetizing effect that soothes irritated throats and relieves coughs. Drink it daily. Other teas. For a good night's sleep, brew a cup of hops or valarian herb teas or Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea, all of which have a natural tranquilizing effect. For even better results, he suggests that you add a teaspoon of honey, a simple carbohydrate that will have a sedative effect. Monolaurian. This fatty acid, available in capsule form, has been shown in research to have an antiviral effect, says Dr. Van Ert, helping the immune system gear up in the battle against the cold virus. He recommends two capsules three times a day, taken with some food. |
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- To relieve a cough, try cough drops and syrups. Look for a product that contains cough-suppressing antitussives such as dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, or noscapine, says Casdorph. These include Vicks Cough Silencers cough drops and Robitussin cough syrup.
- Lozenges can also combat coughs. Many of them contain topical anesthetics that slightly numb your sore throat, says Dr. Van Ert, which relieves your need to cough. Sucrets, Cepacol, Cepastat or Spec-T sore throat decongestant lozenges are among them.
- Menthol or camphor rubs have a soothing, cooling effect and may relieve congestion and help you breathe more easily, especially at bedtime. Apply Vics VapoRub or a similar product to your bare chest, cover up, and get a good night's sleep.
Don't spread your germs. When you need to cough, go ahead and cough. When you need to blow your nose, go ahead and blow. But cough and sneeze into disposable tissues instead of setting germs free in the environment, Dr. Van Ert advises, then promptly throw the tissue away and wash your hands. Your healthy friends and family who want to stay that way will appreciate it.
PANEL OF ADVISERS
Diane Casdorph, R.Ph., is a clinical instructor of pharmacy at the Drug Information Center of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in Morgantown.
Samuel Caughron, M.D., is a family practitioner specializing in preventive medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Elliot Dick, Ph.D., is a virologist and professor of preventive medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has conducted research on the common cold for more than 30 years.
Elson Haas, M.D., is the director of the Marin Clinic of Preventive Medicine and Health Education in San Rafael, California, and author of the book Staying Healthy with the Seasons.
Kenneth Peters, M.D., is an internist specializing in self-care and chronic pain in Mountain View, California.
Martin Rossman, M.D., is a general practitioner in Mill Valley, California, and author of Healing Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Health through Imagery.
Keith W. Sehnert, M.D., is a physician with Trinity Health Care in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and author of several books, including Selfcare/Wellcare and How to be Your Own Doctor . . . Sometimes.
Timothy Van Ert, M.D., is in private practice in San Francisco and Saratoga, California, where he specializes in self-care and preventive medicine.
