Odd Cures - When all else fails: Beating a cold with vitamin D, echinacea, and zinc

FIGHTING COLDS

Ailment: Sore throat that goes away, followed by runny nose, congestion and cough.

Odd Cure: Zinc (80 mg), Echinacea (2400 mg), and Vitamin D₃ (2000 IU), daily.

Rationale: The common cold may be due to a multitude of viruses beyond the most common cause, rhinovirus, (ref) and likewise a multitude of cold fighting agents supposedly exist. Among these, three have shown promise including Zinc (ref), Echinacea (ref), and vitamin D (ref). Yet, the science is complicated and reports go both ways as far as whether this really works (ref). Thus, it remains unclear if the anti-cold benefits of zinc, echinacea, and vitamin D may be purely placebo or effective in certain individuals against particular viral strains.

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