Best All-Natural Cold and Flu Medicine in 2022

A One-shot Vaccine For COVID, Flu And Future Viruses? Researchers Say It's Coming

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What Is The Best Cold And Flu Medicine?

There's no cure for a common cold, but some over-the-counter medicines may alleviate symptoms. The best cold and flu medicine depends on your symptoms. Pain medication, for example, can treat a sore throat, aches, and fever. Decongestants help alleviate a stuffy nose, while expectorants can treat a runny nose.

Various viruses may cause a cold, the most common being rhinoviruses. Influenza viruses, in contrast, cause the flu. Common cold and flu symptoms include a cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fever, and sore throat.

It's no surprise people spend hundreds of millions of dollars on over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicine annually. However, few cold and flu remedies are likely to influence the course of illness if you are already sick. That said, some actually work. Read on to learn about the best cold and flu medicines.

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The best cold and flu medicine will depend on your symptoms, including a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, cough, fever, or sore throat. The most effective options for getting rid of a cold include decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relievers. Antivirals are also effective for getting rid of the flu fast. If you take them at the start of your illness, they help shorten the duration of the flu. Aches A pain reliever may be one of the first things you reach for when you come down with a common cold or the flu, and with good reason. Body and muscle aches often occur with the flu, while headache is a common cold symptom. Tylenol (acetaminophen) can relieve painful symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also treat discomfort and reduce inflammation. Common NSAIDs include Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen). NSAIDs may increase the risk of heart attacks or stroke and can lead to ulcers and bleeding. Long-term use can also lead to kidney damage. Congestion/Stuffy Nose Research has found that OTC decongestants are an effective way to treat a stuffy nose in adults. Decongestants narrow the blood vessels that line nasal passages, which reduces inflammation. Look for decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed. You'll have to ask for it at the pharmacy counter. Pseudoephedrine may cause a number of side effects, including: Anxiety Difficulty sleeping Dizziness Nausea and vomiting Pseudoephedrine may also slightly increase blood pressure. People with high blood pressure may want to consider spray-based decongestants, such as Afrin (oxymetazoline). Only use nasal decongestants for short periods. Chronic use can lead to rebound congestion, meaning your nose feels stuffier after you stop using it. Cough A hacking cough is one of the most common cold or flu symptoms. Suppressants that contain dextromethorphan (DM) may help a bit. Remember, a cough can be part of the healing process. Coughing helps clear your airways. Fever Pain relievers like Tylenol and NSAIDs can help reduce a fever. Try taking a fever reducer with a cup of tea or soup. These warm, soothing fluids will help soothe a sore throat. Runny Nose and Sneezing Antihistamines may provide temporary relief from a runny nose and sneezing. A study published in 2015 found that antihistamines help lessen the severity of overall cold symptoms at the start of a cold. The researchers did not find any benefit after the first two days of illness. Common brand names include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Claritin (loratadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine). Claritin is not likely to tire you, but Benadryl and Zyrtec often cause drowsiness. However, it's important to get plenty of rest when you have a cold or the flu. Expectorants like Mucinex (guaifenesin) help thin mucus that drains down the back of your throat. This makes it easy for you to cough it up. Sore Throat A sore throat causes your throat to feel painful or scratchy, which makes it hard to swallow. Pain relievers like Tylenol and NSAIDs can help alleviate a sore throat. Try sucking on throat lozenges, which are available over the counter, or hard candies. These help increase saliva and lubricate your throat. People have touted several supplements as ways to protect against and treat a cold, but research is limited. Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimally regulates supplements. These supplements may or may not be suitable for you. Side effects vary from person to person and depend on many variables, including type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements. Supplements that might help include: Astragalus: This is a common herb used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat upper respiratory infections like a cold. Oral astragalus is generally safe in doses of 60 grams (g) per day for four months. Echinacea: This flower is native to North America. Oral echinacea may reduce your risk of getting a cold, but it's unclear whether it treats symptoms. Although uncommon, you may be likely to develop a reaction to oral echinacea if you are allergic to ragweed. Elderberry: This dark purple berry, which grows in Asia, Europe, North America, and Northern Africa, is a common cold and flu remedy in folk medicine. Garlic: People worldwide have used garlic to protect against and treat colds and the flu, but there's not enough evidence to support its use. Ginseng: Some evidence suggests that ginseng may shorten the duration of colds if you take the herb consistently. Vitamin C: This vitamin can reduce the duration and severity of a cold if you take it before you get sick. Eat foods that are high in vitamin C, such as broccoli, oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes. Vitamin D: This vitamin may protect you against cold and flu viruses, but it's unclear whether it works if you are already sick. You can find vitamin D in eggs, fish, fortified foods, and natural sunlight. