Dr. Hensley developed Zicam...which seems to have run into some problems with loss of smell in a very small group. Now Theramax appears to be the next generation...without zinc.
"THERAMAX? Cold Relief homeopathic nasal spray is the next generation Zicam cold remedy product. Zicam, which was developed by Dr. Hensley in the late 1990?s, is a highly successful product with sales exceeding US$100,000,000 in 2006. However, in recent years, the use of zinc in the Zicam product has come under fire. In 2003, reports began to surface that a small number of Zicam users suffered a condition known as anosmia, or total loss of smell. It has since been demonstrated that Zicam is safe and does not cause anosmia. However, these reports have left questions in the minds of consumers creating a huge market for a Zicam-type product that does not contain zinc.
Common colds are caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Rhinoviruses infect nasal cells by attaching to ICAM receptor sites on the nasal membrane. Zicam reduces the duration of rhinovirus common cold by inhibiting the ability of the rhinovirus to bind to and infect nasal cells. The ionic zinc in Zicam binds to the rhinovirus ICAM attachment site and inhibits the rhinovirus attachment to ICAM receptors. However, ICAM levels on nasal cells are increased in the presence of rhinovirus making it likely that a substantial amount of rhinovirus/ICAM interactions occur, even in the presence of Zicam. This most likely results in incomplete suppression of common cold infections and opens the door for the development of new Zicam type technologies.
THERAMAX? Cold Relief is superior to other homeopathic cold remedies on a variety of levels. Similar to other remedies, the active ingredients of THERAMAX? Cold Relief also binds to the rhinovirus ICAM attachment site inhibiting rhinovirus attachment to ICAM receptors. However, unlike Zicam, THERAMAX? Cold Relief ingredients also inhibits the ability of rhinovirus to increase the amount of ICAM receptors on the nasal membrane. Furthermore, the actives in THERAMAX? Cold Relief also inhibits the entry coronaviruses making it effective for coronavirus common colds as well. The fact that the actives in THERAMAX? Cold Relief decreases ICAM levels and inhibits both rhinovirus and coronavirus should result in a more complete suppression of common cold infections than what is seen with Zicam. Human studies on THERAMAX? Cold Relief are still a few months from being initiated. However, based on in vitro data, preliminary human clinical data and our experience with Zicam, we expect THERAMAX? Cold Relief to be much more effective than Zicam at reducing the duration of the common cold. Patents protecting the THERAMAX? Cold Relief intellectual property have been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. "
Some sheep are smarter than others.
