How Effective Is Natural Medication
“Natural therapies are generally therapies that work within the natural biological systems and processes of the body,” said McBride. “They’re used for supporting, tonifying, and balancing the body so that our immune responses to infections are more appropriate, and better tolerated to our whole being.”
The efficacy of natural medications is a highly contentious, ongoing debate. This is because we judge efficacy by two standards: Peer-reviewed studies and scientific trials, and anecdotal evidence. And we don’t have nearly as many scientific studies or trials showing herbs, vitamins, and other natural treatments to be unquestionably effective like we do for pharmaceuticals.
However, there’s something important to consider: Many studies and trials are funded by the pharmaceutical industry itself. These studies are needed for FDA approval of a product but they’re expensive, and many companies often can’t get the necessary funding without the kind of backing the industry offers. Thus, natural medications don’t always have equal footing, nor as much opportunity to showcase their power.
Framing of the data is important, too. For instance, while vitamin D may not directly fight the influenza virus, it’s been clinically shown to be a crucial element in immune function, despite arguments against its effectiveness from Western doctors.
McBride also noted that the only flu protection option the NIH and CDC recommend is the flu shot, which reduces the risk of flu by 40 to 60% .
Types Of Cold Medicine
Every person and every cold is different.
When symptoms are mild, you may be able to tough it out.
But when you cant stop coughing, cant sleep due to discomfort, or simply want relief, you may want to consider cold medicine.
Keep in mind, these medications do not make a cold go away faster.
They only treat the symptoms and do not treat the underlying illness.
How To Prevent Catching A Cold
A person with a cold can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin until the symptoms have finished.
The best ways to avoid catching a cold are:
- washing your hands with warm water and soap
- not sharing towels or household items with someone who has a cold
- not touching your eyes or nose in case you have come into contact with the virus â it can infect the body this way
- staying fit and healthy
The flu vaccine helps prevent flu but not colds.
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Which Are The Other Potential Treatments For Covid
There are reports of patients who benefitted from other medications however, these medications are still being researched for their effectiveness and include:
Antiviral drugs
Favipiravir and merimepodib: Still being tested in the treatment of COVID-19.
Combination of lopinavir and ritonavir: Not effective in the treatment for COVID-19 according to studies.
Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone is a steroid medication being studied for its curative and protective role in lung complications of COVID-19. The drug appears to be the most beneficial for patients who are on mechanical ventilation and, to some extent, in patients who need supplemental oxygen.
Remdesivir can be given in combination with dexamethasone in hospitalized people who need supplemental oxygen or who are on mechanical ventilation.
Other steroids may be used if dexamethasone isn’t available. These include prednisone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone. Steroid medications if given in mild illness can even deteriorate COVID-19. Hence, these are reserved only for severe cases.
Tocilizumab
Tocilizumab is a drug that belongs to the class, monoclonal antibody and which has been originally approved by the FDA to treat autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
When combined with dexamethasone in seriously ill patients, the drug seems to work better, but this depends on a case-to-case basis.
The Best Medicine For Stuffy Nose And Sinus Pain:
shrink swollen blood vessels and tissues in your nose, making breathing easier. One type, pseudoephedrine , is sold without a prescription but only from behind the pharmacy counter and in limited quantities because it can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine .
Nasal decongestant sprays containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline do a good job of reducing stuffiness after just one dose, shows research in the December 1, 2019, issue of the journal Rhinology. However, you shouldn’t use these sprays for more than three days in a row or your stuffy nose could get worse, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Preservative-free saline nasal sprays , which contain a small amount of salt diluted in sterilized water to help moisturize inflamed nasal passages, tend to be safe for daily use in people of all ages.
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Flu Medicine For Children
Children can take some types of flu medicine, but other types may be unsafe. Children can take prescription flu medicines based on their age, as listed above for each of the four FDA-approved antiviral medications approved.
The OTC flu medicines that children can use also depend on the childs age and the medication. Always follow the directions on the OTC medication package and talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist if youre unsure.
Treating Children For Cold And Flu
Children under the age of six should not be given medicines to treat cough and cold symptoms. For children aged six to 11, do so only on the advice of a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse practitioner.
If a child has a temperature above 40°C, or a lower temperature that lasts three days or more and doesn’t respond to medication, take them to see a doctor.
