LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Common Cold

Zinc Acetate Lozenges Reduce Duration of Common Cold – (09-29-00)

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Zinc Acetate Lozenges Reduce Duration of Common Cold

Zinc has many benefits in the human body because it is very important in many enzyme systems that protect the human body. Much evidence also exist to suggest that zinc can help shift the immune system to a more balanced response between autoimmune disease and allergies.

Ann Intern Med 2000;133:245-252,302-303 Use of zinc acetate lozenges is associated with a reduction in severity and duration of cold symptoms, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adverse effects were similar in both groups, although patients taking zinc reported more constipation and dry mouth. Dr. Prasad and colleagues note that patients in the zinc group received an average of 80 mg of zinc each day. While this is more than five times higher than the recommended daily intake, short-term use of zinc should not lead to copper deficiency, according to the report.

Japan Issues Health Alert on Common Cold Remedies – (07-10-00)

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Japan Issues Health Alert on Common Cold Remedies

Just because something is over the counter does not mean it is safe.

Japan’s Health and Welfare Ministry warned hospitals and physicians on Friday that an ingredient used in some prescriptions to fight the common cold may cause serious liver problems, after the death of two patients. Since 1997, eight patients who took remedies which included loxoprofen sodium have suffered serious liver damage and two of have died, the ministry said in a statement.

Treatment of the Common Cold with Unrefined Echinacea – (12-19-02)

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Treatment of the Common Cold with Unrefined Echinacea

A few comments here. First, most commercially available forms of echniacea are standardized for the active components (which is still up for debate…) and not given unrefined. The practitioners using unrefined herbs are very knowledgeable and will use this herb as it was meant to be used–as one component to a multi pronged approach to strengthening the immune system. Personally, I never recommend echinacea. I usually tell patients to avoid refined carbs because they suppress the immune system, drink lots of water and take lots of Vit C (1 gram/hour to bowel tolerance).

Annals of Internal Medicine

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DESTRUCTION OF BACTERIAL FLORA CAUSES COMMON COLD – (08-01-05)

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Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3,B. bifidum MF 20/5 on common cold episodes

I have a recurring dream where all of mainstream medicine embraces the innate truth that the dangers of antibiotic overuse comes not from resistance, but from destruction of the normal bacterial flora that, for hundreds of thousands of years of evolution on this planet, has become an integral part of health.

So, given this article, could we say that antibiotics may be a factor in actually INCREASING the severity and duration of the common cold by wiping out normal flora?  Interesting question, huh?

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USE OF PROBIOTICS REDUCES SEVERITY OF COMMON COLD – (07-09-07)

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Probiotic bacteria reduced duration and severity of common cold

I had a mom bring in her 1 yr old baby that had a history of reflux (meds at 3 months) and now recurrent ear infections. Figuring out what was wrong was not difficult (pretty clear cut allergy to dairy), but of issue was the multiple courses of antibiotics she had been on. Recently, she had taken her daughter to urgent care, and the physician recommended she give her daughter probiotics. A little surprising, but good nonetheless. Her pediatrician, however, told her later there was no evidence on probiotics. I told her she needs to find a pediatrician who has cracked a medical journal in the past decade.

The bottom line is that these commensal bacteria are supposed to be there. The benefits of having them there are too many to mention. I firmly believe that this is the most devasting impact of innapropriate antibiotic use.

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