Experts find no proof of homeopathic remedies' effectiveness

Western New York is notorious for its long harsh winters, and with the extended cold days often comes an extended cold and flu season.

While many reach for old-fashioned cold and flu remedies like Tylenol or Robitussin, or head to the physician's office for prescriptions, others choose to dabble in the world of alternative medicines.

Recently becoming more popular is the use of homeopathic cures, or natural remedies. Proposed cold and flu cures such as Zicam and Airborne, which Oprah Winfrey praised on her show, are now sharing the same shelf as the other tried-and-true remedies. But experts in the field of pharmacy are skeptical about these remedies' claims.

Cindy Cheng, a pharmacist at a Rite Aid Pharmacy on Main Street, said she has witnessed a revolution in customer buying habits--more people are picking up homeopathic cold cures when they come in the door.

"I got some pretty good reviews of Zicam. People said they take it right when they feel a cold or flu coming on," she said. "I haven't heard many reviews about Airborne but a lot of people come in and buy it."

The official Web site for Zicam touts Zicam Cold Remedy as an effective cold prevention product.

"ZICAM Cold Remedy is a safe and effective over-the-counter treatment for the common cold. Initial clinical studies show that ZICAM Cold Remedy reduces the duration of the common cold by an average of 71 percent when taken at the onset of symptoms," states the site.

According to the Web site for VitaminUSA, the main ingredient is Zicam is zillunose, an ionic zinc emulsification formula.

Like Zicam, Airborne is an over-the-counter homeopathic cold remedy that claims to fortify the body's defenses against colds. Airborne markets itself as the brainchild of an elementary school teacher who was sick of getting colds from her students and from people on airplanes.

As far as Oprah Winfrey is concerned, Airborne is the end-all, cure-all for colds.

Experts in the field of pharmacy are a bit more skeptical.

"There's a little phrase that they have to put on the bottom of all their containers: 'This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,'" said Karl Fiebelkorn, the assistant dean of student affairs and professional relations in the School of Pharmacy. "So if you really think about what that is saying, it's saying this thing isn't really meant to help in anyway."

According to Fiebelkorn, who is also a registered pharmacist and has been practicing pharmacy for 28 years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't put herbals through the same rigorous testing as they do drugs but they do have some regulation. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 and The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, regulate herbal manufacturers' claims about the effectiveness of their product.

While he is skeptical about the effects of herbal remedies, Fiebelkorn did agree that they might be somewhat effective in helping the body's natural defenses since they are often comprised of ingredients necessary for overall health.

Some people said they were willing to give the herbals a try and have seen the positive and negative effects of these remedies.

"I took Zicam for a cold I had and it did relieve my cold symptoms but it also gave me nose bleeds so I guess there are pros and cons," said Brad Hess, a junior health and human services major.

Zicam has, in fact, made headlines after some users sued the company for damage to their nasal passage by the Cold Remedy Nasal Gel. According to the Web site for Homeo Watch, a Michigan man sued the company after suffering permanent loss of smell after just one application.

Some students choose to avoid the whole homeopathic remedy debate altogether.

"Drinking lots of fluids and eating things like chicken soup is essentially what helps people when they're sick," said Jesse Forber, a pharmacy major.

According to Cheng, there is another way that one might be able to avoid the mystery of certain manufactured homeopathic remedies.

"(Homeopathic remedies) are usually herbal with things like echinacea and ginkobiloba. It's basically to help you boost your immune system," she said. "It would serve the same purpose (if you took supplements individually) because most of the time the body lacks certain nutrients that make them more prone to viruses and bacteria."

Whatever methods individuals choose to use rid themselves of illnesses, getting professional advice is essential, Fiebelkorn said.

"You have to be careful with remedies, some have drug interactions," he said. "As a matter of a general rule, you should always go through your physician or pharmacist first."