[Greenleaves]

I feel a cold coming on, my throat feels weird.

I started taking 950mg of liquid echinacea 3 times a day.

What else can I do to prevent my cold?

Vitamin C? Chicken soup?

[silver_queen]

As far as I know, when a cold is coming on, nothing can be done to stop it. Taking a high dose of vitamin C (1000mg/day) helps to boost your immune system so that can increase your resistance to colds and other illnesses.

[Greenleaves]

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As far as I know, when a cold is coming on, nothing can be done to stop it.

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Hmmm...for me it is different. Many times I've felt a cold coming on, but it just never came on. I've not had a real cold in a really long time.

I think the echinacea helped me, or maybe I just fought it off before it took hold.

[Greenleaves]

One of my professors who does research into the medicinal properties of plants told us that echinacea contains powerful immunostimulants.

He really knows his plant biochemistry so I trust that echinacea really does do something.

I'm just wondering if there are any other plants useful for preventing colds.

Thanks for the vitamin C tip.

[dottie]

I buy nasal saline solution. I use it according to the directions on the bottle. HELPS to flush out viruses before they have a chance to take root. I have been cold free for almost 30 years.

[h0kie]

My mom's friend swears by Zicam. I can't squirt stuff up my nose (ew) so I don't use it.

Airborne is also good from what I have heard. Not sure if it is sold in Canada though.

[ErinBear]

Well, this may not help much at the moment if you've already caught a cold - but washing hands frequently, and not touching your face/mouth/nose when you're out helps a lot. I've been washing my hands much more in recent years and have caught very few colds. I also make a point of not touching my face when I'm out - if I"m on the bus, for instance, I remember to keep my hands down. It really seems to help. My colds have gone down dramatically.....

Take care,
ErinBear

[jammerlich]

Zicam also comes in other forms - there's a tablet you suck on and there is also a spray that you put on your gums. I've found that it works very well, but you need to start it ASAP

[Greenleaves]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I don't have a cold yet!

[PetulantWolf]

i heard Zinc works too. they make ones that you suck on. in the cough drop aisle.

[wi_fighter]

Zicam comes in a swab form now, too. So if you aren't into the spray stuff, you use a Q-tip jobbie. They're preloaded, so you just break one open and dab away.

A friend of mine swears by zinc and large doses of vitamin C. They're both water soluble, so whatever your body can't use, it flushes out. No worries of taking too much.

[(JD)]

Plenty of herbs can help waylay a bad cold... echinacea is a good one... vitamine c (like a gram a day) is good and your body throws off excess Vitamin C, and have you seen that new product a teacher made up..of all sorts of germ fighting herbs?

Air out the house, fresh air is good, stale air is not. Use those bacterial wipes... clean the doorknobs, surfaces... (I do the steering wheel, and use one to press elevator buttons, open doctor's office doors etc ) I don't do this all the time, but when I'm feeling weak... and vulnerable like you are feeling right now., drink more water....

Have you tried Halls or Chloroseptic spray? Oh... get a new toothbrush too... no reason to be giving yourself your own germs right back

Rest and chicken soup sounds good to me too. Feel better.

[wi_fighter]

I'd carry around a mini bottle of sanitizing gel too. And don't share pens. I notice every time I've been holed up at home working, and everyone else has been out and around other people, they're getting colds and I'm not. Then I'll go shopping, have to use a store pen, and BAM, I get cold symptoms a couple days later.

Of course I never do either of those two things because I don't think about it until after the fact.

[h0kie]

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_Sky said:
have you seen that new product a teacher made up..of all sorts of germ fighting herbs?

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It's called Airborne.

I thought about taking the echinacea but when I asked my doctor about it he told me colds are virus not bacterial so nothing will prevent them but things like freguent hand washing expecially when sneezing, coughing or being around people who are keeps the persons natural immune system up so that they are less likely to catch colds, not getting over tired by making sure the person gets at least 7-8 hours sleep a night also help the bodys natural immune system as does a properly balanced diet that is right for the person that will keep all the vitamins, minerals and blood counts where they should be, 64 fluid ounces of plain water a day also helps to flush the body and keeps the cells growing and producing virus and bacterial fighting white blood cells. He said echinacea shouldnt be taken by people who already have a good blood count for vitamins, minerals and other blood counts because it changes the rate of production on red blood cells. too many causes certain blood deseases and too little causes another kind of blood deseases. those with certain health problems or conditions like pregnancy, anemia and cancer should not be taking echinacea or any other over the counter medications with out consulting with the physician first. Thanks for the idea though.

[LMo]

Actually, I just read earlier this morning that there is no proof that echinacea works.

Echincacea

no it doesnt work for colds what it does is boosts the red blood cell count. Colds are fought by the white blood cells not the red. By boosting the red blood cells with this without a doctor keeping track the person can accidentally cause their bodys to produce too many red blood cells causing themselves other health porblems.

[(JD)]

Aren't most of those studies done by medical ppl who have vested interests in prescription drugs? (or done by drug companies themselves!)

Maybe herbs helps keep your immune system healthy, thus helping prevent illness? I've sipped green tea for a long time.. and just now are they "jumping on the band wagon" and selling the goodness of it.

Good point, ((myself)) about before taking anything any herb etc.. ask the pharmacist if it will conflict with something else you're taking. Herbs can be potent helpers, or hinderers.

[LMo]

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Aren't most of those studies done by medical ppl who have vested interests in prescription drugs? (or done by drug companies themselves!)

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good point... don't know...

[Gemstone]

Another thing to remember is there is no regulation on herbal suppliments in the US. In a lot of other countries they are regulated, but in the US there is nothing illegal about selling an "herbal suppliment" that contains no active ingredients.

I think there is a lot to be said for natural solutions, but you have to be able to trust your sources. A bottle of suppliments from your neighborhood pharmacy is not trustworthy.