No one looks forward to the cold and flu season. Americans catch an estimated 1 billion colds each year. In fact, the common cold is among the leading reasons for visiting a doctor and for missing school or work. The flu, with its potential complications, can be an even greater concern. Each year, an estimated 5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu. Although most recover without incident, flu-related complications result in more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths annually.
In an effort to prevent or treat these all-too-common illnesses, some people turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches. This fact sheet provides basic information on colds and flu, as well as "what the science says" about some of these CAM approaches. If you are considering using a CAM therapy for colds or flu, this information can help you talk to your health care provider about it.
Source: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/flu/ataglance.htm?nav=rss