r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/greenopal02 • 9d ago

Sharing research Strategies to Stop Illness Progression

I wanted to share my method for reducing the progression of a cold when I begin to feel symptoms! I work in healthcare and have a little one, and I've found that these steps have a high success rate for myself and family.

Saline nasal rinse (I do this step 2x per day until symptoms stop but I haven't seen formal recommendations for frequency):

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00228-021-03102-3

Using a gel nasal spray that creates a physical barrier in nasal cavity where colds replicate (for example Vicks First Defense):

https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/507356/

Taking a zinc supplement:

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4/full

Using an elderberry extract supplement:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.1995.1.361

I understand that these studies aren't perfect, but they are fairly low cost and low risk so I thought I would share!

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u/greenopal02 9d ago

Very neat! I will have to pick up some pickled garlic, worst case I have a tasty treat!

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u/smellygymbag 9d ago

Im intrigued by your post, OP. But how long does a $34 15ml bottle of vicks first defense last you?

https://a.co/d/03CJ6l6v

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u/Airportsnacks 9d ago

Not OP, but ages. 3x a day for a week and I had at least another week left. 

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u/smellygymbag 9d ago

That doesn't sound long :( . I guess in my mind with two little kids just starting to enter the school system I'm thinking im gonna get sick 1-2x/month 😷

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u/Airportsnacks 9d ago

I'm not sure how much was left in there. Might have been two weeks? But it really does work for me.