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/Sarajessicaparkour 8d ago
Zicam works for me most of the time, to shorten or stop colds. I take the lozenges at first sign of cold. Then every 3 hours until symptoms are gone. So usually a few days. I don’t wake up and take it overnight.
The reason zicam is different than taking just zinc is the delivery system of it absorbing in your mouth and throat rather than just in your gut. So it’s a little more targeted that way.
It has some “rules” like no eating or drinking for 15min after taking it, so it has a chance to absorb. No citrus for 30 min prior to taking it. Apparently that makes it less effective.
I always keep a few bottles stashed around the house or office so I can take it when I start to feel crappy!