Do Any Common Cold Remedies Work? Probably Not.

We have merchandise: dft.ba/-HCTMerch
There's a flu shot for the flu. But what about colds? Does anything work? Let's find out. .
For those of you who want to read more, go here: theincidentaleconomist.com/wor...
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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[@MarkHatlestad]

My cold solution- once I start feeling sick, I drink as much water as possible, and get as much sleep as possible.

[@HisCarlnessI]

Same. I've been over a lot of colds in 24-48 hours after showing significant symptoms that way.

[@mkbcoolman]

Exactly. Sleep is the absolute best option. I'll sleep 18-20 hours a day when I have a cold or flu, and they rarely last more than a couple of days.

[@Azivegu]

I got sick two weeks ago, but I have to go to my Uni classes and work and study for tests, so no overdose of water for me and extra extra sleep. And I am just starting to get better, finally.

[@Azivegu]

Vincent Valentine Just a little bit dramatic, isnt it?

[@விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக்]

Vincent H. Valentine Amateur.. i drink bleach to kill the virus! its super effective!

[@IcEye89]

Isn't it just possible, that people ingesting garlic supplements were less likely to be around in any company and thus less likely to be infected? I like myself some garlic but yeah... there might be more going on here.

[@oscarbarda]

There's one downside of chicken soup: one or more chickens had to be sacrificed for you to feel better. Which is, a double blind study found, not really nice to chicken.

[@mabailey5938]

Thank you! Also that chicken contains cholesterol, saturated fat, environmental pollutants, etc. Gross. I wish he would have recommended vegetable soup instead.

[@roflex2]

Melisa Bailey chicken is great

[@mabailey5938]

roflex2 Chicken is great...at causing a whole host of chronic lifestyle diseases.

[@joesomenumbers]

Sounds like someone's being paid by Big Chicken Soup

[@dhkatz_]

+joesomenumbers Hope this is sarcasm lmao

[@joesomenumbers]

+iLuZiioNz Tutorials Nooooooooo, it's nooooooooootttt

[@sweetlorikeet]

+joesomenumbers You say that like it's obvious that it is sarcasm, which implies that you've never talked to strangers about healthcare before.

[@randomeverything3023]

+joesomenumbers wait... you're not being paid by Big Chicken Soup like everyone else? you need to jump on that cash cow... or is it cash chicken?

[@jennyphilipps9896]

+joesomenumbers actually he is being paid by the big pharma!

[@acmund]

Facts, reason, logic...thank you for you vids

[@HisCarlnessI]

And chicken soup. I thank him for validating my love of chicken soup.

[@TeaBurn]

HisRoyalCarlness Even without a cold, chicken soup is fucking awesome.

[@Animalcrossing35]

Garlic. One of the few moments in Healthcare triage where something actually works or is trustworthy.

[@NinerFan]

Hey, I work for the feds and you are in big trouble for saying that. No more Apple for you, only blackberry for your punishment.

[@KaiHenningsen]

Duh! Remember the side effects of garlic? So, people try not to come close to you - so less infection! So anything that makes you stink works as well! /s

[@redsnake69]

Today I learned that having a slight smell of garlic is considered a serious side effect, even if it prevents several days of cold.

[@mattlm64]

It might be worth revisiting zinc, as the studies that look specifically at well-formulated zinc acetate lozenges in adults show greater promise. Many studies on zinc use poorly formulated lozenges with problematic ingredients (such as citric acid), less effective forms of zinc (eg. zinc sulfate), or too low doses (< 75mg/d). There have been new systematic reviews since this video was uploaded.

[@danielkammer3244]

Zinc lozenges definitely have worked for me

[@gskibum]

One thing that supremely makes me go grrrrr is when someone tells me to go to the doctor to get an antibiotic because I have a cold. Or because I sneezed once in the winter season.

[@aliquidcow]

What's even more annoying is when doctors give in to people who beg them for antibiotics for a cold, thus spreading the false idea that they do anything for colds, and contributing to the decline in effectiveness of antibiotics in general, all because they couldn't be bothered to put their foot down.

[@erareplicas]

I've used zinc for colds for about 8 years. In order for it to be effective, you must keep the throat bathed in zinc ions beginning at the _first_ sign of any minor symptoms. Anything later than that is too late. Commercial zinc/sugar lozenges dissolve too quickly. I put a zinc gluconate 10mg tablet between my teeth and gums, letting it slowly dissolve. Maybe I've gotten used to the taste (although I haven't noticed any other change in my taste sensitivity), but I'm fine with the situation. The colds that I get have decreased by about 50% and the ones that I do get are much less severe. My previous situation was 3-4 bad colds each year. No more.

