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[bearfaced]

Poll Echinacea

Comments

[chrisglass]

I should add to my "yes" vote: I believe in the power of placebos too.

[bearfaced]

I agree, placebos seem to work with some people. It's interesting to see how powerful the mind can be.

[timbear]

There's a well known saying in medicine:

"If you don't treat a cold it'll take a week to get rid of it but if you do treat it, it'll be gone in seven days"

All you can do is alleviate the symptoms.

[bearfaced]

I think I agree once a cold has set in there's not much you can do about it. There is some interesting research into the effects that echinacea has on the immune system though. Some is good news and some studies brand it as "snake oil". I tend to get a lot of colds so I'm thinking perhaps I'll give this a try.

[notdefined]

I was taking it religiously and did not notice any improvement or increases susceptability to getting colds. Then the government released their findings that essentially stated that it had no effect. While I'm not so quick to totally say it is a crank, after all, folks have been using it for ages, in my case, it did not help. I'm also quite careful nowdays about what I put into my body as so much causes problems with my meds. The best thing so far is to try and protect your immune system with proper diet, strenuous and cardio vascular exercise, good sleep and if you need it, a zinc supplement (Like ColdEze over here) to temporarily boost your immune system.

[bearfaced]

Thanks for your thoughts Tommy, I do tend to get plenty of exercise and eat a good healthy diet. I possibly could do with earlier nights though. There's just such a lot to try and cram into the day, particularly fitting food around my gym schedule and not going to bed too soon after eating. I'll just have to learn to juggle more effectively :)

[notdefined]

Tell me about it handsome! I do not get enough sleep. I try to be in bed by 9p.m., but I still have to get up at 4:00 a.m. On gym nights, like tonight, I will not get home until after 7, so that means that my food will barely have time to move on before I have to go to bed, or I have to eat very little. (Not good). I cannot sleep with food in my stomach. Thankfully, I will only be working legs today so I don't have to protein load quite so much as it leaves me feeling bloated.

[buckinva]

I know a bunch of folks who swear that loading up on vitamin C will prevent colds. I have my daily glass of orange juice, plus an occasional orange or tangerine, and it's been years since I've had a cold (knock wood!). My mother is a nurse, and she emphasizes washing your hands thoroughly and frequently. So, good diet with some extra C, exercise, plenty of sleep, and wash those hands!

[bearfaced]

The washing hands thing is interesting - Vicks have just released a hand cleansing gel as part of their First Defence range of cold fending off products. I guess it's just an alcohol rub of some sort.

Working in a University means that a lot of colds do the rounds but I'd sure like to avoid one or two of them if possible!

[mh58]

I second the washing hands thing. In years past I always got a cold. Since consistently washing my hands the frequency of colds and other corruption has diminished greatly. It also helped when they put in the handsfree towels dispenser in the restroom at work - made it easier anyway.

The hardest thing was to wash more frequently in the house, but the kids helped (OK, Nigel mostly) since they are always bringing in something from the back yard.

I have also been on a vitamin C kick for 3-4 years in addition to the multi-vitamin.

[cuyahogarvr]

When I was teaching, I used to swear by mega doses of Vitamin C as well as echinacea. Mild colds were the rule then and they usually never developed into anything major like bronchitis. But I did miss some work. Now, on my doctor's advice, I keep zinc (cold eze) and Airborne handy for when I just think I may be coming down with something, I can start the defense system. He and I like this system because I'm not putting extra supplements in my body unless I need them. So far, it's been over 3 years since I've had a full-blown, knock me down and drag me to bed cold. Mostly sniffles and those only last a day or two now. Two other tricks I've learned - fluids, fluids and more fluids and the whole "washing hands" thing.