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet may be the best protection for your overall health. Zinc: This supplement may reduce the length of a cold if you take it within 24 hours after your symptoms begin. Zinc may cause nausea and, in high doses, copper deficiency. Some medicines will not work against colds or may be harmful to some people. Antibiotics, for example, treat bacterial infections. Viruses cause colds, so antibiotics will not work. If you have heart disease, you should avoid decongestants such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. Decongestants narrow blood vessels to treat a stuffy nose, but this action can worsen heart problems. Narrow blood vessels can increase the risk of a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. NSAIDs can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, especially in people with high blood pressure. These medications decrease the sodium your body gets rid of through urine, increasing blood pressure. Children's Cold and Flu Medicine  You can safely give acetaminophen and ibuprofen—available in chewable, liquid, and tablet forms—to children older than 2. Make sure you read the instructions and give the correct amount based on your child's age and weight. Talk to a healthcare provider before giving these medicines to children younger than 2. Do not give OTC cold and flu medicine to infants and children younger than 6. These medicines may result in harmful side effects in young children. Other ways to treat cold and flu symptoms in children include: Breathing in steam from a hot shower Elevate your child's head when they are lying down Spraying non-medicated saline drops into the nose Staying hydrated Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air Visiting a healthcare provider if they have a wheezing cough Cold and Flu Medicine During Pregnancy Medicines that you take during pregnancy can cross the placenta and reach the fetus. It's essential to know what's safe and what to avoid, as well as what some natural remedies are if you are sick while pregnant. The safest cold and flu medicines for pregnant people include: Anesthetic throat lozenges to relieve a sore throat Most cough drops to help ease a cough and lubricate a sore throat Tylenol for aches, fevers, and headaches Avoid pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, and herbal remedies like echinacea. Afrin and other non-steroidal nasal decongestant sprays that contain oxymetazoline may also be unsafe during pregnancy. Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before using cold and flu medicines to make sure they are safe. Some healthcare providers may advise avoiding all drugs—whether OTC or prescription—during the first trimester. Here are other tips for taking cold and flu medicines: Avoid or limit combination products, especially ones that contain acetaminophen, like Dayquil. These drugs increase the risk of liver damage if you take too much. Be careful of combining multiple medications. Follow directions for dosing and timing in adults and children. Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking medication or giving it to children if you are unsure whether it's safe. There are some natural cold remedies in addition to OTC medications and supplements. Make sure you consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before trying one of these remedies: Defend: This homeopathic remedy fights multiple cold symptoms, including hacking, rattling, or tickling cough. There's little to no evidence that any homeopathic products work. The FDA does not regulate these remedies as tightly as other medicines. Oscillococcinum: This is a homeopathic remedy made from heart and liver extract from the muscovy duck. The muscovy duck is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. Sambucol: This natural cold remedy consists of extracts from the black elderberry plant, but more research is needed. A 2016 study of 312 air travelers found that elderberry extract reduced the length of illness and severity of symptoms compared to a placebo.  You cannot always prevent a cold or the flu, but you can reduce your risk. Here are ways to prevent a cold or the flu: Choose small daycare classes, where viruses commonly spread, if you have young children Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow Disinfect commonly touched surfaces (e.G., countertops and door knobs) Do not share personal items (e.G., cups, towels, and utensils) Get an annual flu shot Opt for disposable paper towels instead of cloth towels Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Stay home if you are sick Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available Most people recover from a cold or the flu at home with plenty of rest and fluids. Speak to a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not get better after 10 days or worsen. Let them know if you have the flu and are at risk of developing complications. Other signs to contact a healthcare provider include: A fever that lasts more than four days Chest or stomach pain Confusion or dizziness Dehydration Lack of urination Seizures Severe muscle pain Shortness of breath or trouble breathing Symptoms improve but then come back or worsen Underlying health conditions that worsen with illness Some cold and flu medicines may reduce the length and severity of symptoms. Keep in mind that some of these remedies are not guaranteed to be foolproof, or they might not work if you are already feeling ill.  You can use antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, and pain relievers if you currently have a bout of illness to feel better. Just remember not to go overboard on a single ingredient like acetaminophen. Make sure these medications are safe if you are pregnant or before giving them to a child.

