Have any supplements been studied for the common cold?

    Written by:
    Nick Milazzo

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Mike Murray, James Gaylor
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    No supplements can cure the common cold, but zinc has been shown to reliably reduce symptom duration. Echinacea, Pelargonium sidoides, and garlic may also help with symptom duration, though more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.

    Again, no supplements can cure the common cold. However, zinc seems to quite reliably reduce symptom duration. Echinacea, Pelargonium sidoides, and garlic may also be helpful for reducing symptom duration, but there’s not enough research to know definitively.