Aspirin should not be taken by children or teenagers, as it could possibly cause a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
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What Are Symptoms Of The Flu
If you have the flu, your symptoms will be much more severe than a cold. Flu symptoms happen fast, and they usually include a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fever, cough, and congestion. You could also experience vomiting and diarrhea if you have the flu. Fever and stomach issues are two of the most important factors in determining whether it’s the cold or flu. If your symptoms persist for more than a week, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
The Best Medicine For Runny Nose Sneezing And Itchy Watery Eyes:
Antihistamines, as noted above, are often found in combination cold and flu medication because they help treat sniffling, sneezing, itchy, and watery eyes and are the best meds for drying up a runny nose. Options include doxylamine , brompheniramine , and diphenhydramine . Some antihistamines also help you sleep through the night because they can cause drowsiness.
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Benylin Cold & Flu Max Strength Capsules
If you’re flu is at its maximum, you’ll need a maximum strength remedy to help bring you back to normal.
Benylin capsules contain a blend of paracetamol, caffeine and phenylephrine. Each ingredient carefully works together to relieve you of the worst offending symptoms eg. fever, blocked/runny noses and headaches.
As the capsules contain a dose of caffeine, they won’t make you feel drowsy, but instead wil provide you with the perk you need to get things done.
Price: £3.09, Lloyds Pharmacy – buy here now
Our Choice For The Best Fast
When youre suffering from colds and flu, you dont have to endure all the symptoms. You can take some fast-acting cold and flu tablets to help relieve the symptoms of your conditions. But which one should you choose? If you ask us, theres one product which we believe is a cut above the rest.Our choice for the best fast-acting cold and flu tablets are the Sambucol Black Elderberry Cold & Flu Relief Tablets. Theyre very effective and will provide relief from colds and flu instantly. So, if youre beginning to feel the symptoms of these conditions, then you should consider taking these tablets to prevent the illnesses from worsening.These vegetarian-friendly tablets dissolve in the mouth quickly. So, you dont need water to swallow them. Because of this, you can simply pop them in your mouth no matter where you are. Theyre safe for adults and children older than 4 years old. Theyre non-drowsy tablets which have no known side effects or negative drug interactions.
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Best Cold Medicine For Sore Throat And Coughing
If your coughing is making your throat sore, look for a medication that contains dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan helps control your brains signal to your body that you need to cough. This can decrease your coughing symptoms enough to promote healing of a sore throat, but it doesnt treat the cause of your coughing.
Some medications that contain dextromethorphan also contain an ingredient called guaifenesin. This ingredient thins out mucus and helps your cough to be productive, meaning that youre coughing out thick congestion that could be aggravating your throat and chest.
Toddlers and infants have different safety concerns when it comes to choosing a medication. Generally, you should consult with your childs pediatrician before giving them any cold medication.
Your childs weight, development, age, and symptom severity help to determine the medication and dosage.
If your child is younger than 6 months, stick to acetaminophen for pain relief. Congestion, coughing, sore throat, and other symptoms can be dealt with using home remedies. Overuse of cough and cold medicine in children can have serious side effects.
Child-safe OTC versions of ibuprofen, antihistamines, and cough suppressants are available for children age 2 and older. Toddlers older than 1 year can also use pasteurized honey as a cough suppressant.
Decongestants can be dangerous for people who have high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic recommends you avoid the following active ingredients:
Articles On Flu Treatment
Most cold and flu drugs attack symptoms, not the specific viruses that cause the illnesses. They aren’t a cure, but they can make you feel better or shorten your illness.
There’s no one right way to treat a cold or the flu. But here are some questions you can ask your pharmacist to get the correct over-the-counter medication for you.
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Are Ivermectin And Hydroxychloroquine Effective In Treating Covid
Ivermectin is a well-known medicine that is approved as an antiparasitic by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration . But it has not been FDA-approved to treat or prevent COVID-19.
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are malaria drugs that were granted emergency use authorization by the FDA during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they were withdrawn for EUA because studies did not show any effect in the treatment of COVID-19. There were heart problems with the use of these medications.
Best Cold Medicine For Sinus Headache
When symptoms of congestion hit your sinuses, you can feel cranial pressure and stuffed up in your nasal passages. This sinus headache is typically the main symptom people associate with a head cold.
To treat a sinus headache, decide if youd like to treat the pain from your sinus blockage or the actual blockage itself. Ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce your pain.
A decongestant like pseudoephedrine can thin out your congestion, but it might take a few doses before your sinus pressure goes away.
