Zicam: Cure for the common cold
I used to dread the feeling of a cold coming on, because it meant a week of snot-nosed misery. But a few years ago I discovered Zicam, and now I almost don't care. Now my cold lasts 24 hours, and the symptoms are very mild. The trick is to take it at the first sign of a cold. I carry it with me at all times.
This stuff, which is comes in the form of a gel that you either squirt into your nose or rub into your nostrils with a Q-Tip, contains a form of zinc that attaches to cold viruses in your nose, and makes it very hard for them to bind with the cells in your nostril. And if a virus can't bind with a cell, it can't replicate. According to independent research, cold sufferers who took a placebo reported cold symtoms for 10 days, but patients who took Zicam reported symptoms for a day-and-a-half. I consider it a cure for the common cold.
Here's a recent news article about a possible link between Zicam use and losing your sense of smell permanently. (Thanks, John!)
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Comments
I know it is possible to temporary damage your sense of smell. I believe it can be a effect of sulfuric acids, for example.
Did the complaintents or court consider that the product had been tampered with?
I do not believe it is possible to cause a permanent smell loss with a short term, low dosage elemental form of zinc.
The body rebuilds damaged cells. Even the electrical pathways would re-evolve over time.
I don't understand why this company agreed to pay. Are they going to incorporate out of US now? And who could blame them.
Really, these people might have a genetic condition that predisposed them for this problem. There simply is no way of knowing with our current state of scientific knowledge.
Posted by: StevieO | January 21, 2006 1:03 PM
That's a bit spooky. I've actually got a box of the stuff sitting on my desk right now.
Still, I've used it plenty, and never noticed any negative effects on my sniffer.
Posted by: esoos | January 21, 2006 11:47 PM
You might want to try a neti pot first.
Posted by: Roney | January 22, 2006 12:12 AM
My biggest gripe about Zicam is its use of the term "homeopathic". It is not, apparently, made with quack homeopathic preparations, but actually (*gasp*) contains a real dose of an effective medicine.
Why scare people away from a valid product by making it sound like snake oil? I ignore any medicine on the shelf that says "homeopathic".
Posted by: Christopher Palmer | January 22, 2006 8:46 PM