[@Jabrwock]

What about North American ginseng? Health Canada lets Cold-FX advertise that it "reduces the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms" based on studies. I'm not sure what the quality of those studies are, but it's the only herbal supplement in Canada that's allowed to actually advertise "benefits".

[@curleyjoe666]

200 mg a day? of Vitamin C? For most people that just sounds like a lot of expensive piss to me.

[@curleyjoe666]

But your body just won't absorb that much and if it does it's more likely to make you ill than anything else.

[@SmokesOnMe]

curleyjoe666 supposedly you can take more WHILE sick WITHOUT getting sick(cramps). Take that tidbit with a grain of salt, people also believe in astrology and I have no evidence.

[@andreykucharski6420]

Nope. Zinc. Only thing that works proved by science. Reduces cold symptoms up to 50%. zincum gluconicum. look it up. Zinc helps heal wounds and fight infection.

[@sheepwshotguns]

vic's vapor rub seems to help me a lot with coughs. doesn't make my cold go away any faster but it seems to help some of the symptoms. would that or any other symptom alleviating items be worth making a video?

[@JXEns]

Thanks so much. That was great. You covered pretty much all the popular cold remedies and told us what was known about them and how much confidence to put in them. Mums insisted I take vitamin c when I have had colds my whole life, and I have never noticed any difference, but kept taking it, in case it actually did. No more (but with me not living at home anymore and I just won't buy it).

[@blinkDanna]

The end of the video was hilarious. Well played Dr C

[@habojspade]

I was afraid for a moment there that I might have to bring my grandma in to show him why chicken soup (especially with a matzah ball) does make you feel better.

[@flockofsiegels14]

Totally agree! There's a reason matzoh ball soup is called Jewish penicillin. Besides sleep and water, it's always a part of my go to cold remedy.

[@beatrice408]

*This tea, well more like herbs and spices is a MUST have for the home. Each little packet is full of multiple flavors. A colleague gave me one and I had to have a stash of my own. I've have since turned on two other to this. Great for those with sinuses and those battling a cough with a cold. Again, a must have in the home when looking to self medicate a cold or open air passages.*

[@beatrice408]

Open Sesame >> hopeithelps.co/natural-cures-for-common-cold/

[@stepheniegrimme2489]

Would oh so love and be interested in you covering the topic of what vitamins, minerals and herbs do have short or lasting effects on health and wellness Please

[@tchingchow]

Can you do a health care triage about osteopathy and OMM? :-)

[@kristine7233]

I understand what you're saying about airborne. But it honestly seems to help me. If not when I get sick, then at least when I'm having a coughing fit. I have cystic fibrosis and I often find myself up in the middle of the night coughing up a lung. The only thing I've found that (inexplicably) helps, is one or two airborne chewable tablets. It settles my lungs and makes it where I can go back to sleep. It may not help with a cold, but it has saved me from many sleepless hours.

[@mariesoullier]

My cold strategy is to drink as much water as is physically possible without being uncomfortable and get lots of sleep as soon as I start to feel any symptoms. I find it works pretty good.

[@MrUtak]

PLEASE DO AN EPISODE ON HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

[@callunalepus7621]

I try to keep home cooked chicken stock in the freezer for when I get the ick. I put in bell peppers for the vitamin C (it can't hurt). I also throw in garlic, oregano, and some kind of hot pepper. They may or may not be helpful, but they taste fine. The hot peppers help thin the mucus. I add salt for taste and because it soothes the throat. If I don't have any stock put back, I try to get some hot and sour soup. I figure the mushrooms are one of the tastier ways to ingest zinc and if it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt. I'd imagine you could make a vegetable stock and get a lot of the same benefits. I throw all kinds of veggies in my chicken stock. I've stopped adding carrots and add leafy greens instead because carrots make the stock sweeter than I like.

[@stephenlee5929]

So, I can use chicken soup or a placebo. Is there a reputable supplier of placebos. I checked on amazon but could only find music and books.

[@FoxDenStitches]

I'd be curious to know your thoughts on olive leaf extract? It's been recomended to me by heaps of friends and pharmacies as the best thing to improve immune system.

