For more than 15 years, I wondered why some people apparently never have a common cold infection. Whenever yet another cold infection made me feel miserable, I couldn't help but feel great envy towards those who have been cold-free for years. Today, I am one of them. But contrary to those who have been naturally cold-free for the greater parts of their lives, I had to work hard for it. For years, I've struggled with the common cold, desperately seeking for ways to prevent it. It was a time of great challenges during which I felt as if I was fighting an enemy that could not be defeated. However, my determination to continue helped me to discover how people who are not naturally gifted with above average immunity levels can effectively prevent common cold infections. This is the story of my unusual but victorious quest to overcome the common cold against all odds. It is a story that will show you how you can make use of unusual but highly effective methods to prevent common cold infections. Even more so, numerous references to scientific studies substantiate the claims made in this book to help you investigate the subject matter on your own. Come join the exclusive club of those who are cold-free!

Explains the common cold, including symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention.

The common cold is unlike any other human disease because of two f- tors: firstly, it is arguably the most common human disease and, secondly, it is one of the most complex diseases because of the number of viruses that cause the familiar syndrome of sneezing, sore throat, runny nose and nasal congestion. These two factors have made a ‘cure’ for the common cold one of the most difficult scientific and clinical endeavours (a topic often d- cussed in the popular media, where comparisons are made with the ease of putting a man on the moon). The present book brings together a wide range of experts from epidemiologists to virologists and pharmacologists to look at recent advances in our knowledge of the common cold. In some respects the book is unique, as it focuses on the common cold, a syndrome so familiar to the layperson but one that receives little attention from the scientist and clinician. The common cold can be viewed from many different aspects as illustrated in Figure 1. The core knowledge for understanding the common cold must first come from virology and this is discussed in several chapters of the book. There have been major advances in this field because of the use of new methods of detecting viruses such as polymerase chain reaction techniques that have greatly aided our understanding of the epidemiology of viruses associated with common cold.

Cold Wars tells the story of the common cold, the most widespread disease of all. From ancient Egypt to the space age, colds have plagued mankind, and many attempts have been made to find a cure. Today, we spend millions of pounds on remedies and businesses lose millions of pounds through employee sickness- but are we any closer to conquering the cold? In the aftermath of the Second World War, a concerted effort was made in the UK to resolve the scientific conundrum of the common cold. A Common Cold Unit was established near Salisbury, making use of some rather primitive facilities provided by the American Red Cross, and for nearly 50 years was part of the British medical establishment. Much of the research was done on volunteers, who came in large numbers to the CCU to spend days in isolation while scientists attempted to give them a cold. Many eminent scientists, including James Lovelock, were part of the attempt to understand the common cold. This book begins with a brief history of colds through the centuries, describing what earlier generations believed and the strange treatments they tried. That the cold was caused by a virus was only uncovered at the beginning of the last century. The authors vividly describe the establishment of the Common Cold Unit, and its work in uncovering the causes and transmission of the cold and analysing possible treatments. Finally, they assess the progress made in recent years in understanding the psychological aspects of colds, and the latest research on prevention and cures. Cold Wars offers a fascinating account of an eccentric, but effective, attempt to unravel the mysteries of the common cold.

Some colds are like mice, timid and annoying; others like dragons, accompanied by body aches and deep misery. In AH-CHOO!, Jennifer Ackerman explains what, exactly, a cold is, how it works, and whether it's really possible to "fight one off." Scientists call this the Golden Age of the Common Cold because Americans suffer up to a billion colds each year, resulting in 40 million days of missed work and school and 100 million doctor visits. They've also learned over the past decade much more about what cold viruses are, what they do to the human body, and how symptoms can be addressed. In this ode to the odious cold, Ackerman sifts through the chatter about treatments-what works, what doesn't, and what can't hurt. She dispels myths, such as susceptibility to colds reflects a weakened immune system. And she tracks current research, including work at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, a world-renowned center of cold research studies, where the search for a cure continues.

“Strong medicine! . . . Dr. Williams offers real-world options in the realm of natural and food-based therapies.” —Ron Klatz, MD, DO, President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and author of Infection Protection Be Prepared to Beat the Flu! Every year, 36,000 Americans die of the flu and one million die worldwide. The possibility of a super flu pandemic is frightening. If no one has immunity, it could cover the globe in 250 days and conceivably infect twenty percent or more of the world’s population of 6.6 billion. The 1918 Spanish flu killed 675,000 Americans and at least fifty million worldwide. The death toll from the bird flu virus—with a 50% kill rate in adults and a frightening 89% in children—could reach an apocalyptic 360 million. Worse yet, without a vaccine (or adequate supplies), and without enough antiviral drugs, modern medicine doesn’t have a specific, effective, and safe treatment for the flu. This nightmare scenario may not happen, but if it does, it’s essential that individuals and families arm themselves with up-to-date information. Dr. J. E. Williams is an oriental and natural-medicine expert who has used herbs and vitamins to treat influenza and other viruses for more than two decades. In Beating the Flu, he begins not by telling you how to treat the flu bug, but how to avoid it altogether through a combination of good hygiene and super foods that offer the quick boosts your immune system needs to ward off the virus. Should you get sick, Dr. Williams also offers a “natural medicine cabinet” of vitamins, herbs, and minerals that work best against any kind of flu—along with the clinical evidence to back up the remedies.

A revised edition of a classic health reference shares up-to-date advice on a variety of everyday ailments from allergies and colds to insomnia and jet lag, recommending corresponding home treatments for conditions that do not require hands-on professional care. Original.