It’s that time of year again….the coughing, sneezing and sore throat season has officially begun. With students living in some of the most inhabitable, cramped housing; they are often primary victims of the aerosol transmitted common cold.
The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses, specifically picornaviruses (including rhinoviruses) or coronaviruses. It is thought that more than 200 different types of virus are responsible for causing the common cold.
Conventional treatment upon visiting the G.P usually involves pharmacologically treating the symptoms of cough, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat; with decongestants, anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics (pain killers): There is as yet however, no cure.
Unfortunately such drugs are often associated with various side effects such as stomach upset, increased blood pressure and urinary problems to name but a few.
These so called ‘adverse drug reactions’, are associated with a noticeable change in patient knowledge (perhaps fuelled by the increasing availability of information through the internet).Together with increased attitudes towards a healthier, greener, environmentally friendly way of life, thousands of people across the world have been inspired to experiment with alternative or ‘complementary’ therapies.
The World Health Organization has defined alternative and complementary medicine as all forms of health care which ‘usually lie outside the official health sector’.
The evolving public interest in complementary medicine has led to increased awareness amongst GPs with roughly 68% practising such therapies; herbal medicine being the most common for treating symptoms of the common cold.
Herbal medicine is an ancient practice, with the use of plants for healing purposes forming the origin of modern medicine today. Many conventional drugs are derived from plant sources e.g. Aspirin (willow bark), digoxin (foxglove) and morphine (opium poppy).
One of the oldest botanicals used in symptomatic treatment of the common cold is Echinacea, arguably one of the most recognized herbal supplements for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu.
One review (Alternative Medicine Review;12;1;2007) stated the plant may demonstrate immune-supportive properties such as specific cellular and humoral immunity. There is however a clear controversy within the established scientific community regarding the efficacy of Echinacea. Differences in many other studies conducted have included no significant improvement in cold symptoms. Nevertheless, Echinacea has been used for hundreds of years. Many people today are enthusiastic of its benefits.
Another botanical often used in treating the common cold includes Elderberry or Sambucus nigra. Sambucus nigra is a member of the Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family. Extracts of the berries are used primarily as antiviral agents for colds, influenza, and Herpes virus infections. Various research demonstrates that this botanical possesses immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. The berries have also been found to contain vitamins A and C.
Other herbal remedies currently under investigation for treatment of the common cold include garlic, olive leaf extract and North American ginseng.
Alternative therapies also include nutritional vitamins such as vitamin C.
Since the 1940s, numerous studies have suggested high doses of vitamin C both prevent and reduce the effects of the common cold. In addition, since the 1970 publication of the Nobel prize winner Linus Pauling’s Vitamin C and the Common Cold, interest in Vitamin C for treating colds and other viruses has skyrocketed.
It is thought that the use of Vitmain C before the onset of symptoms, is much better in shortening the duration of illness as opposed to commencing intake during the thick of infection.
Zinc is another alternative to treating colds. It is thought to have anti-viral properties with human studies demonstrating a mild zinc deficiency can elicit changes in immune status such as defective natural killer cell function (cells involved in an immune response).
In addition to herbal medicine, another alternative therapy, homeopathy, claims to be capable of treating colds.
Homeopathy revolves around the idea of let likes be treated with likes. That is, treating a sick person using a method or drug which would cause a similar effect in persons who are otherwise healthy.
Homeopathic remedies can be derived from plants (Arnica), vegetables (Allium cepa), minerals, animals and insects to name a few. They are diluted, involving the process succession-vigorous shaking of the original substance with alcohol/water, which activates and ‘potenizes’ the remedy. Occasionally they are diluted to such an extent that no molecules of the original solute remain in the finished product.
Remedies thought to be of benefit in treating colds include Aconite Napellus used primarily in the early stages of infection, Arsenicum Album for those who suffer with frequent colds and Euphrasia to treat watery eyes are just a few.
Since homeopathic remedies contain a very little dose, they are generally considered to be harmless and free of adverse drug reactions. However, there is very little evidence in support of its claim as a beneficial therapy; leading many to conclude homeopathy is nothing more than quackery.
Here at Cardiff University we are lucky to house the world leading Common Cold centre; which celebrated its 20th anniversary last month.
The Common Cold Research Centre was established in 1988 and is based at the School of Biosciences.
1. David Colquhoun
Yes most of the things you mention will cure a cold in only seven days when without them it would have taken a week
2. Merry
I would not argue with the comment of David Coquhoun – but whether you have the cold for seven days or a week, surely it is the difference in how much better you may feel during that period. Apparently, many illnesses are self limiting, so we need not take medicines for these, just let these conditions take their course – not prescribing anything for these could then save the NHS a lot of money which could be used on the conditions which are not going to go away without help.
3. Jamie
Can I be the one to point out to Merry that seven days is a week?
4. Dr Saul Berkovitz
Although the common cold is a self-limiting illness, it causes enough misery that people have always sought treatment for it. Any safe and effective treatment which reduces the severity or duration of symptoms is worth considering, particularly elderly patients and those with underlying respiratory problems who are at higher risk for complications. No orthodox treament is effective (in fact the continuing number of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions is actively harmful) but there are three safe, effective evidence-based herbal medicines: Andrographis, Pelargonium, and Echinacea, supported by systematic reviews of randomised, controlled clinical trials. The evidence for Echinacea is less convincing due to the large number of different extracts used, but a large clinical trial in the USA using a high-potency extract standardised for a probable ‘active constituent’ (alkylamides) may resolve the remaining uncertainty.
Dr Saul Berkovitz Western Herbal Medicine Clinic Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
5. Merry
Thanks Jamie – may I refer you to David Colquhoun’s comment, which is what I was referring to!
6. walter Binns
Would anyone be interested in me, I am 80 years old and have never had a cold or flu in my life. I have a large family and many grandchildren who always seem to have colds., Walter Binns.