What’s the best way to treat the common cold?

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Zoe Walmsley

Throughout history,

在歷史上，

one persistent ailment has inspired a variety of treatments.

有一種頑固的疾病激發了 各式各樣的治療方法。

In ancient Egypt, doctors used incantations and breast milk remedies.

在古埃及，醫生使用 咒語和母乳療法。

In 18th century Europe, bloodletting was a popular choice.

在十八世紀歐洲， 放血則是很常見的做法。

And when President Calvin Coolidge was afflicted in 1924,

當卡爾文‧柯立芝總統 在 1924 年染病時，

his ill-advised solution was inhaling poisonous chlorine gas.

他則用了一種不明智的療法： 吸入有毒的氯氣。

These are just a few of history’s many creative attempts

這些是幾個歷史上眾多 試圖緩解感冒的創意例子，

to soothe the common cold.

Today, pharmacies are filled with a seemingly mountainous assortment

現今，藥房裡的感冒藥物琳琅滿目。

of cold remedies.

But how do these products work? And are they effective?

但，這些產品該怎麼用？ 此外，它們有效嗎？

While colds are caused by a variety of viruses,

雖然有許多種病毒都會造成感冒，

their nasty symptoms aren't actually produced by the viruses themselves.

但讓人難受的症狀 卻不是病毒本身所造成的。

Rather, they’re the result of your body’s natural defenses.

它們反而是你的身體 天然的防禦作用。

When a virus is detected, white blood cells release proteins called cytokines,

當身體偵測到病毒時，

白血球釋放出所謂細胞激素的蛋白質，

which recruit more pathogen-fighting immune cells to the area.

它會徵召更多對抗 病原體的免疫細胞前來。

To aid in this bombardment, blood vessels widen,

加入這場防禦戰的還有血管，

and it's this inflammation that leads to a blocked, stuffy nose.

而血管的發炎擴張則造成鼻塞。

The body dials up mucus production in an effort to trap and expel pathogens.

體內的黏膜也加快生產黏液， 試圖捕捉和驅逐病原體。

But this mucus can irritate and inflame airways,

但這種黏液會刺激呼吸道 並造成呼吸道發炎，

causing coughing and a sore throat.

導致咳嗽和喉嚨痛。

Since the viruses causing colds are so varied,

由於引起感冒的病毒種類繁多，

pharmacy products aren't designed to attack viruses,

藥局產品並非為了攻擊病毒而設計，

but rather to alleviate the most common symptoms.

而是用來緩解最常見的症狀。

So which pill, syrup, or spray should you choose?

那你該選擇哪種藥丸、糖漿或噴劑呢？

Or should you ditch the pharmacy and try a home remedy?

還是你應該抛開藥局產品 改嘗試居家療法？

It depends.

看情況。

Most pharmacy products contain a painkiller,

大部分的藥局產品有止痛藥成分，

in addition to one or several other active ingredients,

及一或數種其他活性成分，

or those mystifying chemical names stamped onto the packaging.

那些包裝上印的難懂的化學成分名。

While there are over a dozen cold-related ingredients available,

雖然感冒的成份超過一打以上，

most fall into one of four symptom-fighting categories:

絕大部分能依所對症的症狀， 分別歸入以下四大類別：

if you’re sick of dealing with the mucous-y mess oozing from your nostrils,

如果你厭倦流不停的鼻涕，

you may want to take nasal decongestants, like pseudoephedrine.

你可以考慮像偽麻黃鹼 這類緩解鼻塞的藥。

This snot-fighter, found in pills and syrups,

這個專治鼻涕的藥有藥丸和糖漿，

promotes the release of norepinephrine,

能促進正甲腎上腺素的釋放，

a chemical messenger that reduces blood flow

這個化學成分能減少 鼻腔中的血流，減輕鼻部充血，

to the vessels in your nasal passages.

This frees air and fluid so that you can breathe more easily.

一旦空氣和液體流通，呼吸就順暢了。

Cough suppressants aim to quell those torturous coughs.

止咳藥是用來抑制折磨人的咳嗽。

Dextromethorphan, one of the most common suppressants,

樂滅咳是最常見的止咳藥之一，

addresses the head of the command chain,

直接對治命令鏈的首腦，

moderating brain regions responsible for coughing.

