Zinc can be an 'effective treatment' for common colds

BBC ^ | February 15, 2011 | Michelle Roberts

[decimon]

Taking zinc syrup, tablets or lozenges can lessen the severity and duration of the common cold, experts believe.

A review of the available scientific evidence suggests taking zinc within a day of the onset of cold symptoms speeds recovery.

It may also help ward off colds, say the authors of the Cochrane Systematic Review that included data from 15 trials involving 1,360 people.

Now more work is needed to determine the exact dosing required, they say.

Adults catch between two to four colds a year and children up to 10 a year.

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There is no proven treatment for the common cold, but experts believe zinc medications may help prevent and lessen infections by coating the common cold viruses and stopping them from entering the body through the thin lining of the nose.

It also appears to stop the virus from replicating, at least in laboratory tests.

There is also the suggestion that zinc aids the immune system and may dampen down some of the unpleasant reactions the body has to an invading virus.

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[decimon]

Heavy metal ping.

[tophat9000]

Well DU! what do they think Zicam is?

[lacrew]

I don’t mess around with cold products that contain zinc...I buy bottles of zinc pills. Very effective....but I think Airborne was pulled, because there is a down side.

[Sacajaweau]

Cup of Honey and lemon "tea"...chicken soup...Steamy bathroom....

You want the cold "out"...drain those sinus'

The cough drops have Vit C now...worked great, tastes great, keeps everything moist and cheaper than buying Vit C.

[Daffynition]

Did the makers of Zicam approve of this story? //sarc

[Sacajaweau]

I have one cold every 20 years...and my friends seem to do the same...maybe because we’re older???

[Spudx7]

Gently swab my ears and nose with Hydrogen Peroxide every 2-4 hours...works every time and I haven’t had a cold last for more than a day or two for 2+ years.

[justsaynomore]

My favorite cold/flu remedy is the new Sambucus with zinc, echinea and elderberry :-)

[Radagast the Fool]

I’ve used zinc lozenges for years, and they do lessen the symptoms. I like the generic/drugstore version of “Cold Eez”.

Also like Celestial Seasonings “Lemon Zinger” tea and I add some honey. Great thing about this tea is there’s no caffeine so you can drink it all day and it won’t keep you awake(the cold might, but this tea won’t).

Yep, chicken soup and steamy bathroom help too.

[whattajoke]

Zicam is an interesting case. It's the only "homeopathic" product on the market that contains an actual ingredient other than sugar and water. But it still slips through the 1938(!) "homeopathic" FDA loophole (See here). Ironically, the makers of Zicam don't have to include any zinc if they don't want to - as all other homeopathic scammers do.

[Yaelle]

Vitamin d and c every day will keep you from catching any viruses, but if you get worn down enough, and still start to feel a tickle or pain in the throat, like you are coming down with something, take zinc lozenges and 500 mg vitamin c 3-4 x in the 24 and hit the bed. Extra sleep, lots of it, plus these supplements, and you might not break out in the virus. It often goes away before it starts.

[Elsiejay]

The gluconate form is said to be most effective, as in Cold-Eeze tablets.

[Daffynition]

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=101218

[umgud]

Knock on wood. I get about one cold every few years. Haven’t had the flu for more years than I can remember. No flu shots either.

[sueuprising]

“But it still slips through the 1938(!) “homeopathic” FDA loophole (See here). Ironically, the makers of Zicam don’t have to include any zinc if they don’t want to - as all other homeopathic scammers do.”
Very interesting link you have shared. Thanks. Also, I am not opposed to herbal remedies that the consumer concocts for himself, however, I resent large companies using the benign homeopathic label to mask actual drugs in their products. They come with a high price tag.

[justsaynomore]

SO true. My husband, one son and I all three take a good amt of Vit D daily (10K for adults, 5k for our son). My older son balks at the Vit D - takes it every now and then.

Well, guess who has gotten the flu this year, and several colds. At one point he was sick as a dog and the rest of us (with Vit D and Sambucus) got nothing more than sniffles.

[ExtremeUnction]

I could swear that zinc works sometimes for me, other times not. If I understand it correctly, it may only work on colds caused by the rhinovirus (it causes 50% of colds). This may explain why it doesn't always seem to work for me.

[bigbob]

That’s my result too. I figure it’s worth a try but never found a dramatic difference.

What absolutely does work is the Neti Pot. Once you get past the fact that you’re sloshing water up your nose, it provides instant relief from all kinds of sinus problems. Feels like it did as a kid when we’d try to inhale the swimming pool...

[Silentgypsy]

If I drink enough hot toddies, I don’t even remember the cold.