Complementary and alternative medicine for prevention and treatment of the common cold

Richard Nahas; Agneta Balla

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response re common cold article
Sonya Regehr

Published on: 02 February 2011
Advice about probiotics
Catherine E. Olson

Published on: 31 January 2011
Dale M Dewar

Published on: 31 January 2011
Vitamin C sources
Katrine C Sutherland

Published on: 29 January 2011
Ayurveda for Colds
Ravinder Ohson

Published on: 29 January 2011
You forgot about Vitamin D
James A Zacharias

Published on: 29 January 2011

Published on: (2 February 2011)
Page navigation anchor for response re common cold article
response re common cold article
Sonya Regehr, family doctor
Why no studies on Cold FX for prevention of the common cold? Presumably the research has been done and no effect shown so not published by the manufacturer.

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (31 January 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Advice about probiotics
Advice about probiotics
Catherine E. Olson, Physician
I would appreciate a further comment from the authors about their advice for probiotic use whenever antibiotics are prescribed.
Did I understand this correctly?

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (31 January 2011)
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Dale M Dewar, Physician
One CAM, but not limited to CAM, treatment which I believe is rarely studied is that of placebo effect. Not merely the offering of a pill for the ill but the offering of a pill with a message that it will "make you feel better". As parents, many of use this emphatic message frequently - eg. my own children "knew" that camomile tea fixed their stomach illnesses and ginsing made their cold symptoms go away. As you...
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One CAM, but not limited to CAM, treatment which I believe is rarely studied is that of placebo effect. Not merely the offering of a pill for the ill but the offering of a pill with a message that it will "make you feel better". As parents, many of use this emphatic message frequently - eg. my own children "knew" that camomile tea fixed their stomach illnesses and ginsing made their cold symptoms go away. As you know, children are very responsive to the power of suggestion - how far can this work with adults?
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Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (29 January 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Vitamin C sources
Vitamin C sources
Katrine C Sutherland, Physician
The proven efficacy of Vitamin C 1G daily was interesting and useful advice for patients.
It would have been even more helpful to express this as servings of fruit or fruit juice rather than implying it must be taken as a supplement.

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (29 January 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Ayurveda for Colds
Ayurveda for Colds
Ravinder Ohson, CCFP
Ayurvedic treatment of colds has been practiced in India for years. Avoidance of cold dairy products: cheese, milk, and yogurt; heavy, oily and damp foods like pastries and sweet fruit juices. Boiled ginger root with honey, lemon and a little bit of ground black pepper helps and so does cinnamon and cloves.

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (29 January 2011)
Page navigation anchor for You forgot about Vitamin D
You forgot about Vitamin D
James A Zacharias, Hospitalist
I note that your search excluded Vitamin D as a nutrient which has RCT's demonstrating benefit in reduction of viral illness (eg:"Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren" Mitsuyoshi Urashima, et al.) and a host of observational studies.(eg:"Cord-Blood 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Respiratory Infection, Wheezing, and Asthma" Carlos A. Camargo, Jr,et al.
...
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I note that your search excluded Vitamin D as a nutrient which has RCT's demonstrating benefit in reduction of viral illness (eg:"Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren" Mitsuyoshi Urashima, et al.) and a host of observational studies.(eg:"Cord-Blood 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Respiratory Infection, Wheezing, and Asthma" Carlos A. Camargo, Jr,et al.
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.