Many people are turning to herbal remedies like Echinacea in order to feel better faster, and help cure the common cold. There is new research that confirms that herbal remedies will not actually get you feeling better any faster than what rest already do. There were seven hundred study participants, and both adults and children responded the same.
The study suggested that the only improvement made, if any, was about a half of a full day for what would be a week of flu symptoms. For the price of the herbal remedies, getting a few short hours being symptom free usually wont be a great incentive to buy the costly products, not to mention the fact that a lot of the herbal remedies available are costly for a small supply. Past studies have shown that remedies like Echinacea don’t really do anything, and others have shown a small improvement. Any small sign of improvement may have been a product of the same result as the placebo effect; because people assume they are being treated with something that will help them, they seem to feel better after treatment.
With the fact that there is no cure for the common cold, patients will have to settle for rest and a lot of liquids. For those who want a herbal remedy, try one of Mom’s old favorites – ginger ale and plenty of sleep. The flu is contagious, so be courteous to other people, and remain inside until you feel well enough to join society again. If you have your heart and soul set on taking a herbal remedy, make sure your consulting physician is aware of what you are taking in order to monitor your health, as it is important not to mix certain things with prescription or over the counter medication.