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Vicks Dayquil Cold And Flu Multi
Since 1890, Vicks has been developing excellent cold and flu medications and has unquestionably perfected the art. This non-drowsy flu, cough, and cold treatment is a long-standing favorite because it offers excellent relief without drowsiness. Each LiquidCap offers 4 hours of relief from 6 typical cold symptoms that include fever, headaches, cough, mild pains and aches, sore throat, and nasal congestionthanks to the active components phenylephrine HCl, dextromethorphan HBr, and acetaminophen.
So What Are The Best Otc Cold And Flu Medications
OK, so a lot of these products are the same, brands are expensive, and combination products can be risky. What should you actually take?
Here are a number of medications you can try based on your symptoms.
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Fever and aches:Acetaminophen or ibuprofen work about equally well for a fever or muscle aches. These ingredients can be found in brand-name products like Tylenol or Advil but are also available as generics, which are usually cheaper.
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Cough: There isnt much evidence that OTC medications like Mucinex, Robitussin, or Delsym work to calm or stop a cough. But some people find relief from using them. You can ask your provider for a prescription cough medication if these arent helping you.
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Congestion and runny nose:Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine can both be helpful for these nasal symptoms but may cause side effects such as jitteriness and trouble sleeping. Both are available as generics.
Learn more about medications to take for cold and flu symptoms here.
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What To Do For A Cold Or Flu
There is no cure for the common cold. Itâs important to get plenty of rest and fluids while your body fights off a cold virus. Antibiotics only treat infections caused by bacteria, so they canât treat a cold, since it is caused by a virus.
The flu, caused by the influenza virus, also requires you to get plenty of rest and fluids while your body fights off the virus. Most people recover from the flu on their own. But there are anti-viral prescription drugs that may be used for treatment in patients who are diagnosed within 48 hours from the start of their symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you need an anti-viral drug.
Best Cold Medicine For Your Symptoms
If youre suffering from a cold, theres no shortage of over-the-counter medicines you can take to remedy your various symptoms.
And while thats a good thing, it can also create a lot of confusion: Do you need a cough suppressant or an expectorant?
Would a decongestant tablet or nasal spray be best to relieve a stuffy nose?
And exactly how many medications are safe to take at once?
Take a deep breath and keep reading. In this article, well not only discuss the typical symptoms of a common cold, well also break down the different types of cold medicines and which ones best treat specific symptoms.
Bookmark this page so you can reference it the next time a cold pops up.
That way, you can quickly be in and out of your pharmacy with the best over-the-counter medications for your needsand be on your way to feeling better sooner.
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If You Have Congestion
In the beginning stages of the common cold, it’s not unusual to experience nasal congestion , says Dr. Mandal. Treatments can range from taking a steam vaporizer, drinking plenty of fluids, and using a saline nasal spray.
These types of treatments can loosen up phlegm, help open up the passages, and keep the nasal passages moist, she explains.
Over-the-counter decongestants also help open up the passages by reducing swelling in the nasal passages, adds Dr. Mandal. Nasal sprays such as Afrin and Neo-Synephrine can also be used but should not be used for more than three days at a time because they can cause rebound nasal congestion. Sudafed is another decongestant option that comes in tablet or pill form.
A Pharmacist Can Help With Cold Medicines
You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine.
You can:
- ease aches or lower a temperature with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- relieve a blocked nose with sprays or tablets
Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets. Cough and cold medicines often also contain paracetamol and ibuprofen so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose.
Some are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women.
There’s little evidence that supplements prevent colds or speed up recovery.
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Fever Aches And Sore Throat
These symptoms are usually mild with a cold compared to a more serious illness, like the flu. Still, if you feel bad and canât rest, most experts agree itâs OK to take something to ease pain and lower a fever, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Fever may be a good thing. It helps the body fight off infection by suppressing the growth of bacteria and viruses and activating the immune system. Doctors no longer recommend fighting fever for most people, except perhaps for the very young, the very old, and those with certain medical conditions such as heart disease or lung disease. But if youâre uncomfortable, it’s fine to take these medications.
Young people , however, should avoid aspirin. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are best. Each type of medicine has risks, so check with your doctor or pharmacist as to which type of pain reliever or fever reducer is best for you.
Drinking lots of fluids and using salt water gargles can often ease the pain of a sore throat. Some oral medications and medicated lozenges and gargles can also temporarily soothe a sore throat. Check with your doctor before using any medications, including over-the-counter drugs, and don’t use lozenges or gargles for more than a few days. The drugs could mask signs of strep throat, a bacterial infection that should be treated with antibiotics.