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First-symptom strategies from the experts

By Victoria Dolby Toews, MPH, Oct 1, 2006 12:00 PM

Grab a bottle of vitamin C. Take 3–5 grams daily for a few days; it usually does the trick.
Take pure arabinogalactans (an immune-boosting nutrient from the larch tree) at the very first sign of a cold. Start with 1 1/2 teaspoons and follow label directions for subsequent doses until you feel better.
Ginger tea works wonders. Boil organic ginger root in water for 15 minutes to make a strong tea. Dilute and sip throughout the day.
Try elderberry tincture and the patented homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum. Both have been shown to shorten the flu's duration and intensity when taken at the first symptom.

Sources: Jill Place, RD, alternative medicine dietitian and author based in Los Angeles; Elena Michaels, PhD, CCH, LMFT, a traditional naturopathic clinician based in Santa Clarita, California; Molly Punzo, MD, Easton, Maryland-based naturopath.