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Press
Release
Popular
Supplements Used to Treat Colds and PMS:
Are They Healers or Hype?
For Immediate Release
March 2003
Please Contact: Christina Calbi
at KMR Communications, Inc
(212) 213-6444
Feel
a cold coming on? The natural response for most
suffering from cold or flu symptoms is to immediately reach
for supplements and herbal remedies such as Echinacea,
Oscillococcinum, and Zinc. The same reaction applies to
the increasing number of women who rely on herbal solutions
like Evening Primrose Oil and Wild Yam to help them battle
PMS. Supplements and herbal remedies have quickly become
household names and are typically the first line of defense
for many against a plethora of common ailments, but do they
really work?
"Supplements
can offer some relief, but are not the answer for curing
illnesses such as the common cold or PMS," says Dr. Ali
Meschi a Laguna Hills, California holistic medical expert and
board certified naturopathic physician. “Many of the
patients I encounter are under the impression that they can
eradicate their symptoms simply by consuming a combination of
supplements they have heard about in the news, this is not the
case.”
Cold
Remedies – Over the last several years, many people
consistently use supplements such as Echinacea,
Oscillococcinum and Zinc as a primary treatment for cold and
flu symptoms. Echinacea has received great accolades for
its ability to boost the immune system and ward off cold and
flu. However, a recent study found that when researchers
gave 117 participants either a placebo or Echinacea and then
exposed them to cold viruses, those who took the Echinacea
were equally as likely to develop a cold as those who took the
placebo. Given this new information, do these commonly
used remedies actually work? Dr. Meschi explains, “Supplements
such as Echinacea and Zinc should not be considered a primary
defense against cold and flu because while they do support the
immune system in some aspect, they do not address all of the
components of a healthy immune system. Without treating
the whole picture, they cannot be considered an effective
treatment.”
Dr.
Meschi also cautions against overuse, “These supplements and
homeopathic remedies, particularly Oscillococcinum can, at
minimum, result in the reduction of cold or flu-like
symptoms. However, if they are overused the body will
not react to them whatsoever. They should only be taken
when symptoms are present.” Dr. Meschi recommends the
following for getting rid of a cold or flu; “The bottom line
is that supplements just are not a substitution for
traditional methods of fighting illness. The best
defense is a combination of simple things, consuming a great
deal of liquids, maintaining a healthy diet and getting a
significant amount of rest.”
PMS
– Millions of women are perpetually searching for a solution
to managing PMS. There are many over-the-counter
remedies, but many women turn to natural herb alternatives
such as Evening Primrose Oil and Wild Yam to regulate cramps,
bloating and emotional upset. Women believe these
supplements, which are frequently touted as remedies, to be a
cure for the symptoms they are plagued with. Are these
remedies truly responsible for curing PMS? Dr. Meschi
comments, “Unfortunately, these supplements are not potent
enough to be considered therapeutic. Evening Primrose
Oil, in the form that it is readily available to the public,
is not strong enough to provide a real, lasting effect. Wild
Yam does stimulate hormone production in its most potent form,
however this form is not generally available to women.
The Wild Yam supplements found on store shelves generally do
not contain the appropriate ingredients to be used for
medicinal purposes.” Women can take measures with diet and
exercise to decrease monthly symptoms. “By eliminating
certain foods from the diet and incorporating an exercise
regiment, women can see drastic symptom reduction.”
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