Feel a cold coming on? You may want to stay away from the pharmacy.
Over-the-counter drugs only relieve symptoms. They don’t get rid of the viral infection causing them.
Instead of relying on over-the-counter drugs, keep yourself from getting sick in the first place. A lot of people think there is nothing you can do to stave off the common cold. But in my practice, we’ve proven that’s not true. You can, for example:
• Take vitamin C. You should take 500 mg a day of this potent antioxidant consistently. If you feel a cold coming on, increase that to 1,000 mg. This old standby really is one of your body’s best immune defenses – if you take enough. The recommended daily allowance of 60 mg a day will do nothing.
• Use Echinacea, an herb that Native Americans have been using for centuries. While it’s a strong immune booster, it’s best not to take it regularly. Drink one to two cups of Echinacea tea a day during cold and flu season. You can also take Echinacea capsules, 500 mg a day – but I prefer the tea.
• Try Goldenseal, another Native American plant. This is a strong bacterial fighter, including the bacteria that cause strep throat. You can find powdered Goldenseal in capsule form at most health food stores. Gargle a solution of Goldenseal and water at the first sign of a sore throat. Use 100 mg three times a day.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is a practicing physician and the author of The Doctor's Heart Cure. He is also a nutritional expert, a fitness expert, and is certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Find Dr. Sears's practical solutions and get immediate access to more than 500 of his articles by visiting www.alsearsmd.com.
For more expert recommendations on how to feel better and live longer, check out ETR's FREE natural health newsletter.]
Similar Articles:
- 6 Life-Saving Reasons You Shouldn’t Toss Your Vitamin E Supplement – You’ve read and heard about many reports on the “risks” of taking vitamin E. But in a recent issue o…
- No Need for Lozenges – I hate licorice. So when my mother put a steaming mug of tea in front of me that smelled horribly of…
- A Supplement All Men Should Take for a Healthy Prostate – Selenium is an essential mineral and a powerful antioxidant. Your body needs it to: Maintain healthy…
- The Dangers of Online Diagnosis – Was it anthrax poisoning? Or lymphoma? Those were the two possible diagnoses WebMD spat out when a s…
- Speed Up a Sick Kid’s Recovery With an All-Natural “Knock-Out” – During the winter months, your kids are at greater risk for catching a cold or the flu from their cl…
- Thump Your Way to a Stronger Immune System – With cold and flu season here, your immune system needs extra TLC. Along with exercise and a low-gly…
- 4 Aggressive Approaches to Warding Off Cancer – Everyone has cancer. Johns Hopkins recently reminded us of this fact while studying how most of us …
Fabulous!! Am posting copies in the Senior apartment building where I live. Am an avid health nut and don’t remember when I had a cold or even a threat of a cold last! Believe wholly in “prevention” rather than “cure”. Thanks!