Simone Olivero

Sorry, but these popular cold and flu remedies don’t actually work

Simone Olivero

October 13, 2015 at 2:15 p.m.

Garlic: For years people have been touting the benefits of garlic when it comes to fighting colds and flus. Whether roasted or raw, there is minimal data to suggest that the pungent allium has any effect on preventing or treating symptoms. “There is insufficient clinical trial evidence regarding the effects of garlic in preventing or treating the common cold,” claims a study from the Cochrane Library. “A single trial suggested that garlic may prevent occurrences of the common cold but more studies are needed to validate this finding.“

Echinacea: Many view echinacea as the miracle drug when it comes to warding off colds. But, according to the Harvard Medical School, studies claiming echinacea’s role as an “immune stimulant” are not proven and warn that echinacea can actually be dangerous, particularly for people with ragweed allergies.

Oil of oregano: Many reach for this concentrated antioxidant when they begin to feel a tickle in their throat believing the elixir will kill off the bad bacteria in their body, but Science-Based Medicine claims there is very little research to prove that oil of oregano has any effect on the body at all. “Despite the hype, there is no persuasive evidence to demonstrate that oil of oregano does anything useful in or on our bodies,” the article says. “And while it is popular, there is no science to support the use of oil of oregano for any medical condition.”

Vitamin C: In September, Yahoo Canada posted an article claiming vitamin C doesn’t actually prevent colds. “The big meta-analyses of vitamin C have concluded that when it is taken as a preventative measure, it doesn’t help prevent colds in the general population. While there’s always a chance that you’ll benefit from the placebo effect, popping Airborne once you already have a cold is probably a waste of time,” Catherine Price, the author of Vitamania: Our Obsessive Quest for Natural Perfection, said, as everyone here in the office popped a few orange tablets and prayed she was wrong.

Zinc: Search for zinc in connection to cold prevention on the Internet and you’ll find hundreds of conflicting articles. According to the Harvard Medical School, this is because a zinc deficiency can weaken the immune system but the same can result from too much zinc. This means that zinc can be effective in helping prevent you from getting sick only if your body is in need of zinc. Confusing, right?

Ginseng: Ancient Chinese medicine swears by the immune-boosting effects of the ginseng root and many people resort to sipping on this tea during cold and flu season. While small studies have supported ginseng’s health claims, the Harvard Medical School warns that larger studies need to be conducted before we can support this conclusion.

Licorice root: Sorry black licorice lovers, but having a cold may not be reason enough to indulge in this sweet treat. Most studies citing glycyrrhiza glabra (or licorice root) as an immune booster involve the root being used in combination with other herbs making it impossible to determine if licorice root on its own has any effect on colds and flus when taken alone.

Hot lemon: Like vitamin C, drinking hot lemon may not do anything medical to help prevent you from getting a cold or flu. But, there’s always the placebo effect and who doesn’t instantly feel better when they’re cozy in bed with a hot drink?

Garlic: For years people have been touting the benefits of garlic when it comes to fighting colds and flus. Whether roasted or raw, there is minimal data to suggest that the pungent allium has any effect on preventing or treating symptoms. “There is insufficient clinical trial evidence regarding the effects of garlic in preventing or treating the common cold,” claims a study from the Cochrane Library. “A single trial suggested that garlic may prevent occurrences of the common cold but more studies are needed to validate this finding.“

Garlic: For years people have been touting the benefits of garlic when it comes to fighting colds and flus. Whether roasted or raw, there is minimal data to suggest that the pungent allium has any effect on preventing or treating symptoms. “There is insufficient clinical trial evidence regarding the effects of garlic in preventing or treating the common cold,” claims a study from the Cochrane Library. “A single trial suggested that garlic may prevent occurrences of the common cold but more studies are needed to validate this finding.“

There’s something about “natural” medicine that makes us want to believe it works, even if there’s very little evidence to support it. I’ll admit that I’m guilty of trying every single one of the natural remedies in this gallery. And, with cold and flu season around the corner, I’ll likely give each of these a try again. Sometimes science is wrong, right?

Click through the gallery above to see if your natural cold and flu fighter actually works – or if it’s all in your head.

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Sorry, but these popular cold and flu remedies don’t actually work

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