Real Life

Which cold and flu remedies should you avoid this winter?

The debate over vitamin supplements has been a hot topic of late, but what about cold and flu remedies? Read on to find out which products you should avoid over the winter season.
Cold remedies

ACP Photographics / Bauersyndication.com.au

Cold treatments – do they work?

Pharmacy and supermarket shelves are stacked with cold and flu remedies promising to fix winter ills but despite the hype, there’s not much evidence many of these products work. Some aren’t worth paying for.

There’s also plenty of hype about antibacterial remedies but colds and flus are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Often lozenges will promise “double antibacterial action” to soothe your throat, but a barley sugar or a spoonful of honey would have the same effect.

We don’t think there is any point in spending money on antibacterial products, such as handwashes, if you’ve got a cold or flu. There is no proof they are any better at stopping the spread of infection than similar products without antibacterial chemicals.

Some cold and flu remedies are little more than common painkillers with a higher price.

Some we bought were essentially paracetamol in a sachet with added sugars and sodium. Each sachet contained 500mg of paracetamol, the same amount you’d find in a common paracetamol product like Panadol – but you can pay nearly six times the price.

What might work are antihistamines and decongestants – but the benefits may be small.

Flu vaccines are believed to have a modest effect in lessening symptoms in healthy adults and reducing time off work.

In terms of natural remedies, echinacea, vitamin C and zinc have been touted as good treatments. There is some evidence echinacea preparations derived from echinacea purpurea might be effective for early treatment of colds and flu. There’s not much support for vitamin C supplements. Zinc holds some promise but the jury is still out.

Cold hard facts:

  • A cold will usually clear up on its own within five to seven days and flu can last up to two weeks.

  • Bed rest is probably the best treatment – it’s likely to make you feel more comfortable and staying home means you’re less likely to infect others.

  • Drink plenty of fluids.

  • Sucking sweets increases saliva flow and soothes your throat.

  • Hot liquid (syrups and soups) also soothe the throat.

Sue Chetwin

CEO CONSUMER NZ

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