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January 5, 2010 | Comments: 4

A Cold Remedy That Works?

Cold-fX, a patented extract of American ginseng root, has been tested in several studies, with promising results.

Cold remedies come and go. Airborne, Cold-Eeze, Zicam, homeopathic products, megadoses of vitamin C, and other nostrums have had their day, but flunked in clinical trials, or turned out to help a little but not much—or to have potentially serious side effects.

But in 2007 Health Canada (whose function is similar to that of the FDA in the U.S.) put its stamp of approval on Cold-fX, a ginseng-derived product that is allowed to claim, at least in Canada, that it “helps reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system.” Ginseng is an herb touted for almost every medicinal purpose imaginable.

One problem with ginseng on the U.S. market is that you do not really know what kind you are getting, which part of the plant, or how much, since supplements are virtually unregulated here. But Cold-fX is a patented, standardized extract of American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius), so you do know what’s in the bottle.

Cold-fX is available only over the Internet (drugstores no longer sell it in the U.S.). But before you try it, remember that even in Canada the claim is not to prevent all colds, or to treat a cold once you have one, but to reduce their severity, frequency, and duration.

Might work, can’t hurt

The studies on which the claims for Cold-fX are based were sponsored by the manufacturer (just like the studies of most prescription drugs). In one study of healthy middle-aged subjects, those who took Cold-fX over four months had fewer colds, and when they did get colds, symptoms were milder, compared to those taking a placebo. Another study tested Cold-fX in elderly people, who also experienced a reduction in respiratory infections. All this sounds encouraging, but the studies were small and brief. Still, it is unusual for studies of a so-called “natural product” to be even as well designed as these.

If you want to try Cold-fX, it appears to be safe. Since ginseng has an anticoagulant effect, however, if you are taking blood thinners (such as warfarin), talk with your doctor before taking Cold-fX.

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