ADBB Vitamin Club ~ do you supplement for cold season?

[jimmie 48]

i'm wondering who takes what during cold/flu season to prevent (or help prevent) getting a cold or flu.

i take echinachea. we've done that for years and years. i used to drink quite a bit of orange juice, too, but that stopped when i started low carb.

the dosage, on the bottle of echineachea that i have at the moment, states 2 -3 pills, 2 or 3 times a day. i've never done this kind dosage before. i take one a day, with my other vitamins, and i actually think that is the wrong time.

if i'm not mistaken, vitamins should be taken with or after a meal and herbs should be taken on an empty stomach. don't quote me on that. it's something i need to look up for sure.

the last time i was sick was march 2005. before that, i can't remember.

that's what i take. how about the rest of you?

[Alexa]

I take echinacea and extra vit c on top of my normal vitiamins when I know I'm going to meet with small children because my nieces and nephews always seem to have lots of colds. That seems to work.

I took pre-emptive echinacea when my BF got a cold last week, but I've got it anyway.

When I'm ill I also take a strong and horrible garlic tablet (very anti-social) which seems to make cold less severe for me.

I found this link:
http://www.normanallan.com/Med/herbs/how2herb.html which says tinctures or teas are a better way to take herbs. I'm not sure about this - but I do remember echinacea seemed more effective when it came in a capsule you could open and make into tea. The ones I have at the moment aren't like that though.

[jimmie 48]

good morning, baarb! and thanks for the link!

it appears that my thought of taking herbs on an empty stomach was right.
the capsules are so readily available, i have not looked into buying echinachea any other way.

someone, a long time ago, told me to take zinc but that never seemed to help me.

baarb, do you have the no odor garlic tabs available to you? i would tend to think that cooking with fresh garlic would be way to go. let everyone have the same garlicy breath.

[Alexa]

These are meant to be odor controlled! I get my BF to take one at the same time. I should cook more with garlic, I'm still feeling my way around Atkins cooking - it's all still quite plain.

Any thoughts on when to take herbs if you have to take meds first thing on an empty stomach? I get up, take meds, wait half an hour, cook breakfast and take vits with breakfast.

[jimmie 48]

maybe take the herbs at night before going to bed?

[Alexa]

Yeah, I guess that;s kind of obvious - I always think of herbs and vits as a morning thing. I'll try it, thanks

[sillygirl]

Jimmie, we take Zinc (50 - 100 mg twice a day if sick) as soon as we feel some cold come on. I think it really works either by keeping the cold at bay, or shortening the length of it if it develops.

[jimmie 48]

that is my experience with echinachea. even if i get a cold, it doesn't seem to last as long.

i should say here that echinachea boost the bloods white cell count, boosting the immune system.

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/1741
Echinacea
Echinacea stimulates the immune system and helps the body rid itself of microbial infection. Echinace angustifolia and E. purpurrea are equally effective, and many products contain E. pallida as well. Start taking Echinacea tincture –30 to 45 drops 3x a day—a week before traveling to obtain ints immune –enhancing effects.
While all treatments work differently, depending on the individual, experience shows that Echinacea can knock out a cold if taken at the onset of symptoms.

[HeidiE]

I take Airborne to keep colds away ... be careful if you are allergic to ragweed do not take echinachea you could have a severe reaction to it ...just a little fyi

[sallyseachange]

Can't say I take anything...but then I don't get many colds (thank goodness). Never did, and since being on Atkins, even less! Not having to use public transport is a great help I think!
Nice to read your posts though... I've heard many good things about that echinea too.