Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by ben_w 2750 days ago
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.
1 comments

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

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