Final answer:
Patients might use therapies such as herbal supplements, homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy to treat a cold, but evidence of their efficacy varies. Conventional cold medicines often show little benefit, and antibiotics are ineffective against the viral cause of colds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients may report using a variety of complementary and alternative therapies to help treat a cold, which may include:
- Herbal supplements - While some people believe that herbal supplements such as Echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc can help treat the common cold, reviews have shown inconsistent or insufficient evidence for their effectiveness. However, Vitamin C may reduce the duration and severity of a cold to a modest extent.
- Homeopathy - This is another alternative approach where patients consume highly diluted substances that in larger amounts would cause a cold. Despite its popularity, scientific evidence does not support homeopathy as an effective treatment for the common cold.
- Acupuncture - As a form of alternative medicine, this method involves the insertion of needles into specific points on the body for pain relief. However, acupuncture should be performed in a sterile environment to prevent exposure to pathogens.
- Chiropractic care - Chiropractors might offer adjunctive therapies such as spinal manipulation, which is intended to help with overall bodily function though its efficacy in treating colds is not supported by scientific evidence.
- Massage therapy - While primarily for relaxation and muscle tension relief, massage therapy is sometimes used by patients hoping to improve their immunity or alleviate symptoms associated with colds.
In contrast, cold medicines are conventional treatments used to manage symptoms, although they often have little measurable benefit. It's important to note that antibiotics, which are sometimes used by patients with colds, are not effective against viruses which cause colds and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.