Which natural remedies to take and avoid for colds, flu and COVID-19

Which natural remedies to take and avoid for colds, flu and COVID-19

Natural remedies are on everyone's lips these days. From vitamin C to zinc, everyone is touting their version of a cure for your ailments. And between the ongoing pandemic and cold and flu season, the discussion is becoming increasingly heated.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options and fall under the spell of well-hidden marketing techniques. But do all these nutritional supplements and so-called superfoods really help? Or could they even be harmful?

To get answers, we turned to Dr. Russell Greenfield from Novant Health Integrative Medicine to learn how natural remedies can be useful, especially in the coming months:

Why are we so drawn to natural remedies?

Dr. Greenfield: "We're all experiencing a lot of anxiety right now, and that's understandable. In uncertain times, it's natural to look for alternatives, to reach for things that make sense to us or provide some level of comfort."

Even if we had evidence that a vitamin or herbal supplement helped with a cold or flu, it would be premature - and potentially harmful - to extrapolate that to COVID-19.

Can natural remedies be harmful?

Dr Greenfield: "They can. For example, there has been a lot of discussion recently about elderberry extract because it could theoretically contribute to a so-called 'cytokine storm', i.e. an overzealous immune system response."

Cytokines are a type of protein that helps our body trigger inflammation and immune system responses to injury or illness. When we become ill, symptoms such as congestion, cough and fever come less from the illness itself than from the body's response to the infection or virus.

For example, during the Spanish Flu of 1918, most people died because their immune systems reacted so violently to the infection that they "drowned" in the fluid that formed in their lungs.

There is evidence that elderberry products relieve flu symptoms and support the immune system, but taking elderberry could lead to an overzealous immune system response, which could be harmful if you have COVID. Therefore, I recommend people avoid elderberry until its safety in connection with COVID is proven.

However, if you really want to use elderberry, if you experience COVID symptoms (loss of taste, smell, etc.) you should stop using it immediately until more is known, as it may promote a cytokine storm.

What about vitamin D?

Greenfield: Initial concerns that vitamin D might also promote a cytokine storm have been replaced by enthusiasm for ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D in the body. Research suggests that healthy vitamin D levels can actually help protect against infections and prevent a cytokine storm.

Vitamin D supplementation appears to be particularly important for people with low vitamin D levels. We await further research results in this regard. However, considering that almost 50% of us have low vitamin D levels due to spending so much time indoors, it's worth asking your doctor if supplementation is right for you.

If your vitamin D levels are already sufficient, taking additional vitamin D is unlikely to provide significant benefits against COVID.

Are there any other natural remedies we should avoid?

"Above all, I ask people to avoid colloidal silver, which is touted as a treatment for infections and illnesses from the common cold to Lyme disease. However, there is no evidence to support these claims. What's worse is that prolonged use causes a blue tint to the skin that doesn't go away." says Dr. Greenfield

It's important to remember that "natural" does not mean "safe." Until we are certain about its safety, we should not randomly grab whatever we can find in the health food store. And even if natural ingredients like echinacea or melatonin show promise for colds or flu, that doesn't mean the same is true for COVID.

Are there nutritional supplements proven to prevent respiratory infections?

Dr. Greenfield: "There is some promising data on the effectiveness of vitamin C, and aside from some concerns in people with kidney stones, it is generally safe. There is evidence that an appropriate dose of 500-1000 milligrams per day may have a protective effect during cold and flu season."

When it comes to COVID, there is some interesting research going on right now about whether vitamin C shortens the duration and severity of the virus, as it can with colds and flu. We just don't know yet.

popular natural remedies

We also asked Greenfield about some of the most popular home remedies online, which are often touted as cure-alls. Here's what he had to say:

Apple cider vinegar

When taken appropriately - always diluted and in small amounts - I consider apple cider vinegar to be safe and may have certain benefits. The idea of ​​acid-base balance comes up in the context of cancer, but this is far from a proven theory. When it comes to effectiveness against COVID, flu and colds, it would be premature to jump on the bandwagon just yet.

Coconut oil

In general, I have nothing against coconut oil, but it is a saturated fat. There was an article recently published in the Philippines about coconut oil and COVID. It has been widely reported, but one study is not enough to say whether it will help. I'm glad people are looking into this, but I won't necessarily recommend coconut oil.

Garlic

During my training with Dr. One of the things I learned from Andrew Weil is to swallow up to a tablespoon of chopped or crushed garlic (pure!) at the first sign of a cold. The evidence for this is anecdotal, just like with coconut oil, but it is a generally safe measure and there are some reasonable reasons for it.

Green tea

Green tea has some antimicrobial activity, but I am not aware of any data that shows it is effective against COVID. The high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols in green tea could help fight cancer and lower cholesterol. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can help with anxiety. So there are good reasons to drink green tea, but I'm not a fan of taking green tea supplements, some of which have been linked to liver damage.

mushroom extracts

I take a medicinal mushroom extract every day. It can help boost the immune system and there is no evidence yet that it could trigger a cytokine storm. Am I aware of any research that shows it protects me from getting COVID? No. But even though I'm a doctor, like everyone else, I'm looking for a little something extra that could protect me and my family.

zinc

Zinc looks interesting – and there is some thought that it could inhibit COVID from entering your cells. But again, we don't have enough evidence to say that everyone should take it. Many people take zinc during cold and flu season, but they often think more is better. This is not true, and taking large amounts of zinc can cause side effects. High zinc intake can lead to low copper levels over time, which can lead to a weakened immune system rather than a strengthened one with high amounts of zinc. The FDA has also warned consumers that zinc nasal sprays may cause a loss of sense of smell.

The bottom line

It may sound old-fashioned, but the best way to stay healthy is still mom's advice: eat healthy, get enough sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and make sure you manage your stress. We also know for certain that general guidelines about social distancing, frequent handwashing, and wearing a face mask are very effective in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses like COVID.

Above all, it is important that you consult your doctor before taking natural remedies - if possible a specialist in integrative medicine. We want to make sure they don't interact with your current medications or make your underlying condition worse.

Before you use the home remedies, use it with caution. We have also included appropriate warnings in each article so that you can also keep yourself well informed.

Trust in the home remedy

The biggest effect is always the placebo effect. Our bodies can do amazing things when we actually lose ourselves in the fact that a supposed home remedy actually works or doesn't. For example, there are countless studies that show that the drugs administered were more or less effective depending on the patient's attitude towards effectiveness.

Which home remedies really work?

The best way to find out is to use our intelligent search function or browse through the categories. We have always chosen our headings so that you can tell from the outset whether it is an article about the effectiveness or an educational article against the effectiveness of the home remedy. Since we are constantly releasing new and updated articles, we cannot determine the exact number of home remedies, otherwise we would have to revise each article again. That's why we took 10 as a nice sum. Sometimes there are only 4 or 5 tools and sometimes 20.

Grandma's tips as home remedies

Listen to your grandma. In over 80% of the studies, “Grandma’s tips” were actually proven to be effective. Your first point of contact should be either your grandma or your memory of her words on the subject of home remedies for acne
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