Fighting Flu - Fighting Common Cold
A Review of Studies on Zinc Lozenges and Elderberry

Elderberry and Flu
A study conducted in 2003 showed that an extract of Elderberry reduced symptoms and shortened the duration of flu type A and B in fifty four participants aged 18-54. The study, accepted for publication in the Journal of International Medical Research, was conducted in Oslo, Norway.

On average, flu patients given elderberry recovered in 3.1 days, compared to 7.1 days for those given a placebo. In a previous published study, 90% of flu patients taking Elderberry were completely free of symptoms in 2 to 3 days, as compared to 6 days with a placebo.

In 1992 during a flu epidemic at an Israeli Kibbutz, half of the flu patients were given an elderberry syrup, the other half a placebo. The results: within 24 hours, 20% of the patients receiving elderberry had gotten significantly better. Within two days, 75% of the elderberry group was much improved; within 3 days 90% were completely cured. Among the placebo group, only 8% of patients improved within 24 hours and it was a full 6 days before 90% of the patients were cured.

How Elderberry Works
The action is explained as follows - flu viruses are covered by tiny protein spikes which they use to attach to and infect healthy human cells. Apparently the key active substances within black elderberry disarm these spikes and stop the first step of viral infection.

Zinc Lozenges and Common Cold
Prevention - a 2002 study shows that taking zinc lozenges on a daily basis can significantly reduce the possibility of getting a cold. The study, involving 378 subjects over a total of 170,000 patient days, was published in the November 21, 2002 issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics. The study showed that the incidence of colds was reduced by as much as 62%. The study was conducted at a high school, an environment where colds spread easily.

Cuts Duration - In another randomized, double-blind study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (7/00) and conducted at the Detroit Medical Center in Michigan, cold duration was effectively cut from 8.1 to 4.5 days. The duration of coughs was reduced from 6.3 days for the placebo group to 3.1 days for those using zinc lozenges.

In a 1996 study at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, zinc lozenges reduced the average duration of cold symptoms from 7 days to only 4. The study participants were employees of the Clinic. They started using zinc lozenges or dummy placebo lozenges within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms. The results: the median time for all symptoms to disappear was 7.6 days for the placebo group; the zinc group recovered in 4.4 days.

This study confirms results of several prior tests. In a 1983 study at the University of Texas, zinc lozenges reduced the average duration of cold symptoms from nine days to only three. A 1992 study at Dartmouth College, supported the efficacy of 23 mg. Zinc lozenges.

How Zinc Works
How does zinc work? Zinc ions may interfere with the replication of cold viruses in the throat. But more recent research suggests that zinc may owe its cold-fighting properties to its effect on our immune system, rather than directly on the virus. In either case, the research suggests that zinc lozenge should be taken every two hours at the first sign of a cold or once daily to avert a cold.

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