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Pomegranate Juice For Chronic Diarrhea

Posting Date: 10/27/2003

Q. We see our young grandkids three or four times a year. They are 4 and 5. The 4-year-old is in daycare and the 5-year-old in kindergarten.

Every time we are in direct contact with the children, we catch something from them, usually a cold or upper respiratory thing. Is there anything we can take before we see the kids to guard against getting their bugs? We love those kids but hate their colds and coughs!

A. You might want to try an herb that can boost the immune system to fight off those colds. We?d try Kan Jang (Andrographis paniculata). Placebo-controlled studies have shown that this Chinese herb can shorten colds in people with early symptoms of runny nose or sore throat. It seems to work through the immune system, since it does not fight viruses directly.

Another herb with a reputation for strengthening immunity is astragalus root, traditionally taken preventively against colds. Relatively little scientific research has been done in the field of immune system support, but you have the opportunity to see if either of these work for you.

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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).