Remedy Realities

February 4, 2008

Cold and flu cures that actually work

Los Angeles, Calif, Feb. 4, 2008—Winter means cold and flu season. But should you really feed a cold and starve a fever? And even though chicken soup was your grandmother’s favorite remedy, will it really cure what ails you?

It turns out your grandmother may have been right after all, says Melissa Durham, Pharm D., community pharmacy resident at the USC School of Pharmacy.

“Chicken soup is great,” she says. “The steam from the soup helps to loosen and unclog mucus that could be causing congestion, and researchers have found that chicken soup actually reduces inflammatory chemicals in the body, which helps to soothe sore throat and other respiratory symptoms.”

Other common remedies such as Vitamin C, Echinacea and zinc may also help prevent illness. Powder mixes that contain concentrated amounts of vitamins C and B stimulate the immune system, provide energy and help the body deal with the stress of illness, she says. Taken at the first sign of a cold they can help prevent it from occurring or shorten the duration and severity of the illness.

However, once the cold is in full-force these remedies do little to help, she notes. The best way to alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu is to choose over-the-counter medications that treat specific symptoms.

“Read labels carefully to ensure that you are only getting the ingredients you need. Drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and eat healthy,” she advises.

One of the most common myths is that cold weather causes colds and flu. It’s not the temperature that makes you sick, Durham says. Illness is caused by microorganisms spread from person-to-person, and people get sick more often in the winter because they spend more time indoors and around others in close quarters.

“We close our homes to keep the cold out, but in turn we keep the germs in,” she notes. “The best way to prevent getting sick is to use common sense. Get a flu shot. Wash your hands and commonly touched items in your house often, avoid others who are sick, stay well-rested, eat healthy and exercise regularly.”