While the experts agree there’s no magic pill to stave off the insidious cold and flu, a growing body of research suggests that some of the strongest weapons in your arsenal could be as near as your kitchen or medicine cabinet. Read More
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Immunity Boosters
February 29, 2008
An Update on Echinacea: Effective Cold Remedy or Just a Waste of Money?
February 29, 2008
Echinacea has as many supporters as it does naysayers—and their voices become louder this time of year, when cold and flu season is in full swing. While some claim the herb is a godsend against sneezing and sniffling, others claim that standing on their heads would yield similar results. Read More
An Update on Echinacea: How to Use It Like a Pro During Sneezy Season
February 29, 2008
Echinacea is consistently among the top-selling supplements, with U.S. consumers typically spending more than $100 million on it every year. But a study published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) panned the herb, saying it doesn’t prevent colds or make symptoms less annoying. The lead researcher—Ronald B. Turner, MD, a pediatrics professor at the University of Virginia—thinks most of the evidence in favor of echinacea is far too weak to make it a reasonable remedy. Naturally, echinacea supporters disagree. And they recently panned Turner’s findings, saying the amount of echinacea used in his study was roughly three times less than what veteran herbalists recommend. Read More
An Update on Echinacea: Do’s and Don’ts From Herbalists
February 29, 2008
Instead of drugstore or supermarket brands, try products made by herbalist-run companies—Herb Pharm, Herbs, Etc., Herbalist & Alchemist, and Bioforce USA. They’re available at natural-products stores and on the Web for $10 to $40, depending on how much you buy.
At the first signs of a cold, go with extracts or tinctures (tea and capsules aren’t likely to be effective, most experts say). Take 1 to 2 teaspoons of the tincture every 2 to 4 hours round the clock for a day or two. Using it often is best. As a general rule, the stronger tinctures are thought to be more effective. (There is no danger of an overdose, but the tincture may make your mouth tingle temporarily. Also, if you’re allergic to ragweed, be aware that echinacea belongs to the same family of plants.)
For more help, consult a well-trained herbalist. The American Herbalists Guild, a nonprofit professional organization that requires rigorous peer review to become a professional member, can help you find one.
By Jessica Seaberg
An Update on Echinacea: If It Doesn’t Help, How Do New Cold Medicines Stack Up?
February 29, 2008
Don’t blame your stuffy head if you can’t find your usual decongestant on drugstore shelves. Cold and allergy medications like Sudafed and Claritin-D have been pushed behind the counter because of their pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the illegal street drug methamphetamine. And just asking for your favorite remedy may not be enough. In some states, you might need to show ID and sign a form saying how much you’re buying. And you may not be allowed to buy as much as you want. As a result, drug companies have launched on-the-shelf decongestants without pseudoephedrine. But do they work as well as the old standbys? We checked with William Soller, PhD, executive director of the Center for Consumer Self Care at University of California, San Francisco. His advice: Read More
Immunity Boosters: 5 Indian Spices With Curative Properties
February 29, 2008
If you’ve ever shied away from cooking Indian food because of mile-long ingredient lists, I can relate. I’ve made countless curries, and have whittled that list to just five key spices—cumin seeds, coriander seeds, ground turmeric, mustard seeds, and ground red chili. Read More
Immunity Boosters: A Guide to Tea’s Health Benefits
February 29, 2008
Steamy or iced, chai or green, bottled or not: Tea is hot, and getting hotter. Tea drinkers can be as passionate and picky about their drink of choice as the most snobby oenophile is about her wine. There are more and more choices. And annual tea sales in the United States have jumped from nearly $2 billion in 1990 to $5.5 billion last year, says Joseph Simrany, president of Tea Association of the USA Inc. Read More
Immunity Boosters: Supplements and Foods the Experts Recommend For Cold-and-Flu Season
February 29, 2008
’Tis the season of peace and joy and colds and flu. The weather outside is frightful; you’re inside, with family, friends, and their germs. So is there anything you can do to avoid getting sick?
There’s an ever-expanding assortment of products in the supplement aisle—and growing evidence that some of them really do work. Add to these a few common-sense (but often overlooked) tips for avoiding infection and an eating plan for peak immunity, and you may have one more reason to celebrate the holidays this year. Read More
Are Drugs Sabotaging Your Diet?
February 26, 2008
Use the five-pound rule
“Anybody on a new medication who gains five pounds in a month should see her doctor immediately,” weight-control expert George Blackburn, MD, says.
Take note
Rule out the other reasons you might be gaining weight by keeping a log of what you eat and how much you exercise for a week. If you don’t appear to be eating more or exercising less, take the journal to your doctor. Read More
Anti-Inflammatories: The New Superfoods
February 21, 2008
Miriam Nelson, PhD, is a runner and hiker, the director of the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Tufts University in Boston, and the author of several books on about strength training. But in her latest book, Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis, she touts exercise and diet. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory effects of certain foods, she has seen arthritis sufferers reduce reliance on medication and improve their ability to function. Hoping to prevent arthritis herself, Nelson is busy applying her rules to her own diet. “Unless there’s a lot of evidence, I’m slow to change,” she says. Now she is adding flaxseed to her breakfast cereal and eating more tuna and salmon. Read More
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