A., reported a study suggesting that echinacea was no better at preventing colds than a placebo (a pill with no active ingredients).

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

In many parts of Asia, including Hong Kong, antibiotics are routinely given for colds and influenza, which are caused by viruses for which there is no real antidote.

CNN: FIGHTING SUPERBUGS

The theory behind outdoor napping is that children exposed to fresh air, whether in summer or the depths of winter, are less likely to catch coughs and colds - and that spending a whole day in one room with 30 other children does them no good at all.

BBC: The babies who nap in sub-zero temperatures