- U.S. Families Spend Over $3 Billion Each Year on OTC Cold Remedies -

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, /PRNewswire/ -- America is about to be hit with runny noses, sore throats and coughs, but recently a new, naturally safe solution has been introduced in the U.S. that is clinically proven to shorten the duration and reduce the severity of the common cold.

Zucol, a naturally-safe cold remedy produced by German pharmaceutical company, Schwabe, uses as its active ingredient an extract of pelargonium sidoides, which is one of the most researched plant-based pharmaceutical ingredients. Grown in South Africa, pelargonium has been used for generations as a remedy throughout Europe and Africa. The benefits of pelargonium have been featured in several U.S. medical journals including the American Family Physician and The Journal of Family Practice.

"For hundreds of years African Zulu tribes have used pelargonium sidoides preparations to treat coughs and upper respiratory symptoms, and it is the top-selling active ingredient for upper respiratory tract infections sold in Germany and most of Europe. It was only a matter of time that Zucol would arrive in the United States," said David Gumner, Vice President Mass Market at Nature's Way, Schwabe's U.S. subsidiary. "Extensive clinical research has proven the safety and efficacy of pelargonium, which justifies its use to reduce the need for typical OTC medications that merely mask symptoms of the common cold."

Zucol is produced according to exacting FDA-drug standards and is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of colds and upper respiratory tract infections related to the common cold.

Taken at the earliest signs of a cold, Zucol has been proven to end cold symptoms sooner and reduce the likelihood of secondary infections. The natural active ingredient in Zucol has been the subject of 18 published clinical studies involving over 2,500 patients. These studies concluded that cold sufferers were able to return to their normal routines a full two days faster than those who simply treated their symptoms with OTC medications. Pelargonium sidoides halted the development of symptoms related to the common cold and patients felt better faster without experiencing the worst cold symptoms.

Despite the benefits of Zucol, American families will still spend more than $3 billion annually on cold remedies, and will miss approximately 22 million school days, according to Information Resources, Inc. and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively.

"Zucol is powerful medicine to fight colds, and this plant-based extract has been studied extensively and found to be safe for children. In Germany, it is prescribed to adults of all ages and children beginning at two years of age -- though we recommend that when used for children younger than six, you consult your family doctor," said Dr. David Riley, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, University of New Mexico Medical School and Founder of the Integrative Medicine Institute. "With all of the recent warnings from the FDA about conventional cough and cold medications in children, it seems prudent to use a safe and effective alternative."

Unlike competing zinc-based products, Zucol is a gentle, quick-dissolve lozenge, which should be taken three-times-a-day for six full days. The product will not irritate membranes, upset the stomach or leave a lingering unpleasant taste in the mouth. And with no known drug interactions, Zucol helps eliminate unnecessary worry when taken with other remedies or medicines. Like any medication, Zucol is only effective if used as directed.

Zucol will be available nationwide in January at Walgreens and is currently available in all Rite Aid, Duane Reade, Meijer Stores, and regional drug stores and pharmacies across the US.

About Schwabe Pharmaceuticals

Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, based in Karlsruhe Germany, is a leading phyto-pharmaceutical company and purveyor of leading OTC medicines in Germany and worldwide. Schwabe leads in the research, development and commercialization of the most effective plant-based remedies. As a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company, Schwabe carefully controls the manufacturing process from growing and harvesting the plants to the production and finished goods. Schwabe products are sold in over 60 countries worldwide

About Nature's Way

Nature's Way was founded in 1968 and has improved the lives of millions of consumers by bringing the healing power of nature through herbal formulations. Nature's Way is headquartered in Springville, Utah and its products are sold throughout the US.

For more information on Zucol, please log onto Zucol.com.

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SOURCE Zucol