What about methods of preventing colds  - these are some of the ones I found

1) “Traditional” Lifestyle  methods of prevention

Here are some prevention remedies I found in my Grannie’s  herbal:

COLD – To Avoid Catching:

Accustom yourself to the use of sponging with cold water every morning on first getting out of bed, followed with a good deal of rubbing with a wet towel.

OR A cold may be arrested by a brisk friction on the back of the head with some stimulant lotion, such as Lavender Water, and the similar rubbing two or three times a week will prevent the “catching” of a cold.

 From Consult Me  pub 1902 (2^nd improved edition)

2) Vitamin C

In 1970 Linus Pauling’s work made considerable claims for high dosages of Vitamin C preventing the catching of colds. He suggested dosages of  1g a day with higher doses if you actually caught a cold, but no one nowadays seems to be suggesting that is necessary. The very latest research published in the New Scientist in June 2005 says that Vitamin C has been found to have very little or no preventative effect with most people though for some people it seems to reduce the severity of the cold.

3) Echinacea

Similarly, the latest research suggests that the preventative effect of taking Echinacea on colds is “far from compelling”.