Posts Tagged ‘Cold’
EpiCor Supplement Review
June 12, 2014 Written by JPOne of the ongoing controversies in the field of integrative medicine is the role of patented nutraceuticals. Conventional minerals and vitamins are sold by many different companies. Often times, there are distinctions in the dosages and forms of the nutrients, but apart from that, they are consistent from brand to brand. However, certain manufacturers develop products that are conceived and tested independently. They’re subsequently patented in order to protect the proprietary end result. The beneficial aspect of this process is that many of these nutraceuticals have been subjected to controlled studies that assess their efficacy and safety. The downside of patented supplements is the price tag, which is almost always significantly costlier than generic counterparts.
Tags: Cold, Flu, Immune
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates
Uncommon Cold Remedies
November 19, 2012 Written by JPThe common cold is back with a vengeance this year, at least in my neck of the woods. And, while “it” never really goes away, the common cold certainly becomes more prevalent during the winter months and is as dependable as clockwork or rush hour traffic. Researchers are continually on the lookout for natural and safe ways of managing and preventing symptoms associated with upper respiratory infections (URIs). As a result, each year there are more and more holistic and integrative options to consider if you hope to avoid the seemingly inevitable coughing, runny nose and sneezing that comes with the season.
Tags: Cold, Garlic, Probiotics
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Children's Health, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates
Tea Gargling for Health
December 5, 2011 Written by JPThe old adage goes, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is”. The field of alternative medicine is replete with examples of this truism. Countless ancient and innovative remedies, often carrying hefty price tags and inadequate and/or unreliable evidence, are promoted as virtual panaceas both online and in health food stores worldwide. However, as another saying goes, “There are exceptions to every rule”. It’s all the better when these exceptions happen to be economical and safe.
Tags: Cold, Flu, Green Tea, Tea
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, General Health | 9 Comments & Updates
Bee Propolis
December 14, 2010 Written by JPPropolis isn’t nearly as well known as honey. In fact, it serves no culinary purpose in the human food chain. However, for bees, it plays an essential role in building and maintaining beehives by acting as a glue of sorts. It is also commonly employed as an ingredient in many natural cold and flu remedies. I was recently reminded of this while visiting a number of integrative pharmacies throughout France. But popularity doesn’t necessarily equate to efficacy or safety. One of the questions I sought to answer upon returning to the US was scientific evidence to support the modern and traditional use of bee propolis.
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Tags: Cold, Flu, Immune, Propolis
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements | 7 Comments & Updates
Herbs for Arthritis, Colds and Crohn’s Disease
February 8, 2010 Written by JPOld herbs may not be able to learn new tricks, but humans can certainly learn new tricks about old herbs. Over the past few months, there’s been an impressive string of studies published about various herbal remedies. Some of the data supports traditional uses of these botanical agents. But I’ve also discovered a few wild cards in the medical literature. The result of my research will be a three day expose on the latest and greatest information about the modern use of medicinal herbs. Read more »
Tags: Arthritis, Cold, Digestion
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Bone and Joint Health, Nutritional Supplements | 7 Comments & Updates
Umcka for Respiratory Infections
October 23, 2009 Written by JPSouth African geranium (Pelargonium sidoides) is a medicinal plant that is attracting a lot attention in the scientific community. This cold and flu season may be a good opportunity for this traditional herbal remedy to broaden its reach. There’s a great deal of attention and concern about the H1N1 novel flu virus these days. No one knows how much of an impact this current viral strain will ultimately have. But we do know that upper respiratory infections will certainly affect millions upon millions of people in the coming year alone. Therefore, I think it’s advantageous to know about as many safe and natural resources as possible. These immune boosting supplements may help protect us from the risks that we know about and those that may or may not come to pass. Read more »
Tags: Cold, Flu, Immune
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 7 Comments & Updates
Andrographis Paniculata and Immune Support
September 1, 2009 Written by JPMaybe you’ve had the following experience. You’re looking over the shelves of cold and flu remedies at your local health food store. Most of the supplements have familiar names such echinacea, elderberry, vitamin C and zinc. But every once in a while, an unfamiliar bottle catches your eye. Andrographis paniculata doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but you may have seen it around. Sometimes it’s just one of several ingredients in immune boosting nutritional blends. Other times, it’s the featured herb in supplements used to address seasonal allergies, the common cold, influenza and sinusitis. Read more »
Tags: Cold, Flu, Immune
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates
Travel Supplements
July 15, 2009 Written by JPTraveling can be a lot of fun provided that you stay healthy along the way. This isn’t always as simple as it seems. Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, you can pretty much count on being exposed to a wide assortment of germs and microscopic spoilsports that, under the wrong circumstances, could dampen your good time. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help fortify your immune system and keep you running strong. Whenever we hit the road, I use three specific supplements to shield myself from the unseen hazards of travel. Read more »
Tags: Cold, Flu, Probiotics
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 3 Comments & Updates
Ginseng for Colds and Flu
June 18, 2009 Written by JPSummer is nearly upon us and the last thing anyone wants is to come down with a dreaded summer cold or flu. The fact that many people vacation during this season makes it even more important than usual to keep the immune system in prime shape. One way to do this is to utilize the fortifying power of ginseng, an ancient medicinal root. My most recent encounter with Panax quinquefolius (North American ginseng) was kind of like running into an old friend. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were many new developments in the life of this traditional remedy. I’ll share some of my recent findings about ginseng in today’s column and in a second part that I’ll post next week. Read more »
Tags: Cold, Flu, Ginseng
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 4 Comments & Updates
Hot Drinks for Colds
December 10, 2008 Written by JPSometimes the best remedies are the simplest remedies. Today’s topic is certainly an illustration of just that.
There’s a special center at Cardiff University that focuses on all things related to the common cold. Earlier today, The Common Cold Centre released a statement touting the benefits of drinking hot drinks. Hot drinks? Yes, hot drinks! Read more »
Tags: Cold, Ginger, Tea
Posted in Food and Drink | 4 Comments & Updates