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Warding off the winter ills
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| By: Anita Zimmerman |
January 14, 2009 |
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It's cold and flu season, and every surface is awash in germs.
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The common cold is infamously incurable, and everyone knows rest and increased fluid intake are the doctor's orders-but studies show alternative approaches could be gaining ground.
Prevention
The best preventative measures for escaping seasonal sickness remain the same: frequent hand washing and surface scrubbing, regular exercise, adequate rest and a healthy diet.
* Echinacea: Opinions still vary on the curative properties of the purple coneflower. In June 2007, five pharmacists published a meta-analysis of 14 studies and concluded that taking echinacea reduced by 58 percent one's odds of catching a cold and reduced the duration of the cold by 1.4 days.
Of course, not every study has met with those conclusions. Even the benefits of the trifecta zinc, vitamin C and echinacea are more fable than fact, many doctors believe. Still, Mayo Clinic's Web page mentions all three as alternative treatments for the common cold, and since there's no cure, there isn't much to lose.
* Diehard dieters should sit out the winter. A study published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition shows mice on calorie-restricted diets were more likely to die in the early stages of influenza than mice without dietary restrictions.
Although both groups of mice were given the same vitamins, scientists concluded the "dieting" mice's natural killer cells, which fight off infections, were impaired, leading to an increase in the length and severity of influenza.
* The old adage "feed a cold, starve a fever" is hogwash, most doctors would argue, but in an isolated study published in 2002, a group of Dutch scientists found eating a meal provoked the immune response necessary to stave off viruses, while only drinking water stimulated the response needed to fight bacterial infections. Since the study has never been replicated, it isn't considered reliable.
* Eat your yogurt: While research on individual supplements is sketchy, probiotics-good bacteria found naturally in fermented foods-have proven effective in reducing the incidence and duration of cold and flu symptoms in athletes. In one 2007 study, doctors at the Australian Institute of Sport found distance runners had symptoms for a total of 30 days while ingesting probiotics, compared to 72 days on a placebo.
Remedies
* Honey: For children over 1 year old, one teaspoonful of honey before bed soothes irritated throats better than cough medicine, one study found. Hot water with lemon and honey is the equivalent for adults.
* Elderberry extract: Interestingly, an article published in the Journal of International Medical Research in 2004 cited elderberry's antiviral properties. In one study, participants with the flu who took the extract Sambucol were symptom-free in two days, compared to six days or more for participants who didn't take elderberry. It's safe for children and elders and has no known side effects.
* WebMD reports that garlic "appears to have antimicrobial and immune-stimulating properties" that complement chicken soup's (also debated) anti-inflammatory and decongestive effects. Other simple eats with decongestive properties: ginger, chili peppers and horseradish.
* Salt, dissolved in warm water and gargled, eases sore throat pain. Scientific studies support the effectiveness of using saline solution (1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 8 ounces water, according to WebMD) to clear out and moisturize nasal passages, remove viral and bacterial particles and slow running noses.
* Steam, via humidifier or a bowl of hot water, relieves congestion, just like grandma said.
When to go in
"Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between seasonal influenza and the common cold. There's no clear criteria as to when parents should take their children in," says Chetek School District nurse Sandy Damroth.
However, there are signs when the common cold slips into a more serious condition, she adds. Difficulty breathing, changes in alertness, a "gunky" cough, facial or ear pain and a fever of more than 100 degrees are all indicators. Sufferers should also consult a medical professional any time symptoms persist for longer than 10 days.
"It's always appropriate to get a flu shot every year," Damroth points out. The vaccine isn't always a perfect match for the season's pervasive viruses-the three strains included in the vaccine are an educated guess on which bugs will be floating around-but it's recommended by the Center for Disease Control for children from 6 months to 18 years in age.
If kids seem to be sick all the time, it's because they're exposed to a lot of viruses at schools and day cares, Damroth adds. In time, slight sickness begets strength, because "exposure helps to build the immune system."
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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Jeff Chamberlain |
Jan, 19 2009 |
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Something worth mentioning is that it looks like Buckwheat honey is the only honey that has been well studied for children’s cold and cough.
There are some good reasons why researchers are using buckwheat honey: It is darker and has more antioxidant properties (from phenolics, peptides, organic acids, enzymes, Maillard reaction products, and possibly other minor components) than other honey’s.
There is a web site that does a good job of bringing together the scientific research on this. There it has a lot of links directly referencing well respected scientific articles. Check out http://www.honeydontcough.com/
Currently, “Honey Don’t Cough” is the only company packaging 100 ure Buckwheat Honey in ready-to-use packets for children. A growing number of pharmacies are providing “Honey don’t Cough,” it is available on Amazon.com.
-Daddydoctor
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