[@danielmerritt7671]

Just got over a cold (the first I've had in 3 years, I don't get sick often) and I had homemade turkey soup and it felt wonderfull. It cleared my sinuses and warmed my innards. It didn't cure me, but it made me feel a heckuvalot better.

[@KinKinOmar]

Interesting video or topic but I have never really tried taking in zinc nor Airborne, but honestly I would never would take them even if I got paid. I can barely smell and I would like to keep the rest of my smelling. I was shocked finding out that Vitamin C does not really do anything. Back home, in Saudi Arabia, we drink ginger and lemon it’s been going on for generations since it has a lot of minerals, such as calcium, iron, sodium. Five types of vitamins, and many more. It’s been used in old Chinese medicine and even since Ibn Sina in the middle east. We also drink common sage if there is pain associated with the cold. Although evidence show that chicken soup perhaps does actually does help fight the infection. Now is it only with chicken soup? Because my mother used to make me lentils soup if me or any of siblings caught a cold.

[@sonyapeach]

KinKinOmar I believe thousands of years of proof is better than these “studies” done. The spices your mother put in the soup is most likely what helped make your cold go away. Thyme, oregano, and garlic are great for many different things in your upper respiratory system as well as your stomach. Also the lentils are greats too. Natural food is great for the human body.

[@ahamzah12]

I body build, I've gotten sick once the whole year. I had the cold for like 3 days and I live in MI.

[@TheOzumat]

What about tea? My mother always gave me tea when I got sick, and in my experience it alleviates throat pain.

[@kaicheek]

+Funny Guy This is anecdotal evidence, but for me and several people i know drinking large amounts of hot tea works. It works better if you start drinking tea (i usually go for camomile when i have a cold) immediately after noticing the the first symptomes of cold (like sneezing a lot). I don't know why it works for me but it works. Also drinking lemon juice also helps a bit.

[@leukocyteofdoom]

i'm not overly fond of any type of meds/supplements/vitamins/garlic/etc, so whenever i feel a cold coming, here's what i do: 1) sleep 2) hydrate (water, herbal tea, broth) 3) fast, as in refraining from eating for a while - it keeps me clear-headed and energetic, which is always a plus! this strategy hasn't let me down yet, and coupled w/ ginger it has me shrugging off cold symptoms in hours. to recap: *_rest + ginger tea + fast_* = hale and hearty outcome in no time :-) yw!

[@NStearns42]

Here is an old timey thing: 1 table spoon of hot sauce, 2 aspirin, 1 shot of whiskey. Not sure how it is supposed to work but a lot of old folk in Oklahoma swear by it (and while taking it).

[@211teitake]

Can you make an episode on your opinion on the recent CDC draft recommendation on circumcision? I see numerous logical flaws on the draft as well as news reporting with headlines like "benefit outweigh risks." Can't I say the benefit outweigh the risks even if both the benefit and risks were vey insignificant as long as benefits "outweigh" the risks slightly? I was also surprised to find CDC completely misquoting AAP's reporting on circumcision, and no one is talking about it. Why? I am interested in your critical analysis on the draft as well as the issue of circumcision. Thanks.

[@reepicheepsfriend]

Despite all of this science, I can't help but acknowledge that my colds used to be waaaay more miserable before I took airborne. Did it get rid of them altogether? No, but the symptoms were greatly lessened. However, perhaps it's a placebo effect. I just took some (feeling that I'm about to get a sore throat), so I guess I'll see if it works now I'm feeling a bit more skeptical ;)

[@Greatmount]

Leah C i know what you mean. I used to vigorously suck down vitamin C lozenges and I could swear they lessened the duration and severity of my colds. I guess we can do whatever makes us feel good as long as it isn't harmful.

[@Greatmount]

Leah C i know what you mean. I used to vigorously suck down vitamin C lozenges and I could swear they lessened the duration and severity of my colds. I guess we can do whatever makes us feel good as long as it isn't harmful.

[@methane47]

I've been watching all of these Healthcare Triage videos and I have a question: Does learning that certain products have no effect, subsequently invalidate the Placebo benefits of taking said product? If that is the case, would i be healthier and be sicker for shorter periods of time if i didn't watch HCT?

[@RoScFan]

Okay, so nothing works on cold. Let's ask a different question. What methods are effective in boosting the immune system? Surely, there must be some way of making the immune system stronger, or works more intensively for a short period of time, right? Preferably, the actual cells that do the killing of viruses, not the ones causing the inflammations.

