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Gargling With Salt Water Can Ease Cold Symptoms
NY Times ^ | September 27, 2010 | ANAHAD O’CONNOR

Posted on 09/30/2010 11:58:50 PM PDT by neverdem

Edited on 10/01/2010 5:52:45 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

THE FACTS Nothing but time can cure the common cold, but a simple cup of salt water might ease the misery this winter.

A sore, itchy throat and respiratory congestion are some of the more common symptoms of a cold, and gargling with salt water seems to help for several reasons. A saline solution can draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the throat, making them hurt less, said Dr. Philip T. Hagen, editor in chief of the

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Testing
KEYWORDS: health; medicine; uri
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The Times' article was one of the most popular.

Conventional and alternative medical advice for cold and flu prevention: what should be recommended and what should be avoided?/a>

Abstract
H1N1, seasonal flu, and upper respiratory infection over-the-counter (OTC) prevention recommendations seem daunting, but in reality, only several diverse lifestyle changes, supplements, and prescriptions have adequate evidence that should be discussed with patients. In addition, numerous other recommendations contain little to no evidence. For example, most heart-healthy behavioral changes, such as reducing visceral adipose tissue, simultaneously improve immune health, and this needs to be emphasized. Ethyl alcohol hand gel and plain soap and water should be encouraged, and antimicrobial soaps should be discouraged. Gargling with water and using nasal saline spray are also cost effective and supported with clinical evidence. Vitamins C and D have the largest benefit-to-risk ratio for patients and may reduce the risk of pneumonia from a recent meta-analysis. Other supplements, such has echinacea, vitamin E, and zinc, have some clinical data, but also have potential long-term safety issues. High-calorie antioxidant beverages only encourage weight and waist gain, but a teaspoon or two of honey has antimicrobial activity and may suppress cough. Finally, vaccine compliance as early as possible should be promoted as a selfless act that reduces viral transmission that could cause morbidity and mortality in the most immune vulnerable individuals, and simply promotes herd immunity, rather than a self-centered act whose individual result and response (n = 1) currently and unfortunately seems to mirror the perceived personal effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of the vaccine.

1 posted on 09/30/2010 11:58:54 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

So this is medicine under Obamacare.


2 posted on 10/01/2010 12:01:22 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: neverdem

Breaking news, 1883?


3 posted on 10/01/2010 12:02:28 AM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder ("No longer can we make no mistake for too long". Barack d****it 0bama, 2009, 2010, 2011.)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

I was gonna say...

This is news??? Heck, when I was a kid, if I came home snake bit, with a broken leg and an arrow sticking out of my back, my Mom would have handed me a glass of salt water to gargle before she did anything else.


4 posted on 10/01/2010 12:04:33 AM PDT by Ronin (If he were not so gruesomely incompetent and dangerous, Obama would just be silly.)
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To: neverdem

Hot salt water usually works best for my sore throat episodes. Gargling is good; a few swallows can be better.


5 posted on 10/01/2010 12:12:21 AM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Ronin

“This is news??? Heck, when I was a kid, if I came home snake bit, with a broken leg and an arrow sticking out of my back, my Mom would have handed me a glass of salt water to gargle before she did anything else.”

Let me guess she then tanned your hide for being snake bit, having broken leg and coming home with an arrow sticking out of your back. :)


6 posted on 10/01/2010 12:13:10 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: neverdem

I was always taught salt solutions have antiseptic qualities.


7 posted on 10/01/2010 12:14:41 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: Ronin

It is news, because folk of today are forgetting the old, basic, but often very effective remedies of the past, and need to be reminded of them.


8 posted on 10/01/2010 12:16:46 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: 2ndreconmarine; Fitzcarraldo; Covenantor; Mother Abigail; EBH; Dog Gone; ...

Ping...


9 posted on 10/01/2010 12:18:24 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: 2ndreconmarine; Fitzcarraldo; Covenantor; Mother Abigail; EBH; Dog Gone; ...

Ping...


10 posted on 10/01/2010 12:19:07 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: 2ndreconmarine; Fitzcarraldo; Covenantor; Mother Abigail; EBH; Dog Gone; ...

Sorry, folks, that was supposed to be one ping only...


11 posted on 10/01/2010 12:20:24 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: neverdem
THE FACTS Nothing but time can cure the common cold,...

That's what he thinks.

12 posted on 10/01/2010 12:21:46 AM PDT by TigersEye (Defend liberty. Destroy socialism.)
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To: neverdem

“Finally, vaccine compliance as early as possible should be promoted as a selfless act that reduces viral transmission that could cause morbidity and mortality in the most immune vulnerable individuals, and simply promotes herd immunity, rather than a self-centered act whose individual result and response (n = 1) currently and unfortunately seems to mirror the perceived personal effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of the vaccine.”

Vaccines for colds????
They don’t have vaccines for colds, anyway.

Flu shots promoted to the levels of “herd mentality” and religion. Flu shot equals selfless act baloney!!!!


13 posted on 10/01/2010 12:22:08 AM PDT by TruthConquers (Delendae sunt publicae scholae)
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To: Vanders9

‘Ye are the salt of the earth’


14 posted on 10/01/2010 12:30:19 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Pr.29:2))
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To: Nailbiter

Naturally. Tanned hide was a general purpose remedy for anything.


15 posted on 10/01/2010 12:31:43 AM PDT by Ronin (If he were not so gruesomely incompetent and dangerous, Obama would just be silly.)
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To: neverdem

Gargling with bourbon is better...after a few times, you don’t give a @#@# about your sore throat anyway.


16 posted on 10/01/2010 12:31:43 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (Fix bayonets!)
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To: fortheDeclaration
‘Ye are the salt of the earth’

Back in the day we gargled with earth, we couldn't afford salt.

17 posted on 10/01/2010 12:32:40 AM PDT by this_ol_patriot
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To: neverdem
My mother used to tell me this when I was a kid and my doctor told me to do this as recently as 3 weeks ago.

Depending on what ails you, it can be effective.

18 posted on 10/01/2010 12:38:38 AM PDT by South40 (Filled with hatred for those who disagree, democrats are the most intolerant bigots on earth)
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To: fortheDeclaration

Somehow I don’t think this means I ought to gargle with Christians (duck’n & runn’n)


19 posted on 10/01/2010 12:46:53 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: neverdem
I heard that Windex can cure pretty much anything.

(kidding)

20 posted on 10/01/2010 12:49:22 AM PDT by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
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