What helps fights colds? Part 1
Its that time of year when people tend to get colds, so I wanted to share some tips on natural ways to fight colds.
Vitamin C
The first thing I reach for when I feel I am run down or coming down with a cold is high dose Vitamin C. There is scientific evidence to suggest that taking vitamin C can shorten a cold by nearly 20%.
Zinc
One study showed that if kids take a zinc supplement they reduce the number of colds they get by 50%. If you take zinc when you start getting a cold it can help to shorten the duration of the cold.
Pelargonium Sidoides
An African herb is the key ingredient in Umcka ColdCare. Studies sho that this herbal remedy can help resolve coughs, especially chesty coughs and relieve sore throats.
Salt
For sore thoats, I normally gargle with salt water. Please be careful not to swollow it as it will make you vomit. I then make a tea, by adding hot water to a chunk (2 cms) of fresh ginger, a slice of lemon and tea spoon of honey.
References
Strohle, A., Hahn, A. 2009. Vitamin C and immune function. Med Monastsschr Pharm. Feb; 32(2):49-54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19263912
Douglas RM, Hemilä H, Chalker E, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD000980. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;1:CD000980 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17636648
Heydarian F, Behmanesh F, Daluee M, Kianifar H, Hematian M. The role of zinc sulfate in acute bronchiolitis in patients aged 2 to 23 months. Iran J Pediatr. 2011;21(2):231-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3446156/
Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 18;(6):CD001364. Update in:
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(4):CD001364 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23775705
Related Posts
Power Poses
Like most people I am interested in body language. Like most people I noticed awkward social interactions in day to day life. Until recently I considered that body language is about
- what you are communicating others
- what they are communicating to you
By adopting the Wonder Woman pose for 2 minutes, social scientists have proven that it will increase your confidence, assertiveness and help you feel more comfortable in a situation. This is due to the impact holding this "high power" pose for two minutes has on your body, its reduces your cortisol levels and increases your testosterone levels. Meaning you are less reactive to stressful situations.
So can you apply this in real life. Last weekend I was on my sports massage course and each weekend we have a written test we need to pass. For some reason I had misunderstood what the test was on and forgot to review the whole subject. I discovered this about 30 minutes before the test. So I was in a highly stressful situation. So I decided to give this power pose a try and did it during the next 30 minutes while revising. The science says 2 minutes but I felt I needed all the help I could get. It turns out that I passed. While this isn't irrevocable proof, I would recommend people try it.
As Amy Cuddy says "our body's change our minds, our minds change our behavior and our behavior changes our outcomes." For a more detailed understanding of power poses, the science behind them, watch Amy Cuddy's Your body language shapes who you are.
Holistic holiday first aid kit – part 1
I am off to Japan soon which inspired this blog article. So I wanted to share with you some ideas about a holiday first aid kit. The first thing I pack is rescue remedy which relieves stress and anxiety - I basically pack this in case flights get cancelled, luggage gets lost etc. The next thing I pack is Traumeel, in case I get a soft tissue injury i.e. sprain or strain. Traumeel is a homeopathic combination preparation that reduces inflammation, swelling, and oozing. The pharmacology involved is not yet understood. Studies suggest the drug modifies the action of neutrophils and the release of inflammatory mediators. Injected locally, its analgesic effect is comparable to steroids but without the risks of tendon rupture or skin depigmentation. I personally take tablets or use a cream because I am whimp who doesn't like the idea of injecting herself. Plus I don't think its very practical to try and take an injection kit through an airport! Traumeel has been available for eighty years and is suitable for frequent use, with the only contraindication being adverse allergic reaction. Among elite athletes its use is common and anecdotally it attracts very favorable reports. There is data to suggest comparable efficacy of both topical and injected Traumeel when compared with Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, with fewer side effects and greater patient satisfaction. References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085232/ Schneider, C, Klein, P et al (2005) ‘A homeopathic ointment preparation compared with 1% diclofenac gel for acute symptomatic treatment of tendinopathy’. Explore(NY); Nov;1(6):446-52. Birnesser, H et al (2004) ‘The homeopathic preparation Traumeel S compared with NSAIDS for symptomatic treatment of epicondylitis’. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, Vol. 8, Nos. 2 & 3 119 -128.
Can vitamin D reduce the risk of a severe asthma attack?
An international team of researchers looked into this if vitamin D can reduce the risk of a severe asthma attack. They analysed seven trails that included 435 children and two others that included 658 adults all of whom had mild-to-moderate asthma. According to the study, Vitamin D halves (from 6% to 3%) the risk of a severe attack requiring hospital treatment. None of the people who took a Vitamin D supplement suffered any adverse reactions. So taking supplements or getting out in the sunshine during the summer months, could become an important part of asthma treatment. What was unclear from the study what how many of the people taking part were already deficient in Vitamin D. Reference AR Martineau, CJ Cates, M Urashima et al, 2016, Does vitamin D prevent asthma attacks or improve control of asthma symptoms or both?, Cochrane Database System Review See >> http://www.cochrane.org/CD011511/AIRWAYS_vitamin-d-prevent-asthma-attacks
