Originally published August 6 2005
Common cold too smart for scientists
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The common cold is just too smart for scientists. It evades and mutates before a cure can be developed.
So echinacea is out: A study last week found that the popular herb didn't cure the common cold after all.
There are 101 strains, and every time a rhinovirus infects you, your immune system produces protective antibodies.
The problem is that there are 100 other rhinos (as researchers call them) waiting to leap into your nasal passages.
"It's hard to find something that will effectively kill the virus," says Purdue University chemist Carol Post, who studies anti-cold compounds.
One key obstacle is that any practical treatment would have to work, without side effects, against all or most of the 101 rhino strains - a tall order for any medicine.
On top of that, viruses are much sneakier than bacteria, simply because they integrate themselves so well into their targets.
Unlike bacterial diseases, which invade the body and then feed off it, viruses take over the body's cellular machinery.
"They are like little body snatchers sitting inside the cell," says biochemist Tom Smith of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis.
Unlike many bugs, which live in our intestines or blood, the germs thrive in our nasal passages, which are far more accessible.
The viruses also excel at hiding out.
Although you might stay home from work when you're really drippy and sneezy to keep from infecting your co-workers, it might not make much difference.
Humans, being eternal optimists (or eternally gullible, depending on your point of view), don't like being told that there's no cure for their coughs and sore throats.
The problem is that none of these treatments works - at least not if you believe in scientific studies.
It's called pleconaril, and it works wonders against many, though not all, rhinoviruses.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml