Treating Colds

So, my attempt to use mushroom-based medicine to prevent my cold totally failed, so, with the help of someone who really knew what she was talking about, I'm exploring two other herbal medicines to treat the cold that I couldn't prevent.  That's what I'm writing about today.

1.  Astragalus: Astragalus is a plant, I suspect, but the medicinal form is derived from the root.  It can be made into a tablet, but it's most commonly found in tincture form (a liquid that you add to hot water to make a tea).  Astragalus has been found to strengthen the immune system, the system that gets compromised when you get a cold.  Astgragalus should help the immune system fight of the continued presence of a cold, shortening its duration.

2.  Echinacea: Echinacea is actually an herbal remedy from the Western medicine tradition, originally used by the Plains Indians (including the Chayanne, Lakota, Pawnee and Kiowa) long ago.  Echinacea is a flower, and the medicine is derived from grinding up the petals of this flower.  It's a local plant and easy to grow; I've had it in my back yard.  Recently, it's become a popular treatment for colds, and for this reason scientists have begun testing to determine the effectiveness of echinacea--with mixed results.  Some have found that taking the herb reduces the changes of getting a cold and, if taken after you have a cold, it can reduce the during of the cold.  Others are less convinced.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has begun testing herbal medicines and supplements more rigorously in recent years as more and more people have begun taking them.  Again, the results are mixed.  This is something I should look into more.  (Though I also have to say that my experiences with approved cold medicines are also very mixed; some say that most of them are worthless.)