The common cold is nothing if not aptly named. Colds affect Americans in huge numbers, with the average child catching six to 10 colds per year and the average adult catching between four and six. And students miss 22 million school days per year due to colds, according to OrganizedWisdom.com, a curator of online health and lifestyle content. There's no cure for the common cold, of course, but a variety of remedies can help alleviate your symptoms.
Probiotics
Eating yogurt may help relieve your cold symptoms because it contains probiotics, microorganisms considered to be "good bacteria," and found in fermented products, most popularly yogurt. Probiotics have become increasingly recognized as a potential remedy for cold symptoms. In a 2010 study published in the "European Journal of Nutrition," participants given probiotics were 12 percent less likely to suffer from colds than those who didn't take them. And the number of days during which symptoms were presented declined from 8.6 to 6.4.
Ginseng
Ginseng tablets, which you can buy at your local health store and many drugstores, are a popular alternative medicine, and perhaps for good reason. In a study published in the "Canadian Medical Association Journal," subjects who were given ginseng tablets suffered nearly 10 percent fewer colds than those who didn't take the supplement.
Over-the-Counter Medications
There are too many over-the-counter cold treatments to list, with a similarly wide variety of intended specialties, from runny roses to coughing to headaches. And while they won't cure your cold, there are many that will successfully dull some of those symptoms. But beware when giving a sick child such medications: According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 3.1 people between the ages of 12 and 25 have used nonprescription cough and cold medicines to get high at least once in their lives.
Zinc
Zinc, a mineral that can be found at your local drugstore, contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can lessen cold symptoms. According to a report in "The Journal of Infectious Diseases," study participants who were given zinc saw symptoms of their colds last four days, compared with seven days for those who didn't take zinc.
References
- Organized Wisdom: Common Cold Statistics
- Nutra Ingredients: Probiotics Show Potential Against Common Cold
- Acupuncture Today: New Study Finds Ginseng Effective in Preventing Colds, Reducing Symptoms
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: New Study Reveals More Than 3 Million Adolescents and Young Adults Have Used Nonprescription Cough and Cold Medicines to Get High at Least Once in Their Lifetimes
- Reuters: Zinc Reduces Common Cold Symptoms
