Finding the “right” natural medication for your cough, cold or flu symptoms can be challenging. Do you choose a herbal remedy, or a homeopathic one, and what’s the difference between them?
Let’s take a closer look at what natural products are available in the pharmacy, and how they may help you control (or even prevent) the nasty symptoms of winter ills.
Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies are derived from the roots, leaves, berries, fruit or seeds of plants. They include garlic and echinacea, both of which have been shown to be effective against colds and flu, particularly when taken preventively.
Garlic is rich in phytochemicals (phyto is Greek for “plant”) which actively fight the viruses that cause colds and flu. Garlic is not a newcomer to the world of natural healing: ancient manuscripts show that the herb was used for 20 or more medicinal purposes by the Egyptians, over 5,000 years ago. Although our ancestors did not understand how garlic exerted its healing influence, they knew that it was highly effective. Today, scientists recognize that garlic contains a number of health-giving compounds. These include allicin and ajoene - sulphur compounds which exert an antibiotic and antiviral effect.
Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been found to be especially effective against viruses. In one clinical trial, Japanese researchers followed close to 300 adults taking the recommended doses of products containing AGE. The study showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of people who reported getting a cold or the flu. Those who caught these viruses reported less severe symptoms than they had experienced in the past, when they had not taken AGE¹. (The same recommended dose of AGE is available as Kyolic® garlic from the pharmacy department at London Drugs.)
Echinacea (purple cone flower) is another herb that helps the body fight viruses. The native Americans used this plant to treat coughs, colds and sore throats. Today, we understand that compounds in echinacea (known as echinosides) stimulate macrophages - white blood cells that engulf the viruses that cause colds and flu.
Cold A Tak,™ available at London Drugs, contains a standardized form of echinacea known as Echinilin® which has been clinically proven to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
In one study, 128 participants who contracted the common cold were given either the standardized echinacea formulation (Echinilin®) contained in Cold A Tak™ , or a placebo. Those who were given Echinilin® scored 23 percent lower in terms of cold symptoms and duration.²
Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathy is a branch of natural medicine that became popular in the early 19th century. Today, homeopathic medications are extremely popular throughout Europe and the United Kingdom and, in recent years, have enjoyed increased popularity in North America.
The basic principal of homeopathy is that “like cures like.” Certain substances given to a healthy person will make that person suffer specific symptoms. However, minute doses of the same substance, given to a person who is sick with those symptoms, is believed by homeopaths to trigger a response in the body that will help cure these symptoms. Many people find homeopathic medications extremely helpful. You can find homeopathic remedies for winter ills at London Drugs.
1. Toshimitsu Ushirotake, et al. Epidemiological Investigation for Common Cold Preventive Effect of KYOLEOPIN and LEOPIN FIVE. Clinical Drug and Pharmacology 20 (7): 785-793, 2004.
2 Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Barton, R., Lyon, M.R., Bauer, R., Lee, T.D., Basu, T.K., Efficacy of a
standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2004;29:75–83.