A cold is caused by a viral infection that affects your throat and nose. Grapefruit seed extract supplements are designed to fight off bacteria, yeast and other microbes, but do not effectively treat viruses. Grapefruit seed extract may fight bacterial infections triggered by a cold, such as strep throat, ear infections, sinusitis and pneumonia. But taking grapefruit seed extract supplements could also prove dangerous. Talk to your doctor before trying them.
Relieving Symptoms
Antibiotics, just like anti-microbials such as grapefruit seed extract, do not have the power to fight off the common cold. MayoClinic.com states that colds are not curable by any medications, including Western medicine and alternative medicine. The best you can do is to try to alleviate your symptoms. Take care of yourself when you have a cold by staying hydrated and allowing yourself to rest so you can heal naturally. Loss of fluids from mucus and fevers can cause dehydration when you have a cold.
Chemicals
If your cold creates complications leading to a bacterial infection such as strep throat or sinusitis, grapefruit seed extract supplement may help fight it off. However, pure grapefruit seed extract does not possess anti-microbial powers. Rather, the chemicals added to many grapefruit seed extracts can fight bacterial infections triggered by a cold, according to Donal O'Mathuna, a bioethicist and herbal researcher who studied grapefruit seed extract supplements for "The Irish Times."
Study
In June 1999, "Pharmazie" published results of a German Institute of Pharmacy study that analyzed the contents and effects of six commercially sold grapefruit seed extract products. The study, led by T. von Woedtke, found that five of six products tested had strong anti-microbial capabilities. When these five products were tested, it was found that they all contained disinfectants and synthetic preservatives, such as benzethonium chloride, a poison not meant for ingestion. The one grapefruit seed extract product that didn't possess any anti-microbial properties contained pure grapefruit seed extract, nothing added. Woedtke's team made and tested its own grapefruit seed extract. It also failed to fight off infections.
Adverse Effects
In the past decade, similar grapefruit seed extract studies conducted in Japan, Sweden, the United States and Austria produced similar results, according to O'Mathuna. Many of the supplements studied contained the chemical benzethonium chloride,which can cause side effects such as convulsions and coma. Benzethonium chloride also stops your body from being able to metabolize medication, which allows an excess of medication to enter your bloodstream and can create serious side effects. Grapefruit on its own can also stop your body from being able to break down drugs, which may prove hazardous when combined with birth control pills, statins and blood pressure drugs, among many more.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Common Cold; Feb. 22, 2011
- "The Irish Times"; Peel Back the Hype; Donal O'Mathuna; March 24, 2009
- "Pharmazie"; Aspects of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Grapefruit Seed Extract and its Relation to Preservative Substances Contained; T. von Woedtke, et al.; June 1999
- Denver Naturopathic; Why We Don't Sell Grapefruit Seed Extract; July 21, 2005
- "European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology"; Adverse Effects by Artificial Grapefruit Seed Extract Products in Patients on Warfarin Therapy; H. Brandin, et al.; March 20, 2007
- "The New York Times"; Experts Reveal...Grapefruit Juice; Nicholas Bakalar; March 21, 2006
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