Zinc sprays are designed to fight colds by preventing the virus from growing, thus shortening the duration of a cold. Several brands of homeopathic oral sprays are on the market. The most well known and most widely circulated brand is Zicam, which uses zincum aceticum and zincum gluconicum as its main active ingredients. The product is designed to be used at the start of a cold.
Step 1
Spray four times in the mouth when you first feel cold symptoms. Be sure those sprays are on the inside of cheeks, gums and the roof of your mouth.
Step 2
Let the spray sit for 15 seconds before you swallow.
Step 3
Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use and do not eat or drink citrus fruits or juices for 30 minutes after use.
Step 4
Repeat the process every three to four hours until the symptoms are gone.
Tips and Warnings
- Be sure to eat something before you use the zinc spray. Taking it on an empty stomach could cause an upset stomach.
- Zicam, the best known producer of zinc sprays, was issued an FDA warning in June 2009 because its zinc nasal products caused some users to lose their sense of smell. As of September 2010, no problems have been found with the company's oral zinc spray.
Things You'll Need
- Oral zinc spray like Zicam
