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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Various herbs and supplements are popular for preventing or relieving colds, but scientific support is uneven for most. Here's an update on some popular choices:

  • Zinc. A comprehensive analysis of clinical-trial data on zinc and colds concluded that zinc actually appears to be beneficial. The conclusion comes with a few caveats. Researchers haven't determined the most effective formulation, dose or duration of zinc treatment for colds. Zinc lozenges can leave a bad taste in your mouth, and some trial participants reported nausea as a side effect of the lozenges. Zinc-based nasal sprays, not included in the recent, positive analysis, pose a different problem. The FDA warns that these products can take away your sense of smell, possibly for good.
  • Vitamin C. It appears that for the most part taking vitamin C won't help the average person prevent colds. However, taking vitamin C at the onset of cold symptoms may shorten the duration of symptoms.
  • Echinacea. Studies on the effectiveness of echinacea at preventing or shortening colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show a significant reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. One reason study results have been inconclusive may be that the type of echinacea plant and preparation used from one study to the next have varied considerably. Research on the role of echinacea in treating the common cold is ongoing. In the meantime, if your immune system is healthy and you are not taking prescription medications, using echinacea supplements is unlikely to cause harm.
Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. Turner RB. The common cold. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 76th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00053-9&uniq=212417556&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=1032726390. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  2. Friedman ND, et al. The common cold in adults: Diagnosis and clinical features. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  3. Pappas DE, et al. The common cold in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  4. Overview of common cold. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/colds.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  5. Symptom relief. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/symptom-relief.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  6. Public health advisory: FDA recommends that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products not be used for infants and children under 2 years of age. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm051137.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  7. Friedman ND, et al. The common cold in adults: Treatment and prevention. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  8. Ross SM. An integrative approach to rhinosinusitis in children. Holistic Nursing Practice. 2009;23:302.
  9. Cough suppressant and pharmacologic protussive therapy: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Northbrook, Ill.: The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=8675&nbr=4840&ss=6&xl=999.
  10. Bukutu C, et al. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: The common cold. Pediatrics in Review. 2008;29:e66.
  11. What to do in a medical emergency: Fever. American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/EmergencyManual/WhatToDoInMedicalEmergency/Default.aspx?id=242&terms=fever. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
  12. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 8, 2010.
  13. Bauer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 13, 2010.
  14. Singh M, et al. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011:CD001364.
DS00056 Feb. 22, 2011

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