Which natural remedy you should take and avoid in the case of colds, flu and covid-19

Which natural remedy you should take and avoid in the case of colds, flu and covid-19

Natural remedies are on everyone's lips these days. From vitamin C to zinc, everyone advertises with their version of a remedy for their symptoms. And between the continuing pandemic and the cold and flu season, the discussion is becoming more and more heated.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities and to get into the spell of well -hidden marketing techniques. But do all these dietary supplements and so -called superfoods really help? Or could they even be harmful?

To get answers, we have to Dr. Russell Greenfield by Novant Health Integrative Medicine to find out to what extent natural remedies can be useful, especially in the coming months:

Why do we feel so drawn to natural remedies?

dr. Greenfield: "We are all experiencing a lot of fear at the moment, and that is understandable. In uncertain times it is natural to search for alternatives, to use things that make sense for us or offer a certain level of consolation."

Even if we have evidence that a vitamin or a vegetable preparation helps with a cold or flu, it would be premature -and possibly harmful -to transfer this to Covid -19.

can natural remedies be harmful?

Dr Greenfield: "You can do that. For example, a lot has been discussed over elderberry berry extract because he could theoretically contribute to a so -called" cytokine storm ", ie to an overzealous reaction of the immune system."

cytokines are a kind of proteins that help our body trigger inflammation and reactions of the immune system to injuries or diseases. When we get sick, symptoms such as constipation, coughing and fever come less of the disease itself than from the body's reaction to the infection or the virus.

During the Spanish flu from 1918, for example, most people died because their immune system reacted so violently to the infection that it "drowned" in the liquid that formed in their lungs.

There are indications that elderberry products alleviate flu symptoms and support the immune system, but taking elderberry could lead to an overzealous reaction of the immune system, which could be harmful in a covid disease. Therefore I recommend people to avoid elderberry until his security in connection with covid has been proven.

If you really want to use elderberry, you should stop it immediately if you feel covid symptoms (loss and odor loss, etc.) until more is known about it, since it may be promoted a cytocin storm.

What about vitamin d?

Greenfield: Initial concerns that vitamin D may also be able to promote a cytokin storm was replaced by the enthusiasm for ensuring that an appropriate vitamin D level in the body. Research results indicate that a healthy vitamin D level can actually contribute to protection against infections and prevent a cytokin storm.

A vitamin D supplement seems to be particularly important for people with a low vitamin D level. We are waiting for further research results in this regard. However, if you consider that almost 50 % of us have a low vitamin D mirror because we are so much in closed rooms, it is worth asking your doctor whether a nutritional supplement is suitable for you.

If your vitamin D level is already sufficient, an additional intake of vitamin D will probably not offer any noteworthy advantages against covid.

Are there other natural remedies that we should avoid?

"Above all, I ask people to avoid colloidal silver, which is advertised as a means of treating infections and diseases from the cold to Lyme disease. However, there is no evidence that support these claims. It is still worse that the skin is bloated for a long time that no longer disappears." says Dr. Greenfield

It is important to remember that "of course" is not synonymous with "safe". As long as we have no certainty about security, we should not take everything we can find indiscriminately in the health food store. And even if natural active ingredients such as Echinacea or melatonin are promising for colds or flu, it does not mean that this also applies to covid.

are there dietary supplements that have been shown to prevent the respiratory tract infections?

dr. Greenfield: "There is some promising data about the effectiveness of vitamin C, and apart from some concerns in people with kidney stones, it is generally certain. There are indications that an appropriate dose of 500-1000 milligrams per day during the cold and flu season can have a protective effect."

In terms of Covid, there are currently some interesting research work on whether vitamin C shortens the duration and severity of the virus, as can be the case with a cold and flu. We just don't know yet.

popular natural remedy

We have also asked Greenfield to some of the most popular home remedies on the Internet, which are often advertised as a panacea. Here is what he had to say:

apple cider vinegar

If it is taken in a reasonable manner -always diluted and in small quantities -I think apple cider vinegar is safe and it can have certain advantages. The idea of ​​acid-base equilibrium appears in connection with cancer, but this is far from proven theory. As far as the effectiveness of covid, flu and colds are concerned, it would be premature to jump on the train now.

coconut oil

In general, I have nothing against coconut oil, but it is a saturated fat. An article about coconut oil and covid recently appeared in the Philippines. A lot has been reported, but a study is not enough to say whether it will help. I am pleased that people will deal with it, but I will not necessarily recommend coconut oil.

garlic

In my training with Dr. Andrew Weil I learned, among other things, to swallow or chopped garlic (pure!) When the first signs of a cold to a tablespoon. The evidence of this is anecdotic, 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 a certain antimicrobial effect, but I am not aware of any data that shows that it is effective against covid. The high content of antioxidants and polyphenols in green tea could help combat cancer and reduce cholesterol levels. It also contains the amino acid L-theanin, which can help with anxiety. So there are good reasons to drink green tea, but I am not a fan of taking green tea supplements, some of which have been associated with liver damage.

mushroom extract

I take a medicinal mushroom extract every day. He can help strengthen the immune system, and so far there is no evidence that it could trigger a cytokine storm. Are I aware of studies that show that it protects me from a covid disease? No. But even though I am a doctor, like everyone else, I am looking for a little extra that could protect me and my family.

zinc

zinc looks interesting - and there are some considerations that it could inhibit the entry of Covid into their cells. But here, too, we don't have enough evidence to be able to say that everyone should take it. Many people take zinc in the cold and flu season, but they often think that more of it is better. That is not true, and taking large quantities of zinc can lead to side effects. High zinc intake can lead to a low copper content over time, which can lead to a weakened at high zinc quantities rather than a strengthened immune system. The FDA has also warned the consumers that zinc nasal sprays can lead to a loss of odor sense.

the quintessence

It may sound old -fashioned, but the best way to stay healthy is still the mother's advice: eat healthy, sleep enough, drink a lot and make sure to cope with your stress. We also know with certainty that the general guidelines over social distance, frequent hand washing and wearing a face mask are very effective to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as covid.

before you enjoy the home remedies with caution. We have also attached the corresponding warnings in each article so that you can also find out well.

trust in the home remedy

The biggest effect is always the placebo effect. Our body can cause amazing things if we actually get lost in the fact that a supposed home remedy actually works or not. For example, there are countless studies that show that the funds administered had a higher or lower mode of action, depending on how the patient's attitude was set to be effective.

Which home remedies really work?

To find out it is best to use our intelligent search function, or browse through the categories. We have always chosen our headings in such a way that they recognize from the outset whether it is an article on effectiveness, or an enlightening article against the effectiveness of the home remedy. Since we constantly publish new and updated articles, we cannot set the number of home remedies exactly, otherwise we would have to revise every contribution again. That is why we took the 10 as a nice sum. Sometimes there are only 4 or 5 aids and sometimes 20.

grandma's tips as home remedies

Listen to your grandma. In over 80% of the studies, “Grandma's tips” could actually be demonstrated as effective. So your first point of contact should be either the grandma, or her memory of her words, what the topic of home remedies, acne
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