What Are the CAM Approaches Available for Treating Colds and Flu?

Every year, it is estimated that one million Americans catch colds. It is the foremost cause of missed school and work days, along with trips to the doctor. The flu poses a higher level of threat due to its severity. As there are no sound cures for such illnesses, people turn to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approaches.

There are numerous CAM approaches that are being followed by many people to fight off colds and flus. The most common method is taking Vitamin C. Studies showed that taking Vitamin C on a regular basis did not lower the chances of getting a cold, but it did lessen how long the cold was present along with how bad it was.

Zinc is also a common ingredient in many natural cold medicines, but had a fall in popularity due to certain adverse speculations. Studies of successful cold treatments with zinc are still indecisive. Some people get better while others are unaffected.

Echinacea is also used, though the processes vary amongst different people as different species, parts and preparation methods are used.