NATURAL HELP FOR SHOPPERS WITH COLDS & FLU
With the increased attention on the cold-and-flu season this year has predictably come stronger claims on both ends of the treatment spectrum: from those who cling fervently to favorite remedies that may or may not be supported by research, to conservative practitioners who dismiss anything but flu shots and decongestants as a waste of time and money.
As might be expected, for many people the answer lies somewhere in between: There’s simply too much research to completely dismiss some traditional remedies, but not enough to call any one treatment an actual “cure.” And keep in mind, that sometimes “a lack of evidence” means that a treatment has simply not been studied, but traditional use may suggest benefit.
However, all of the remedies below remain well supported ways to deal with cold-and-flu season so you can confidently share these much-talked about natural supplements that may help shorten the life of a cold or flu and get shoppers back on their feet.
- Vitamin C—Studies have shown a higher-than-normal dose of 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day may make your cold shorter and milder.
- Echinacea—At the onset of a cold or flu, 3 to 4 ml of echinacea in a liquid preparation or 300 mg of a powdered form in capsule or tablet can be taken every two hours for the first day of illness, then three times per day for a total of seven to ten days.
- Zinc lozenges—Lozenges containing zinc gluconate, zinc gluconate-glycine, or zinc acetate, providing 13 to 25 mg every two hours, may help slow the cold virus and shorten the illness. (Avoid zinc sprays, however, as recent reports confirm that they may sometimes seriously damage sense of smell.)
You can show your shoppers with assurance our articles on each of these remedies under Vitamins and Herbs, along with other Cold and Flu articles in Health Conditions for even more support.
Tags: cold and flu, echniaea, fight colds, fight flu, healthnotes, natural remedy, natural treatment, supplements, vitamin C, zinc
