Alternative Medicine and Preventing the Common Cold

The following article provides some discussion regarding the common cold and alternative medicine. The article discusses the placebo effect but also lists several micronutrient substances that may potentially be of value in staving off colds.

Mentioned among them is Vitamin C, a substance held by Nobel Laureate, Linus Pauling, to hold promise as a cure for the common cold. Other substances mentioned in the article include: garlic, ginseng, ginger, goldenseal, echinacea, and peppermint.

Here are two of the basic points of the article in distilled form:

1. The discriminate and proper use of some supplemental substances may be safe and may offer health benefits, while an improper or excessive use may be counter-productive, or even dangerous (particularly for individuals with diagnosed medical conditions and/or individuals who are taking prescribed medications).

2. The herbs and vitamins mentioned in the article may hold some effectiveness in the prevention of colds; however, currently, the research that is available is less than conclusive.