[@olgastanford6813]

So, dunking garlic bread into a bowl of grandma's chicken soup is the way to go? Twist my arm, twist my arm! Green chili turkey soup ain't too bad either. Say, any chance of you guys doing a video on dietary supplements?

[@ctcboater]

I've been taking zinc for about 10 years, cutting the number of significant colds by about 50%. The "trick" is to suck on the zinc tablet as soon as the slightest symptom shows. I don't use commercial lozenges: they dissolve too quickly. Instead, I put a small (~10mg) pill in between my teeth and my gums so it dissolves very slowly. I try to keep the zinc in place almost constantly. I consume about 50-100mg each day. I experienced the bad taste for the first couple years, but the taste is neutral now, and my ability to taste other things doesn't seem to be effected.

[@evank7926]

well, garlic does taste good too, so thats a plus. the heat from the chicken soup could be part of it too

[@N3rdfightermom]

ah Matzo Ball soup and some garlic toast is what I have always had to recuperate with.

[@bull1234]

It's treated my colds since the 70s and Adell Davis

[@noaheisner8884]

I'd bet interested in if there's any data on nasal rinses/neti pots. Since I've started using those, they've helped all but the worst cold I've had over the past 5 years or so at least feel less severe, if not outright shortening the symptoms by (from what I understand) lessening the flow of mucus that can cause irritation. The only time it did nothing was when I almost certainly had RSV, which is a particularly nasty cold virus.

[@KittyHasPanda]

I was wondering this exact same thing.

[@darinaanguelova2528]

Is there any research on the effects of a cup of warm water with lemon and honey in the morning? As far as I have heard, it helps boost immunity and prevent colds, is there any truth to that?

[@Austinsairplanes]

whats your opinion on Dr. Oz recommending dietary supplements.

[@RubbrChickn]

What if the people taking garlic were less likely to get a cold because no one wanted to get close enough to them to give them a cold?

[@kujmous]

Can a study be done on calorie intake against duration of symptoms? How useful is it to "feed a cold." I mean not just chicken soup, but rather any food so to discount placebo effects.

[@Cybernaut551]

Keep delivering the high quality content: I enjoy educated choices.

[@ljkolnick]

Heads up HT! In your list of references, the link for Vit C is incorrect. It sends you to a page about veterans.

[@MaximumCrash]

The link to the Vit C study is incorrect. Please fix it! Otherwise great episode.

[@jml21000]

I like the way Aaron is getting funnier lately

[@kgirl1992]

We all know your dislike for milk but could you do a video on the benefits/downsides of milk supplements? I would be particularly interested in almond milk.

[@TakeWalker]

Oh, is that why Cold-eeze tastes awful? I've had good results with those, but that could always be placebo effect or just me freaking out over potentially getting a cold when I'm really not. Hard to say.

[@darthsavage4025]

I find that lots of hydration & lots of rest help me get over my colds. Side note: I wish you guys had T-shirts about ending the Milk Industrial Complex. I have a friend who's vegan, and one of those would make a great gift.

[@drewlatta1979]

The new one I've heard of this year is cinnamon and honey. Like a whole teaspoon of cinnamon. Sounds like absolute woo to me.

[@TwoPunchMan492]

i live a normal life with no special diet. all i do is the simple things in life. I wash my hands and don't put my hands near my face as much as possible. if you can keep your body clean from as much bacteria as you can then you can prevent yourself from being sick. i haven't been sick for many years. just stay clean and don't scrub your skin red.

[@porgy29]

I've also found that warm liquid in general (soup, tea, hot cider) helps sooth the throat and clear out some of the mucus, thus treating some of the symptoms of the cold. So even if it doesn't shorten the duration of the illness, making that duration more comfortable is definitely a result. Granted, it is usually only a short term benefit that goes away within an hour or so of consuming it.

[@michaelburnham3202]

I really like this channel

[@WynnHall]

Have you ever heard anything about silver water? Someone I know told me to buy silver infused water from health food stores in order to get over colds faster.

[@SgtRooooster]

To anyone who takes garlic like me. Green tea and apples my friends for getting rid of the smell. Maybe like 3-4 Green teas and an apple. Found this from a chemistry orientated study which I'm sure you can find from a quick Google.

[@phillipsperling3037]

Are there any of the studies that says how efficient the placebo effect was? if it is good enough to cure the decease, then garlic or whatever you like can be a great placebo :)

[@Pirsqed]

Some good information on cold "remedies" ! Might have been interesting to mention why we can make vaccines for the flu, but not for the common cold. (Here's a hint: There are about 200 viruses that can cause a cold.)

