Use of COLD-fX to Prevent Respiratory Infections in Community Dwelling Seniors

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 65 years of age and older * current season influenza immunization * available for follow-up visits * willing and able to sign written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * HIV infection * malignancy (under active observation or treatment) * unstable cardiovascular diseases * renal abnormalities (serum creatine \>200umol/l) * pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma requiring treatment in the last 3 months with oral steroids - prednisone \>10mg/day, other chronic respiratory illness) * acute or active chronic liver disease * neurologic or psychiatric disease (progressive or currently under treatment * active tuberculosis * multiple sclerosis * bleeding disorders * planned surgery over the course of the trial * on immunosuppressive therapy * taking oral steroids at dose = to prednisone 10 mg/day or more * taking phenelzine, pentobarbital, haloperidol, warfarin, heparin * use of natural health products(except the study product and vitamins and minerals with a dose \<600 mg/day of vitamin E and containing no vitamin K) including echinacea or ginseng-containing products (tea, capsules, extracts, tablets) * current alcohol/drug abuse * major surgery in the past 6 months * allergies to ginseng