Back to our roots

Uh oh. There’s a tickle in the back of your throat and you’re feeling tired and run-down. It’s the dreaded cold and flu season.

No one likes being sick. And who has time these days to stay in bed, feeling miserable and cranky with a cold?

Unfortunately there is no cure for the common cold. And many people are still uncertain about the efficiency and safety of the flu shot. So how do you keep from catching the miserable things? And if you do catch one, how can you feel better without pouring teaspoons of chemicals down your throat?

There are natural remedies for the cold and flu available at any health food store or herb shop. What are these “natural remedies” and how do they work?

If you look on the “colds and flu” shelf at your local herb shop, you’re faced with a daunting number of bottles with names like Echinacea, goldenseal, zinc, and dong qian.

The most common natural remedy is Echinacea. For some time, people have used it to ward off colds. The herbal cure, Echinacea, has been around for a long time. Native Americans used it for everything from snakebite to coughs and colds. The Crow people used Echinacea juice to cure colds, and the Kiowa chewed on the roots to soothe sore throats.

Europeans began using the herb, which is really a flower, in the late 1880s, when John Uri Lloyd discovered its uses and became a loyal proponent.

Today, Echinacea is one of the most used herbal supplements in the United States. It is said to help stimulate the immune system, which helps the body fight off bacteria and viruses.

Indeed, lab tests on mice and test tube experiments prove that Echinacea doubles or triples germ-killing power. It increases white blood cells and other pathogen-fighting cells. But to date, few studies have been done on humans.

Anecdotal evidence abounds, but what do the experts think?

Dr. Kathi Kemper, holistic pediatrician, is skeptical. “The studies on the common cold failed to prove convincing evidence that it works,” she said. The Germans have done some research, she added, but she’s still waiting for more conclusive proof.

Dr. René Kronland, General M.D., disagrees. If Echinacea is taken early, she advised, it will work. “It’s not effective for maintenance, though,” she added. And research proves that after about ten days’ use, Echinacea loses its effectiveness completely.

Kronland takes 100 milligrams when she feels the first symptoms of a cold or the flu. “It wards it off at the pass,” she said.

The biggest concern most physicians have, Kemper said, is the lack of FDA regulation.

According to Crazy About Herbs, an herbal product distributor, there are nine different varieties of Echinacea plants. Only Echinacea angustifolia has really been proven to work to help alleviate colds or symptoms. The Germans, who have done the majority of research on this subject, imported seeds from the Echinacea purpurae plant, which is similar but probably doesn’t have the same efficacy as the first variety. And, Kemper adds, there is much lost in the manufacturing process, and you have to be careful. “You may not be buying what you think you’re buying,” she warned. Check labels, ask questions, and make sure to trust the person who is giving you the answers.

Echinacea can be taken in tablet form or as a tea. Most doctors recommend about 50 milligrams when you first feel that cold sneaking up on you.

Another common cold remedy is the zinc lozenge. The Handbook for Curing the Common Cold, a website run by George Eby, touts zinc lozenges as the “world’s only patented common cold cure.”

Kronland agrees that zinc lozenges are effective. “Taking 50 milligrams a day will suppress colds,” she said. “And if you don’t notice until the germs have settled in, take 100 milligrams. It shortens the duration of the symptoms, or blunts them completely.” Kronland takes zinc herself at the first indication of sickness.

And, of course, remember what mom always said about Vitamin C? “It’s worthwhile as a standby,” Kronland said. And it’s water soluble, so there’s no danger of excess buildup in your system. Vitamin C in tablet form is more concentrated than juice, but doesn’t have the flavor of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Visit your nearest herb shop or health food store for Echinacea tea, Vitamin C products, and zinc lozenges. They can help keep you safe from the nasty germs this season. But remember, there is no real cure for the common cold, except to lock yourself away from all human contact until spring arrives.