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COVID, Flu And RSV Vaccines Are Lifesavers. Why Aren't More Older Adults Getting Them?

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For the first time, we have vaccines that can protect older adults against three leading—and sometimes fatal—respiratory viral diseases: influenza, COVID and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is a breakthrough; studies show that these vaccines are effective at protecting older adults from severe disease outcomes, including hospitalization and death.

Yet some seniors—including many who live in nursing homes—aren't getting these vaccines. And the prevaccine days of the COVID pandemic showed us how deadly respiratory illness could be among older people in group settings. As scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have been tracking vaccination rates among older people. Given how easily these diseases are spread, and the possibility of severe disease with long and complex hospitalizations, we must do more to help inoculate them.

As this winter respiratory virus season winds down, it's crucial we start planning for the next one. We can use the lessons we've learned from the vaccine rollouts for flu, COVID and RSV to give seniors the best shot at protection.

Older adults have a higher risk of severe disease and death from these respiratory virus infections compared to other age groups. Both their first-line innate immune responses and their slower, infection-specific adaptive immune responses decline. This decline, combined with higher rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and—for people who live in long-term care facilities—an increased chance of disease spread, leaves older folks at risk for severe disease and death.

Improving the use of these vaccines through the fall and winter respiratory illness seasons could mean healthier seniors and fewer visits to urgent care and the emergency department and fewer hospitalizations.

In 2022–2023, experts estimate that flu vaccination prevented nearly 31,000 hospitalizations and 2,500 deaths among people ages 65 and older. COVID vaccination greatly lowered rates of hospitalizations and deaths among adults ages 65 years and older too. And in clinical trials, the new RSV vaccines had an efficacy of 83 to 89 percent in preventing symptomatic RSV in the lower respiratory tract in adults ages 60 years and older.

The CDC's latest data show that as of late March, 74 percent of adults age 65 years and older had gotten the flu vaccine and just 42 percent had received the updated COVID vaccine. Although coverage for influenza vaccine is trending slightly higher than at this point last year, COVID vaccine coverage remains about as low as last year. Among those ages 60 years and older, 24 percent had gotten an RSV vaccine. As of late March, only 43 percent of nursing home residents had received an updated COVID vaccine; as of December 10, 72 percent had received an influenza vaccine and 10 percent had received an RSV vaccine.

The fact that nearly three quarters of older adults received a flu vaccine this season, as opposed to less than half for the COVID vaccine, shows us that we have a lot of work to do to help people get up-to-date on COVID vaccines. And there is more to be done to help people and their providers understand whether an RSV vaccine is right for them.

