Canyon Ranch - Lenox
Is it feed a cold and starve a fever, or vice versa?
"No one can remember which is right, because neither works," says Janelle White, M.D.
Separating fact from fiction when it comes to the common cold is no easy task, but Dr. White offers commonsense advice for managing the illness that strikes Americans one billion times annually, wreaking special havoc from November through March.
First, a cold primer:
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Colds are not bacterial, so they can't be cured by antibiotics.
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Cold weather exposure doesn't cause colds.
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Frequent hand-washing can be effective in preventing colds.
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Treating the symptoms of a cold can help make you more comfortable while the virus runs its course, and timely treatment is key to the herbal philosophy.
"In general, herbs are most effective when taken when you feel the first symptom, whether it's nasal congestion or a scratchy throat. The faster you start your herbs, the faster you can get on top of the cold," she emphasizes.
Following basic health rules will also help reduce your viral down-time:
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Catch your Zs: Sleep for at least eight hours nightly.
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Just like Mom always told you: Eat a well-balanced diet.
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Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Increase your normal intake of 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of fluid by two glasses daily.
Immune system support
Dr. White's herbal Rx for the common cold begins with echinacea, which has been shown to reduce the average cold's duration by three days - an immense span of time to be miserable.
"Echinacea works primarily by stimulating the body's immune system. It also provides a little antibacterial activity, but its primary action is revving up the immune system to fight viral assault," she says.
At the onset of symptoms, Dr. White suggests a high dose - as directed - typically two capsules of freeze-dried extract or one dropperful of tincture four to five times daily for the first one to two days.
"This gives you an initial boost. You should taper down to three times daily thereafter," she explains.
Note to parents: Echinacea can be administered to children five and older. Simply adjust the standard dosage, which is typically calculated for a 150-pound adult. For example, if recommended dosage for an adult is one dropperful, a 75-pound child can take half of that. Children under five should not takes herbs, and people with auto-immune disorders (i.e. lupus, multiple sclerosis) should avoid products that affect the immune system.
As for prevention, Dr. White uses echinacea as a prophylactic - one dropper three times daily - when the entire household or office has come down with a cold.
Another tip? Don't fly without echinacea: The dry, recirculated air, proximity to many strangers and stress of air travel make planes the perfect environment for an enterprising virus. Take a dose the day before, the day of and the day after your next plane trip. (Do not, however, take echinacea for no reason - it will lose its effectiveness if you take it for an extended period.)
Another immune-booster: Fresh garlic.
"Research suggests that garlic helps stave off colds and flu. Of course, that may be because no one will come close to you."
White's recommended daily allowance? Two to four fresh, raw cloves daily. "It's easier to stomach if you take it with food. Evidence is less clear about whether or not the capsule form provides the same benefits for the immune system," Dr. White says.
Natural Help for Symptoms
If a cold does catch up with you, there are a number of herbs and supplements that may help. Dr. White recommends elderberry as an herbal antihistamine - follow directions on the label to relieve congestion.
The mineral zinc has gained a following as a cold antidote in the past five years. A 1996 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that zinc gluconate lozenges significantly reduced the duration of cold symptoms, but Dr. White says that a dosage of four mg five times daily is key.
"Most people make the mistake of not taking it at full dose, so they may not reap the benefits," explains Dr. White. Note: Consumption at full dosage for more than five days may impede absorption of other minerals.
Finally, you might want to consider a cocktail containing vitamin C, probably the best known and most controversial natural anti-cold remedy. While Dr. White acknowledges that theoretically vitamin C is important for immune function, there is no significant evidence that it actually helps conquer a cold. However, she does not discount the power of placebos.
"While I can't say 1,000 mg. of vitamin C three times daily will help you, we don't think it will hurt you, either. And sometimes if you think something is going to help, then it may. So if you believe vitamin C helps prevent or cure a cold, I say, 'Definitely, take your vitamin C.'"
Anything that helps is nothing to sneeze at.
