Most adults are likely to catch a common cold two to four times a year, and children may catch a cold as many as 6 to10 times a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people recover from a cold within a week or two, and in addition to over-the-counter medications, common treatments include drinking lots of fluids, getting extra sleep and even eating chicken noodle soup.
But many people are turning to alternative treatments to speed their recovery from the common cold. Many of these treatments haven't been conclusively shown to help cold sufferers, but anecdotal evidence exists suggesting that some herbs do, indeed, help.
Echinacea
According to the Mayo Clinic, there's some evidence that the herb echinacea can help shorten the duration of a common cold, or relieve cold symptoms. It seems to be most effective when taken just after the onset of symptoms. In 2007, echinacea was the most commonly used natural nonvitamin supplement among children and the third most common among adults, according to the National Institutes of Health National Center For Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Vitamin C
Many Americans turn to vitamin C when they come down with a cold. While a 2007 analysis of 30 clinical trials found that taking vitamin C regularly didn't reduce the likelihood of getting a cold, it does seem to be linked with a slight reduction in the duration and severity of a cold, according to the NCCAM. The Mayo Clinic suggests taking up to 6 grams a day of vitamin C.
Zinc
Many natural cold products contain zinc, and there's evidence that zinc lozenges can help reduce cold symptoms if taken early, according to the Mayo Clinic. But in 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against intranasal zinc products, stating that there had been reports of people losing their sense of smell, according to the NCCAM. The NCCAM also notes that a 2009 review of zinc lozenge trials indicated that doses of more than 70 mg per day have been shown to reduce the duration of colds.
Other Natural Remedies
While echinacea, vitamin C and zinc are by far the most common natural supplements taken to fight the common cold, the NCCAM notes that there are several other natural alternatives that have gained some popularity among those who think they treat the common cold, although scientific evidence doesn't support their efficacy. Other common remedies include elderberry, garlic, goldenseal, green tea, ginseng, peppermint, selenium and vitamin E.
