Last week researchers revealed that taking ibuprofen doesn't help at all and it might just make you worse. The British Medical Journal reported on a study where researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK, carried out a trial with 889 primary care patients from the age of 3 and over with acute respiratory tract infections (colds, sore throats). The patients were randomly advised to take ibuprofen, paracetamol or ibuprofen and paracetamol. The researchers then assessed symptom severity on days 2-4 plus temperature and antibiotic use and it was noted if the patients sought further consultations with their doctor for further complications or lingering symptoms.
The results showed that compared with paracetamol, ibuprofen or ibuprofen and paracetamol combined offered no advantage on the whole to patients with colds or sore throats. The study found that patients advised to take ibuprofen or ibuprofen and paracetamol were more likely to return within a month with unresolved symptoms or new complications, compared with patients advised to take only paracetamol. Between 50-70% more of the participants who took ibuprofen or ibuprofen with paracetamol came back.
This may be because ibuprofen reduces inflammation - and an inflammatory response is part of the body's immune response to the infection.
There are several popular remedies for treating these winter ailments, which one do you swear by?
Chicken Soup:
For centuries chicken soup has been thought to help relieve symptoms of cold and flu. A study in the journal Chest in 2000 speculated that it helped prevent the movement of neutrophils (a form of immune cell) which cause some of the symptoms of a cold by stimulating the release of mucus.
A recent study in the American Journal of Therapeutics suggests that the protein in chicken soup provides carnosine a substance that increases the production of nitric oxide.
Catherine Collins, principal dietitian at St. George's Hospital, London, says:
"Protein is needed for the production of immune cells, but some chicken soups may have little protein in them. You may as well have a glass of milk. A bowl of good chicken soup might provide some nutritional benefit - as well as protein, the chicken will give you zinc, also good for the immune function - and just the fluid itself can be helpful. But to say it will help you recover from a cold or flu is a step too far."
These are used for preventing and treating norovirus, colds and flu. Probiotics, also known as good bacteria, and prebiotics - which encourage good bacteria to grow in the gut - are thought to have a preventive effect, as well as treating illness. A review of 63 studies by the Cochrane Library found that probiotics could reduce the length of time people had a stomach bug, such as norovirus by a day. Also, a US study published in Paediatrics in 2009 found that giving children probiotic products twice a day reduced their incidence of colds and coughs.
Professor Glenn Gibson, a microbiologist at Reading University says:
"Probiotics help improve the immune response. The majority of our immune defense is found in the gut wall and probiotics appear to boost the response from immune cells such as T cells and natural killer cells, which are part of the immune system.
"I think the evidence is most compelling for gut infections, but some studies found that taking probiotics speeds up the recovery from a cold by around a day."You can find probiotics as supplements or in foods such as yogurts or prebiotics also en supplement form or in food such as cereal - personally I'd go for the supplements as far as prebiotics are concerned. You will need to take them for a few days for them to work.
Honey and Lemon:
This is an ancient remedy for treating a cough and a sore throat. Israeli investigators tested various honeys as a way to ease a cough in children, giving them either 10g of honey or date extract half an hour before bed.
The honey reduced the severity and frequency of the cough and improved the child's sleep better than the date extract, they wrote last year in the Journal Paediatrics. Also a U.S Study found honey was better at reducing children's night-time cough than popular suppressant dextromethorphan.
Adam Frosh, a consultant ENT surgeon from the Lister Hospital, Stevenage says:
"The sugar in honey can give a pep up if you haven't been eating, but why honey should reduce a cough is not understood. Manuka honey is thought to be antibacterial, but there has been no robust research into its use for fighting infections such as a sore throat."As far as a hot lemon and honey drink are concerned:
"Hot drinks provide steam and warmth, which can soothe inflammation in the throat around the vocal cords. The taste of citrus can give a strong feeling of wellbeing. However, any hot drink would do really - but the effects will be temporary."
This is a common herbal remedy for speeding up the recovery from a cold. A review of 14 studies published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases said it seemed to reduce the duration of a cold by 1.4 days. But, a review from the Cochrane Library said evidence for its ability to help treat colds was "not fully consistent".
Another popular herbal treatment is Koloba (pelargonium). In 2008 the Cochrane Library reviewed several studies on this medicinal plant and concluded that it may be effective in alleviating symptoms of bronchitis and colds in adults and children, but "doubt exists".
Professor Mike Gleeson, an expert in exercise and physiology at Loughborough University Says:
"There is no evidence that echinacea reduces the incidence of colds but it may reduce their duration by a bit.
"Koloba won't prevent a cold, but it has been shown to reduce the symptoms and duration of a respiratory infection. Both remedies are thought to help improve white cell function - part of the immune response to bacteria and viruses."
Vitamin D:
Also known as the sunshine vitamin, it is important for bone health, but has also been recently linked to the immune system. The journal PLoS One published a review of 11 studies which says; that taking daily vitamin D pills has "a protective effect against colds and other respiratory infections".
Dr. Adrian Martinueau, a leader in respiratory infection and immunity at Barts and London Medical School, says that vitamin D can help reduce respiratory infections by making certain immune cells in the blood and lungs stronger:
"But it doesn't work for everyone. For example, a study giving vitamin D to Mongolian children who were profoundly deficient found it had a dramatic effect on preventing colds, but a trial with adults in NEw Zealand who all had good levels found it had no effect."How you take it also seems to be relevant:
"Some studies have involved giving one big dose a month but this does not seem to be as helpful as giving a smaller does of 10-50 micrograms daily."The NHS recommends anyone over 65 or who has little sun exposure to take 10 micrograms daily.
Putting your head over a bowl of steaming (not boiling) water is an age old treatment for colds especially the mucus build-up in the sinuses. However, a study published this month in the British Medical Journal found that using this technique for five minutes, three times a day had no benefit when tried on a group of 200 people with respiratory tract infections.
Adam Frosh, consultant ENT from the Lister Hospital says:
"The warm steam can soothe an inflamed voice box and help the cough associated with laryngitis. It can also penetrate the sinuses and give a comforting feeling, although won't actually unblock them.
"Adding menthol may temporarily make you feel as if the nose is less congested - actually it isn't, menthol just makes receptors in the nose more sensitive to airflow but does not physically improve the air flow. Use it for around five minutes, three times a day.
"It can be useful to do before going to bed if you are suffering from a night time cough."
Vitamin C:
Who hasn't heard of the need for Vitamin C to prevent and cure colds? It became popular as a way to improve immunity back in the Seventies. A recent review by the Cochrane Library of 29 studies involving more than 11,000 people found that regularly taking Vitamin C (the dose varied) did not affect the number of colds people developed unless they were a serious athlete, when it halved their risk of colds.
Professor Paul Little, Primary Care Researcher at Southampton University says:
"There is no evidence vitamin C will prevent a cold, and little that it will help when you have one."
So what do I do?
Well, one of the most effective things I have found is to take Zinc supplements the minute you start feeling the onset of a cold. For me it helps considerably. Obviously drink lots of water and hot drinks too. Tell me what works for you... I'd be really interested to hear your remedies.
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