CISRA’s Synergy Health Newsletter

by J.C. Waterhouse, Ph.D. 

Since it has been such a bad year for colds and flu, I thought I would share my experiences with cold remedies. I have tried many of the remedies for colds, including tons of Vitamin C, zinc lozenges, Echinacea etc.., and have not found them to be very helpful. But I find I can stay virtually symptom free if I take generous doses of Alpha CF (CF stands for colds and flu, it is a homeopathic, from B & T, Boericke and Tafel, a product imported from the Netherlands, but widely available in health food and drug stores, also available from NEEDS, 800-634-1380).

I take 2 or 3 tablets sublingually every 2 to 4 hours, or whenever symptoms recur. Like other homeopathics, it is generally considered to be quite safe, and I have had no problems with this approach. I take the Alpha CF for night time as well, taking an extra dose when I awake during the night. I find that many people who try Alpha CF don’t take enough of it. I believe this is because the package says to take 1 tablet every hour when symptoms first appear and 2 or 3 at bedtime. I find that people tend to forget to take it every hour, or can’t because they are interrupted by meals and other things. Since the package mentioned taking 3 at bedtime (presumably so it would last longer), I supposed that taking 3 at a time less frequently made more sense than the hourly approach.

I have found this strategy to work quite well, especially if it is kept up until all symptoms are gone and no longer return. The one time it failed was when I was traveling and under stress and did not get enough rest, but even then the Alpha CF dramatically reduced the symptoms and shortened the duration of the cold, with no side effects. I don’t know how it works, but I rule out the placebo effect because no other remedy has worked nearly this well for me (with the exception of prescription, low dose sublingual and intranasal alpha interferon — see this article from Issue 7)

I suspect that Alpha CF may affect the regulation of the immune system. It may have only small amounts of the active ingredients (it is not nearly as dilute as some homeopathics that have been claimed to have no active ingredients), but then again vaccines and allergy desensitization shots also affect the immune system with very small amounts of the active ingredients.

I still take extra buffered vitamin C and other vitamins for good measure, but alone, without the Alpha CF, they have not been enough. Those using guaifenesin to treat fibromyalgia will be pleased to know that homeopathic medicines such as this one can still be taken, since in almost all cases they are dilute enough not to have significant salicylates (unlike herbs like Echinacea and Goldenseal, which do have enough salicylates to block guaifenesin). I would avoid certain homeopathics in gel form, however, like Arnica gel, since they may have more salicylates, which may be even more potent when applied to the skin.

One other thing that I believe may be important for some people in infection avoidance is allergen/chemical irritant avoidance. For example, my father had gotten a severe cold and sore throat every winter for many years, until the last few years, when he has treated incipient colds with Alpha CF. The same thing happened again this year. He noticed a sore throat, took the Alpha CF and all symptoms went away in a day or so. However, 2 days later, some painting was done in his bathroom and the paint had particularly persistent and noxious fumes. Within a day, his cold had recurred, despite taking the Alpha CF. It lasted 3 weeks, until finally, he moved a new air filter into his room, and his morning mucus and coughing fits that had been lingering, diminished greatly by the next morning.

This confirms my suspicions that chemicals and other allergens or irritants can prolong or exacerbate a cold (note: allergens are known to be a factor in sinus infections). I first thought this to be possible, many years ago, after my experience in my college chemistry lab course, when I had a bad cold last practically an entire 10 week quarter, longer than I ever recalled having one before. Every week, I would seem to almost have it beaten, until it got worse again after spending my evening in the chemistry lab. Avoidance of pollens, animal danders, mold and dust mites (also reduced by an air filter) is probably also a good idea, especially in the cold and flu season. (For more on resources and methods for allergy avoidance, see CISRA’s Synergy Health Newsletter, Issue 5.)

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you. However, it should be remembered that there is a lot of heterogeneity among people in their immune systems, particularly in those with chronic illnesses, so you may not have as much success with these strategies as we have. Clearly this is only anecdotal evidence and more scientific research is needed. Nevertheless, you may find it worth a try. Perhaps some readers would let me know how it works for them.

Editorial Note (2008): It may also help to use Alpha CF preventatively. To use it this way, you might take a tablet or two when you know you will be exposed to a person with a cold.

 
Disclaimer: All articles provided on the SynergyHN website are for information only and are not intended as medical advice. An effort is made to be accurate, however readers are advised to verify what is presented here and check with their own doctors. No guarantee of accuracy is expressed or implied. Neither CISRA nor the author receives any funding or income from any organization or manufacturer connected with the topics discussed.