[@mfitzsimmons78]

I don't think that is the reason. Keep in mind that there are quite a few strains of the flu.

[@KnightRaymund]

and there are different types of viruses that all cause the cold. He's mentioned it before. As for the flu, I think a few strains each year are responsible for many of the cases so they try to guess which ones for the vaccine. Maybe colds don't work that way,

[@branhan215124]

(Here's a hint: That's why it's the COMMON Cold.)

[@cmousers]

Although I will not advocate the commercial products... did you not say in one video, when it comes to colds, feel free to use placebos? Just for the psychosomatic effect they can provide. I can't remember what video it is off hand... perhaps it was the placebo effect video...

[@saizai]

"Prevent or treat" seems like it doesn't necessarily include "reduce the symptoms of", which is, y'know, also clinically useful.

[@elliottmcollins]

But typically treatment is taken to be a matter of shortening the time when you have symptoms.

[@saizai]

Elliott Collins I don't think that's an adequate view of treatment. Personally, I don't just want my cold to be shorter, I want it to not suck as much. And Healthcare Triage ignored that as a legitimate outcome.

[@elliottmcollins]

Sai I guess I was assuming that any remedy would make you better faster by making it start to suck less earlier, but I suppose that's not necessarily true. In his defense, he focused on the "relief" type of treatment with the chicken soup thing.

[@saizai]

Elliott Collins Yes, though by implied contrast with the rest. I'd like to know if eg Vitamin C or echinacea would provide such relief.

[@diceman199]

Sai He did actually mention it a few times.

[@artzfreak]

Yeah, a lot of these remedies don't work better than placebo. But the placebo effect on these seem to be really strong. I *know* that Zicam and Emergen-C are really just placebos, but I still take them, because I feel better when I do. I know it's just my brain, and not the "meds," but whatever works!

[@quartekoen]

I've always thought that Vitamin C has helped my colds. Watching this, it seems that it was likely just the placebo affect, if anything. However, now that I know it doesn't work, does that mean the placebo effect will be gone, thus causing me to get sick more often? Does the placebo effect affect the actual length/severity of the cold, or only the perceived length/severity?

[@Isabelle4525]

Can you please explain why some doctors are no longer accepting insurance. You have covered a lot about our healthcare system but have not really covered why some doctors are now making us pay out of pocket.

[@AltarenGalil]

now im craving chicken soup at 1am

[@fransiscozip1459]

I found that using 6 seperate placebos.stacked kinda . does the trick for me... .!.

[@JXEns]

I saw the ??? for the next video. I don't now if that means it's a kinder surprise, or if you haven't decided. How about something to do with metabolism. I hear people say "I started gaining weight when I was thirty because my metabolism changed" or "If you go on [some diet] then your metabolism changes (in a good way)" or "That skinny person has a high/fast metabolism so they can eat anything they want and not gain weight". I haven't studied medicine or biochemistry, and don't really know what any of this means or if there is any truth to it.

[@MayaPosch]

So you don't want to know vegetarians? Fine :( *unsubscribes* :) Wondering whether any type of soup would have a similar effect. Maybe garlic soup? To the research :D

[@Shangori]

You might be a vegetarian, but still would like the taste of chickensoup. You just dont want to take it. So saying you dont want to know people who dislike chickensoup isnt the same as saying you dislike vegetarians. Unless you have a personal vendetta against chickensoup. But why would you personify a liquid? You weirdo

[@MayaPosch]

Shangori I actually am a vegetarian mostly because I strongly dislike the taste of meat and fish. Even as a child I had little tolerance for it. Couple that with a food intolerance which gives me bad stomach cramps if I do consume meat/fish (same issue as my mom has, coincidentally), and there's less than zero incentive for me to consume dead animals and fish. So no, I wouldn't like chicken soup :)

[@KaishaLouise]

Shangori You've also gotta remember some people have been vegetarian since birth, so meat might make some of us quite ill. Ironically, chicken soup might make me sick! (I have no vendetta against soup)

[@KaishaLouise]

Yes I think any warm liquid would be fine.

[@TheStarman2021]

Maya Posch I am kind of the opposite with fruits and vegetables. It tastes really bad and makes me feel kind of sick.

[@aryolonanada2661]

Might fasting help...? Is there any evidence? I never know when to starve and when to feed like... anything...

