Do Natural Health Products Work?
Cold and flu are two of the most common illnesses and there is no “cure” for either. Antibiotics do not treat symptoms or cure either cold or flu. Many people turn to natural products to try to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms. While some claim that products such as vitamin C or garlic have helped prevent illness or shorten the duration of the disease, there is often little scientific evidence to back up those claims. And, even if these products are natural, they are not necessarily safe. The following tables compare products that people use to prevent or treat symptoms of cold and flu, and what research is able to tell us about the safety and effectiveness of these products. Please note that some products are not meant to be used after symptoms begin. Instead you are supposed to take them everyday during the cold and flu season to boost your immune system. Many products are taken for 6-8 weeks, although some products can safely be taken for longer periods of time (such as ginge
Related Questions
- Why will homeopathic medicines bear the designation DIN-HM, while other natural health products will bear the designation NPN?
- What types of natural health products are affected by the Natural Health Products Regulations?
- Can Natural Health Products be regulated under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act?
