We take the umcka cold+flu whenever we feel a tickle in the throat, or when we otherwise feel something trying to "break through" and become fully symptomatic. Very, very unfortunately, this particular formula is sweetened with lactose, which is beyond obnoxious, because my husband and I are both completely lactose intolerant. So when one of us takes this stuff, the other one of us has to sleep on the couch. All I can say as far as this product's efficacy goes, is that it works so well that we both pay the price..... in the currency of excessive bloating and farts (lactaid pills/chewables don't touch this stuff, sadly... not even when we try chewing it in the same mouthful with the umcka). sorry if that's TMI, but if you're not lactose intolerant, you may not truly understand what it means to "pay the price," when I say it works so well for killing off wannabe virus infections that we both take it anyway. I keep a bottle in my desk (sometimes I just have to rub deodorant onto my desk chair and hope for the best), in my bag that I take with me to work daily (in case I feel something coming on during my hour-long commute), on the kitchen table and on my nightstand. the only catch with this stuff is that you MUST take this at the very instant you feel off/feel that very first beginning suggestion of a throat tickle if you want it to work (which is why I keep a bottle within reach wherever I am). then keep taking it every few hours, until whatever was trying to set up shop in your body gets the boot. 1-2 days of doing this usually gets the job done (which it does, in conjunction with 3 other prophylactic herbals we take simultaneously for the same purpose, which might be a confounding factor, except for the fact that I can actually physically feel the umcka working as I'm taking it and immediately thereafter... feels like a few seconds of warm fuzziness in my head and a soft burning on any irritated areas if my throat is on the edge of being raw, then temporarily fizzling away of the burning... not sure how else to describe it). at least it's delicious tasting. I know they do make other formulas, but I hesitate to even try them because of how well this one works.