[@unsinkabledoctor]

I always thought the point of chicken soup when you're sick is to get you the salt and fluids. Also (like salt water gargling) it sort of pleasantly burns your throat. (Also you guys forgot a word in one of your vitamin C graphics so one of the text chunks doesn't make sense.)

[@Keli_Rene]

Does drinking Gatorade or similar sports drinks help?

[@aliquidcow]

All Gatorade or any other sports drinks are is a sugary flavoured drink. So no.

[@SirThinkALot42]

But we can still eat garlic because its delicious right? Especially roasted and spread over a nice crusty bread....mmmmmmm....

[@ChocolateTeapot93]

I thought you were going to talk about actual medicines. What can you take to improve the symptoms of a cold? Beechams, lemsip, ibuprofen?

[@TinRapper]

Ginger does work right?

[@NirrumTheMad]

How about Orange peel+Ginger, Alcohol, Nasal rinses, or heat?

[@Cloud_Seeker]

In my country there is a thing called Kan Jang which is supposed to help against the cold and flu symptoms. The active ingredients are: Justicia adhatoda, Echinacea purpurea, and Eleutherococcus senticosus. Does this thing work in anyway? Does the active ingredients have any effect?

[@Correctrix]

Ah, the mysterious land of mycountry. I hear of it so much, yet have never located it on any map. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14750201

[@Cloud_Seeker]

Correctrix Maybe its because they do not want to tell you where they live.

[@loganwolv3393]

Well not neccesarely for colds, but one solution that works for a cough, is well firstly not a cough syrup, that didin't do crap, but actually inhaling mint tea seems to work for me. Out of all things, i didin't quite expect this to work but in my case it seems to work lol.

[@iAmTheTrueSpaceman]

Why is heavy training in *cold* weather special? Didn't you say that the temperature doesn't affect the odds of getting a cold?..

[@timothy558]

You know what can cure the common cold? MAGIC

[@unknownAmethyst]

I would want to know what kind of vitamin C synthetic or natural? Synthetic wouldn't really work to much.... Your Body doesn't really process synthetic vitamins very good and only a small percentage.

[@XyntXII]

could you please make a video on vegetarianism and veganism, and what benefits and downside are to each of them as well as debunk the myths?

[@yulingtsui7374]

Maybe eating garlic lowers chances of getting sick because people, in general, avoid individuals who smell bad.

[@brendaclark8450]

Sounds like big pharma is losing money because people are being made aware that the old remedies DO work, so now they post these videos to get you back in the pharmacy and getting in your pocket. Organic apple cider vinegar and raw honey knocks colds and flus for me every time. Chicken soup helps as well.

[@jjmarcos]

Question: Why would a 12 week 'drug' style study be used to investigate the efficacy of a food? Its not a short acting drug, its a (hypothesized) slow and steady nudge in the right direction. Even a small effect size over a 12 week period could be sizable when compounded over a decade of incorporating raw garlic into your diet. idk.. It just seems stupid to me that they would study a food the same way they would a drug. Its not a drug.

[@serseriherif9530]

Haha thank god I'm Turkish we put garlic in everything! :D

[@bossrossin1994]

What about Zycam?

[@culwin]

Chicken soup is warm and mostly fluid. It doesn't matter what kind of soup, of course it makes you feel better.

[@TheSilverVixen]

My dad's been taking vitamin C supplements every day since my sisters and I were little (since kids are germ factories) to avoid getting sick (so basically for the past 20+ years), and it seems to work for him. He gets sick maybe at most, once a year, and it's only ever for 24-48 hours.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

"Seems" is not scientific evidence.

[@TheSilverVixen]

@@gyozakeynsianism Hi, a lot's changed since I made the initial comment eight years ago. I don't even speak to my dad anymore LMAO Also, the placebo effect is a thing.

[@amaraojiji]

Nosal spray? Vodka (one spoon after food)? Hot milk with honey and butter?

[@pahaha70]

Nice West Wing reference at the end. Go Delores Landingham.

[@QuinchGaming]

Honey and natural lemon?

[@marshawoods1493]

For ME and I mean me garlic does help me from getting virus's and cold's. I eat garlic 3 to 5 times a week and I do not smell. However,here lately (past 6 months) if I eat onions 2-3 times a week... I get purpura on my arms. I'm a nurse so I know what this is. when I cut back on onions,I have none. so we are all induviduals like you say. airbourne...took it once that's alll I needed.. got much worse. so never again. I did have a lung virus last Fall. 1st time in my life. but I haven't had a cold in almost 7 yrs!

