Black Elderberry extract reduces the symptoms of cold and flu dramatically, apparently
But it comes in the form of Sambucol, which is £9 a bottle. My other half swears by it.

EDIT: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elderberry#Medicinal_Use Says Flu B here, but he says it helps his asthma during a cold.

Also, there's strong evidence that echinacea and vitamin c combined boost your immune system
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:22, archived)

Have you got a link to the studies that prove it?

( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:43, archived)

I swear by nightnurse
although I am in deep shit if E wakes up and the nurse is still here!
( Tyronne Get To Falkirk, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:24, archived)

You could go and pick your own, they're growing everywhere at the moment.
Although this doesn't talk about vitamin C and echinacea combined, it pretty much discredits using either individually to cure colds
www.nhs.uk/livewell/coldsandflu/pages/preventionandcure.aspx
( my other username is a porsche , posting shit pictures so you don't have to, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:45, archived)

I can't find the original papers, just the news articles referring to them
They were in some journal at my uni. However, the NHS is right; taking them daily BEFORE the cold has taken effect is obviously more beneficial, as it doesn't fight the virus, it boosts the immune system itself.

HOWEVER there are also studies that say taking echinacea for more than a set amount of time reduces the effects of it anyway. I found as many studies showing this as I did showing that MMR caused autism. Which is very few.
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:54, archived)

Sorry, Cochrane have dealt with vitamin C and echinacea.
Vitamin C is pretty conclusively found to have no benefit for prevention or treatment.
Also no evidence for Echinacea preventing colds, but apparently some evidence for effectiveness as a treatment.
edit: links www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000980.html
www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000530.html
( my other username is a porsche , posting shit pictures so you don't have to, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:03, archived)

Aren't you going to be part of the NHS and probably at some point put in a situation where patients might actually fucking listen to your medical advice?
Dear fucking lord.
( Noit happy baby orangutan, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:47, archived)

Isn't this like every other thing Sammi has claimed to have done?
She'll 'drop out' again.
( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:52, archived)

What the fuck?
I've dropped out of Biology. I have an Animal Management qualification and I think the only other thing I dropped out of is St John Ambulance :/
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:58, archived)

Shut up. Shut up shut up shut up shut up. You inconceivably ignorant and delusional moron.
Go and lie about get pregnant and pissed, you unutterably pointless waste of cells.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:00, archived)

Pfffffffffffffft!
You're funny.
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:02, archived)

You're not.
You're tragic.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:11, archived)

There was that miscarriage, although it's more the case that it dropped out of you.

( Noit happy baby orangutan, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:01, archived)

I think the amount of booze she was drinking may have helped matters.

( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:09, archived)

now that is some very wide hips.

( Tyronne Get To Falkirk, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:24, archived)

Even if she had a stethoscope around her neck and a shiny badge saying "World Renowned Expert"
nobody with a head still attached is going to pay any fucking attention to her. Surely.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 7:59, archived)

I'm just thinking of the NHS.
There's lots of people in distress who will turn to anyone for advice.

Also lots of obvious mentals.
( Noit happy baby orangutan, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:02, archived)

I'm not trying to be funny here, but what do you think the course is FOR?
It's a 3 year degree, not a 1 year NVQ
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:06, archived)

You wont last a year.

( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:08, archived)

Pfft
Why's that, then?
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:19, archived)

Because you are without doubt the single, most stupid human being I have ever had the misfortune to spend time with
with the all the intelligence, wit, charm, and social skills of John McCririck crossed with Bernard Manning.
( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:28, archived)

you'd better tell that to the admissions tutor, the exam marker
and the specialist dementia care home owner who asked me to return in my holidays to work!
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:35, archived)

All of them ticking a lovely diversity box.

( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:37, archived)

To be fair, I was in no position to give good advice when I started my course.
That's what training is for. Not that patients ever ask me for advice anyway.
( my other username is a porsche , posting shit pictures so you don't have to, Tue 22 Sep 2009, 8:14, archived)