Oregano oil; does it help with a cold?!
Question:
Oregano oil; does it help with a cold?
my dad bought me some oregano oil to help me with this horrible cold i have, but i am skeptical of it. Does anyone know if it's a "Snake oil" cure all or if it really works
Answers:
It boosts the immune system, in general.
Oregano oil helps with a cold - when it's accompanied by :
a viral & bacterial infections, eases congestion in lungs & sinuses, and relieves coughing.
For colds -
Supplements also help, but more by fighting the cold virus and stimulating your immune system's than by suppressing symptoms.
Although they won't necessarily make you feel better right away, supplements may help you recover faster as well as reduce some of your symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C does not prevent colds, even in large doses, but it will improve your immune system response to cold viruses and thereby lessen the severity and duration of cold symptoms.
Although it may not prevent a cold, vitamin C can help shorten its duration and reduce bothersome symptoms.
Consider taking the herb echinacea as well. This immune system booster is a natural antiviral cold fighter. For an extra boost, combine echinacea with goldenseal.
Zinc lozenges may also help speed recovery, perhaps by destroying the cold virus itself. (Read zinc lozenge labels carefully. Only zinc gluconate, ascorbate, and glycinate help fight colds. Don't buy zinc products containing sorbitol, mannitol, or citric acid. When combined with saliva, these ingredients make zinc ineffective.)
Another tip is to try breaking the tablets into quarters; suck on each piece every 30 minutes to 1 hour. If the particular virus you have is sensitive to the zinc, after the fourth tablet you should notice some relief in your sore throat pain.