[@Voltaire1759]

I lost most of my smell to infections up there with crippling pain. Some people (like me) would take the zinc over the infection even at the risk of loosing there sense of smell. That said, it is not something people should consider unless loosing a sense is the lesser of two evils.

[@alejandroochoa559]

What about ginger, honey, lemmon juice and mint? When I say lemon juice I do not mean vitamin C but the complete thing.

[@benbarker8154]

Can anyone tell me why most cold medications taste like fermented death? Chasing my sick kid around the house so he will take his meds really sucks.

[@MeowMeowDeathRay]

Does any of the vitamins work in any way? It seems that nothing about those commercial products is true. I'm so confused.

[@Goobian]

Some people need certain vitamins because they have a low intake of that one vitamin. My best friend used to take a prescription grade potassium vitamin. The over the counter kind was very low compared. If he didn't, he would get leg cramps. Also, people that have had gastric bypass surgery need to take vitamins. Because their body absorbs less vitamins through food after the surgery. They drink a lot of protein shakes and eat a lot of vitamins. If you are generally healthy, then no it doesn't do anything for you. And if you intake a lot of vitamins you can actually overdose and make yourself sick. I have heard of people making themselves sick off of oranges. Everything in moderation.

[@khrdmn2793]

Interestingly enough he does make the note that there was a study that showed that people eating garlic did get less illnesses. However, is taking garlic every day to prevent a common cold really worth an increase in rashes and the interesting odor that accompanies this? I would think probably not. I have heard about Vitamin C as a treatment for the common cold several times in the past, with multiple individuals encouraging me to immediately use Vitamin C as soon as I developed a cough or congestion. I never fully understood this logic, as Vitamin C is actually a water soluble vitamin and so even after taking 200x the recommended amount, all of that excess is simply lost in the urine. It was reassuring to find out that it does not give any proven benefit in regards to shortening the duration or lessening the severity of common cold symptoms. Airborne has always been a skeptical product, and I appreciate that they were forced to remove information from their packaging that was not scientifically proven. I think it would be helpful to raise further awareness about the fact that any package is designed to sell their product, and some of that information my be fabricated in an attempt to make more money. In general, I wonder how much of the "relief" that is experienced by those taking some of these remedies is related to the placebo effect. Experiments have shown multiple times in the past that the placebo effect actually works, and if individuals that are taking this really believe that it works then they are more likely to feel better. He even makes the comment that just memories of others caring for you that are experienced when eating chicken soup can be enough to bring this into effect. Regardless, he is correct in saying that most of these remedies are virtually harmless.

[@ravebiscuits8721]

I must say that, as a worthless anecdote, both me and my mother take large amounts of vitamin C (1000mg) only at the very start of a cold (and not regularly in addition) and it almost always stops the cold progressing. I'm aware of how worthless this is as evidence obviously.

[@veryniceflower5175]

Yes, because it boosts your immune system.

[@babyboi98]

Yooo!! Dude I do the same thing and I notice a huge difference from when I didn't take vitamin C vs when I did... B4 I knew to take vitamin C colds and the flew would last 5-7 days when I took Vitamin C, and stayed hydrated 3 days tops... And look up how these studies are done they are not truthful.. Research how when they studied vitamin C how they used a (watered down so to speak form of it) ... They pharmaceutical folk make no money from curing and preventing... So expect them to have studies done that will say exactly what they want them to say... Smh... People are dying and they making money... 🤔🤔🤔... There are cures for cancer too!!! I can tell u right now three things that will wipe cancer right out... But they won't tell u that!!

[@ravebiscuits8721]

Moist Butt Flaps Yes that's what I had presumed to be happening.

[@rbshow211]

That's called a placebo. Because you and your mother have been told that Vitamin C helps boost immunity for decades (yes this myth has been around that long) then it seems that the Vitamin C will help you. And because it "worked" the first time, it will "work" the second time because now you REALLY believe it because it worked before. Placebo. But just because its a placebo doesn't make it bad. If it makes you feel better, then do it.

[@eloujtimereaver4504]

Forget Chicken Soup. Best placebo cold remedy: Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream

[@sonyapeach]

Elouj Time Reaver Yes keep eating that and you will always be sick.

[@eloujtimereaver4504]

@@sonyapeach Why?