Zinc supplements are commonly used to reduce the symptoms and the longevity of an individual suffers from a cold infection.  

How to use zinc supplements to treat cold 

Use zinc lozenges or a nasal zinc supplement at the initial stage of cold symptoms. Even this mineral is found in many foods, taking an additional zinc supplement really helps to reduce the symptoms and number of the days of a cold. To treat cold effectively you can take zinc supplements for every 2 to 4 hours. It is important to maintain the regular dosages during the cold attack, so that you can reduce the severity and time duration of the cold.