While doing the Macarena Alex Vasauskas said to George Lagergren: 
 AV> Yes.  Also, apparently due to a shortage of penicillin, I understand
 AV> that it was used effectively by the Russians during their war in
 AV> Afghanistan to the extent that it became known as "Russian penicillin".
 Necessity - mother of invention.  :)
 AV> I and others I know who have tried it have found that taking echinacea
 AV> and garlic when you feel the first hint of a cold or the flu helps to
 AV> avoid the cold or flu, or at least substantially decrease the
 AV> severity of the disease.
 We use the same combination and it has worked well for us too.  The
 good thing about garlic is that it strenghthens your immune system
 whereas antibiotics weaken it.  In the 80's I had chronic bronchitis
 and strep throat.  I'd take a round of Cephalexin then six weeks later
 get it again.  It was a vicious and expensive cycle until I had had
 enough and decided to try the garlic and it broke the cycle.  I haven't
 had bronchitis since.  I've had strep throat maybe once because the
 kids bring it home from school but extra garlic took care of it.  I use
 this on my kids too.  I got the diagnosis from the Dr and chose the
 garlic, echinacea and pycnogenol (I believe) and she was better in two
 days.  That's my experience.
 Bob
... Adam to Eve..  "I'll wear the plants in this family!"
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