調節大腦中負責咳嗽的區域。

While it’s not fully understood how this ingredient manages to quiet coughs,

雖然目前對此成份 如何止咳還不完全清楚，

we know it interacts with receptors that neurons use to communicate.

已知的是它會干預 神經元中負責傳訊的受體。

Drugs like ketamine and PCP engage similar receptors,

氯胺酮和 PCP 等藥物 也會干預類似的受體，

which is why it’s important to take dextromethorphan as directed,

這就是為什麼依指示 服用樂滅咳很重要，

as high doses are notorious for causing hallucinatory effects.

因為眾所皆知，高劑量的 樂滅咳會引起幻覺。

But not all coughing is bad when you have a cold—

但感冒的咳嗽不一定是不好的──

expelling mucus can help clear out infectious debris

因為把痰排出可以清除傳染性的廢物，

and ease uncomfortable congestion.

緩解不適的阻塞。

By lubricating airways, our third class of ingredients, expectorants,

第三類成分，即化痰藥， 可以潤滑呼吸道，

aim to help improve coughing rather than eliminate it.

目的在協助改善咳嗽， 而非消除咳嗽。

Guaifenesin, the most common expectorant,

咳酚糖漿是最常見的化痰藥，

is thought to hydrate mucus by upping fluid secretions in the respiratory tract,

一般認為可增進呼吸道中 水份的分泌，讓痰比較濕潤，

making it less sticky and easier to clear out.

變得沒那麼黏，更容易清除。

Finally, we have antihistamines.

最後，我們還有抗組織胺藥。

As advertised, these inhibit the effects of histamine,

廣告上說這類藥物 能抑制組織胺的作用，

the chemical messenger behind allergy symptoms.

組織胺是過敏症狀的化學信差。

While histamines aren't involved producing cold symptoms,

雖然組織胺本身並不會 促成感冒的症狀，

studies suggest many antihistamines can still help dry a runny nose.

但研究指出，許多抗組織胺 仍可用來改善流鼻涕。

Benadryl, for example, contains diphenhydramine,

例如，Benadryl 含有苯海拉明，

which blocks both the effects of histamine and a neurotransmitter

可以阻斷組織胺 以及一種神經傳遞質的作用，

which regulates the flow of mucus in our airways.

後者的功能是調節 呼吸道中的黏液流動。

Unfortunately histamines also regulate wakefulness in the brain,

不幸的是，組織胺同時也負責 調節大腦的清醒狀態，

so many of these drugs can make you drowsy.

因此這類藥物多半讓人昏昏欲睡。

In this fight against cold symptoms, there’s still a lot we don’t know.

在對抗感冒症狀這方面， 還有很多我們不知道的。

Since these ingredients don’t attack the viruses themselves,

由於這些成分並不會主動對病毒出擊，

it’s unclear if any speed up your recovery.

因此很難說是否能加快康復的速度。

Further, many were first introduced to the market decades ago,

此外，許多成份在幾十年前引入市場時，

when studies were less rigorous.

當時的研究較不嚴謹。

So, scientists continue to reevaluate how well each ingredient relieves symptoms.

因此，科學家仍在持續評估 每種成份緩解症狀的成效。

Similar questions remain around holistic remedies.

全人醫療療法也有類似的問題。

Many people use zinc, but research on its effectiveness is inconclusive.

例如，許多人用鋅， 但其效用的研究尚無定論。

And while vitamin C has many benefits,

而且，維生素 C 雖有許多益處，

the value of taking large doses to fight a cold is likely overhyped.

但大量服用可以對抗感冒， 則可能是被過度炒作的。

Yet studies suggest that honey can improve cough

然而有研究指出，蜂蜜能改善咳嗽，

and may even shorten your illness by a day or two.

甚至可能會讓你提早一兩天痊癒。

Who knows what the future of cold treatment will look like.

誰知道未來會有甚麼感冒療法。

Until then, better understanding these products can help you choose

但在那之前，多了解這些產品

可以幫你對症下藥──

the right ones for your symptoms—

and know which remedies can best reduce the sting of a nasty cold.

搞清楚哪些療法 最能緩解感冒的痛苦。