We always suspected kissing is good for you. Now science proves we may not have to stop kissing when we get a cold! (And you thought these lab-dwelling white-coats weren’t romantic…) Recently a study involving a “kiss test” (sign us up!!) demonstrated that sharing saliva is far less likely to spread a cold than was thought. Secretions from the nose and eyes, however, are potent carriers of cold viruses. So if you have a cold, go ahead and kiss your sweetheart—just don’t let your nose run while doing so… ew!

This novel information (and all the colds going around now), inspires us to clarify some other beliefs about popular cold remedies:

• Echinacea: Despite marketing hype, experienced herbalists know that echinacea doesn’t actually cure a cold. It works preventably—before someone gets sick, to decrease the frequency and duration of seasonal colds. Once you’ve got a cold, echinacea only works in high, frequent doses. Best to take the advice of an experienced herbal practitioner on this one.
• Zinc: Studies indicate that doses under 20mg per day support immune function, but higher doses may inhibit it. The lesson: know how much you’re taking and don’t overdo it—especially if you’ve a tendency to pop zinc lozenges like candy.

• Vitamin C supplements: These can improve one’s overall robustness, especially if there’s not enough vitamin C in the diet. However, large doses of the stuff over time create a new balance point in the body. Then the immune system can’t function well unless it continues to have higher amounts. If you’re going to use high doses of vitamin C for a specific purpose, best to do that under the guidance of an experienced natural practitioner, who can devise a plan for gradually weaning off.
• Horseradish, garlic, cayenne, or other hot spicy foods: Cold symptoms aren’t caused by cold viruses and bacteria, but from your body’s immune response to the pathogenic invaders. All that mucous is there to help you! Though hot spicy foods can help dry out the mucous, that can work against what your body is trying to do, making the immune system weaker in the long-run.
• Sadly, there is no way to stop the flow of mucous without compromising your body’s immune response. A better approach is to keep things from getting worse by avoiding foods that increase mucous production:
  • Dairy foods
  • Eggs
  • Meat, including chicken
  • Peanut butter and nut butters
  • Citrus
  • Tomatoes
  • Overripe avocadoes