The CDC surveyed unvaccinated older folks to better understand their reasons for not getting vaccinated, and the results varied. People 65 and older who said they were probably or definitely not going to get the influenza vaccine were concerned primarily about vaccine effectiveness and side effects and said they were not worried about the flu. For the COVID vaccine, participants most often shared concerns about heart-related or unknown serious side effects, followed by concerns about effectiveness and having "vaccine fatigue," meaning they were likely burned out on vaccine information. The primary reasons for people age 60 and older not getting the RSV vaccine were not being worried about RSV, not knowing enough about RSV or the RSV vaccine, and the vaccine being "too new."

These reasons for not getting vaccinated and the differences across vaccines are perhaps understandable in the context of where we are in the vaccine rollouts. Influenza vaccines have been licensed in the U.S. Since the 1940s. In contrast, COVID vaccines were introduced little more than three years ago, and while these vaccines have undergone the most rigorous safety monitoring in U.S. History, some people still have misconceptions about the vaccines' safety.

In addition, the vaccine fatigue expressed by respondents to the CDC survey is a genuine challenge. In the early days of COVID vaccines, older adults enthusiastically accepted vaccination. But over time, fewer and fewer seniors have been willing to get additional recommended doses. Many people are also less concerned about COVID itself, despite the fact that many people are still dying from it each day in the U.S.

RSV vaccines were licensed in 2023—and from prior new vaccine rollouts we know that it can take years for vaccination coverage to increase. Moreover, instead of recommending that all adults 60 years and older get vaccinated, the CDC recommended that people and their health care providers have a conversation to determine if RSV vaccination is right for them. As a result, not all eligible adults are likely to get the vaccine.

Plus it is hard for some people to access vaccines. On one hand there is ample supply of all three vaccines, and they are covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans at no out-of-pocket cost. Still, there are around 400,000 people age 65 and older who are uninsured. Nonetheless, the health care provider or facility has to absorb the up-front costs of purchasing vaccines and then seek reimbursement for vaccination.

Furthermore, disparities in access to health care among ethnic and racial groups make getting respiratory vaccines challenging for some communities in the U.S. For example, during the 2022–2023 season, influenza vaccination coverage among adults ages 65 years and older ranged from 54 percent in American Indian/Alaska Native people to 71 percent in non-Hispanic white people.

There also are barriers to receiving these three vaccines within a relatively short period of time. Even though the CDC says that influenza, COVID and RSV vaccines can be given at the same time, not everyone is open to that. Furthermore, each of these vaccines became available at different points in time during this past season, which made it more difficult for people to receive these vaccines at once. For some, it may not have been a priority or a possibility to return for a follow-up visit for additional vaccines that they were unable to receive on prior visits.

Long-term care facilities face additional unique challenges to vaccinating residents, including the monumental task of strengthening vaccine confidence and demand not only among residents but also among staff at the facilities and family members involved in residents' medical decisions. In addition, long-term care facilities may not have the necessary infrastructure, staffing and financial resources to routinely offer vaccines to residents. Furthermore, the end of the Public Health Emergency and transition from a federal COVID vaccine distribution system to a commercialized market ended certain regulatory flexibilities and continued the shift to more sustainable channels for vaccinating residents, though with fewer dedicated resources.

The relatively high influenza vaccination coverage among older adults suggests that it is possible to get more older people vaccinated for all recommended vaccines. The CDC is working to improve access to adult vaccines through programs such as the Bridge Access Program, which provides COVID vaccines at no cost to uninsured or underinsured adults. The CDC is working to strengthen confidence in and demand for vaccines; to communicate the benefits of vaccination to the public, and to use data to target vaccination efforts. In addition, because a strong recommendation from a health care provider remains the leading reason why people choose to get vaccinated, the CDC has worked to equip providers with resources on vaccine recommendations and on having effective conversations with patients about vaccines.

It will take ground-up efforts across every community, vaccination provider location and household around the U.S. To ensure that older adults get not only the respiratory virus vaccines but all recommended vaccines.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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