[Insanity]

Seems to me like it was more of a poorly worded argument rather than "propaganda".

Anyway, what's interesting to me is that doctors are in an impossible position. They want to make their patients happy, not just healthy. And patients equate antibiotics with getting better, thus doctors prescribe antibiotics.

[ben_w]

Suggestion: for colds, write a prescribe for an infusion of Camellia sinensis in heated DHMO, to be taken orally once a day with bovine mammary secretions. Call it a “traditional Chinese herbal remedy” if anyone asks.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Caffeine reduces immune response:

Caffeine, like other xanthines, also acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor.[141] As a competitive nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor,[142] caffeine raises intracellular cAMP, activates protein kinase A, inhibits TNF-alpha[143][144] and leukotriene[145] synthesis, and reduces inflammation and innate immunity.[145] Caffeine also affects the cholinergic system where it inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine

[ben_w]

Huh. I’d never have guessed that, given its use in (non-prescription) cold-and-flu medicine.

[Angostura]

It really shouldn't be to difficult to overcome. In the UK if you go in with an infection, you are quite likely to be told 'its probably viral, so there is no point prescribing antibiotics'