Prevent Colds Vitamin C offers little help

Home remedies help the body resist colds

24/01/2012

Although the winter has come with moderate temperatures so far, many people are currently suffering from a cold and a cough. During the cold, many people try to protect themselves with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from infection, but this apparently has much less effect than previously thought.

Vitamin C has always been considered a particularly effective weapon against cold and cough, but has significantly fewer cold-preventing effects than generally attributed to it. This is the conclusion reached by researchers led by Harri Hemilä from the University of Helsinki, who evaluated examinations of more than 11,000 people worldwide for the independent medical network Cochrane Collaboration. Vitamin C can neither prevent nor reduce cold and cough, which is why it „It simply does not make sense to take vitamin C 365 days a year, just to reduce the risk of runny nose“, emphasized Harri Hemilä. Instead, home remedies such as the nasal douche with saline solution or zinc intake should be used.

Vitamin C does not help with cough and runny nose
The first reaction of sufferers to signs of a cold is often the preparation of a hot lemon due to the high vitamin C content of citrus fruits. For the same reason kiwi, black currants and sea buckthorn are used against colds. In addition, today many people resort to a vitamin pill, which they take dissolved in water to counteract the cough and runny nose. But all these methods are apparently no effect, according to the Finnish researchers. Because Vitamin C does not hold in terms of the colds, what most people promise. As an alternative, pharmacies offer numerous remedies that promise a quick cure. But also various home remedies can convince in the treatment of colds and also have a preventive effect against the cold and cough.

Nasal irrigation for colds particularly effective
The nasal rinsing with saline solution has proved to be particularly effective against colds. This method, which is also known as a nasal douche, is considered a secret tip by many doctors for avoiding colds. The nasal douche strengthens the self-cleaning function of the nasal mucosa. The mucous membranes are kept moist, so that possible pathogens can be better warded off. Clogged noses can be avoided in this way as far as possible. Although most people have difficulties with running the lukewarm salty water through their nose when they first use it, using it with the right temperature of the water and the correct concentration of the saline solution is by no means unpleasant. The effect of the nasal irrigator, the now-defunct physician of the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Thomas Schmidt, a few years ago to Bundeswehr recruits examined and found that nasal rinses reduce the risk of a cold measurably. As part of the investigation, a group of volunteer Bundeswehr recruits had regularly flushed their nose over a period of six weeks, while the peer group abstained from cold-prevention measures. Despite the initial skepticism, most recruits described the nasal shower as a pleasant experience, but it was important „the right isotonic salt concentration“ to use.

Zinc can protect against colds
Another effective method for cold prevention is, according to the Indian pediatrician Meenu Singh, the intake of zinc. The research team led by Meenu Singh has analyzed the data from 15 previous studies involving more than 1,360 study participants in a metastatic study and has found clear positive effects of zinc. According to the Indian researchers, study participants who took zinc-containing lozenges, capsules or juices on the first day of cold symptoms could have been far more effective in combating their cold than subjects in control groups. Accordingly, zinc supplements could significantly reduce the severity and duration of a cold, especially if the preparations are taken within the first 24 hours of a cold. The Indian researchers also found that taking zinc supplements also reduces the risk of cold in the long term. For example, children who took zinc supplements over a five-month period were much less likely to catch a cold, less often at school, and fewer needing antibiotics, Singh said. However, according to the Indian researchers, there are no precise recommendations for the optimal dosage of zinc. These must first be determined in further studies, emphasized Singh. For example, for dietary zinc, the expert recommends foods such as eggs, oatmeal, lentils, red meat, sunflower seeds, wheat bran.

Variety of different pathogens can cause a runny nose
According to the experts, the difficulties in the prevention and effective treatment of colds arise from the large number of different pathogens that can cause the common cold, cough and body aches. Most viruses are responsible for the complaints, with over 200 different types of viruses such as Rhino, Entero, Corona, Mastadeno and Paramyxo viruses as the trigger in question. They affect the mucous membranes in the nasopharyngeal area, which causes the typical cold symptoms. Often, the viral infection is also accompanied by a bacterial infection, which complicates the treatment of the common cold. Overall, colds are the most common infectious disease in humans, although there are differences between the individual infections. According to the experts, infants suffer from a cold up to ten times a year, and in adults this happens on average two to three times a year. Fortunately, however, the health effects are usually limited, so that usually threaten no more serious impairments.

Healthy lifestyle best method for cold prevention
A healthy lifestyle with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, physical activity, stays in the fresh air and occasional saunas is the best protection against colds in the opinion of many physicians. In addition, all measures that strengthen the immune system are recommended. Experts such as the director of the Greifswald University Hospital, Werner Hosemann, also advise regular hand washing to avoid transmission of the pathogens. „Washing your hands is the most important thing to avoid colds“, stressed the expert. Because then the risk of accidentally rubbing pathogens on the mucous membranes is reduced. However, most Germans are aware of the fact that increased hygiene during the cold period is essential. So comes a representative survey of the „pharmacy magazine“ to the conclusion that 64.5% of Germans wash their hands very often in times of high risk of infection and that 25.5% of respondents also use disinfectants. Nearly a third of the respondents (31.4 percent) tried to reduce the personal risk of infection by avoiding public transport. The survey also revealed that more than 50 percent of the study participants believe that infection can not be avoided during the cold period.

Naturopathic home remedies for colds
The various home remedies can significantly reduce the risk of cold and the severity of the disease can be positively influenced in this way. However, the intake of vitamin C shows significantly less effect than previously thought. The moistening of the mucous membranes, however, is of relatively high importance. So also inhalations and steam baths are considered as particularly promising home remedies for colds. In natural medicine, the drinking of iodine water in the onset of cold is also attributed a particularly positive effect. A drop of ten percent iodine tincture is added to a glass of water to regulate the fluid balance of the nasal mucous membranes. The intake of Schüßler salt No. 14, potassium iodate D6, is also used in naturopathy for the treatment of runny nose. In addition, many other naturopathic measures are available, with the most appropriate being selected according to the patient's complaint. (Fp)

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